As a patient, do you disclose your qualifications?

[lisalau]

when you are a patient, do you tell the attending doctors/nurses that you are a nurse?

i dont for a variety of reasons

*my proffession is rarely brought up, i would never lie about it.

*my training was 20+ years ago and i stopped working in the hospital system 17+ years ago, there is much i do not know and i would never want not to be explained something with the assumption i knew it, when perhaps i didnt.

*i would not want anyone to think i mentioned it because i was seeking preferential treatment

what are your thoughts and if you have been a patient, what did you do ?(this is ofcourse assuming you were not being attended to by people you have worked with/who know you)

thanks in advance for any feedback

lisa

[Jo Dirt]

I find it terribly annoying when patients tell me either they are a nurse or their so-and-so is a nurse. It is rarely ever relevant to their care so it gives me the impression that either nursing is their claim to fame and they want to gloat or they think it will intimidate me.

Of course, there is a time and place for everything. Naturally this might come up in friendly conversation but in most cases no one needs to know you are a nurse. Or a doctor, or a CNA...etc.

[Beary-nice]

Nope...I don't tell them unless they pose the question. I do not want to be treated any differently like staff walking on eggshells and adding to their stress. And, I don't want them to assume I know it all, because I do not by any means know it all and I like to be educated. Sometimes when I have disclosed the info, they will say "Well you already know about all of this."

That is what I mean. Just treat me as a human and respect me that way. Pleeeeze!

[TazziRN, RN]

I don't volunteer it but it usually comes out because I don't ask questions about what is being explained to me (I know too much and they ask "Okay, what do you do?) or I say something unintentionally that gives it away. When I had my amnio at a university hospital I was more worried about the needle gauge than the length, which gave it away.

As for people telling me they are nurses, it depends on how it's said. I usually does not cause a problem; as in my case, it tells me the pt knows what I'm trying to say and I don't have to worry about comprehension. The times when it causes a problem is when it's said in arrogance or when the pt is angry.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

No I rarely tell hospital staff that I am an RN, but most do pick up on it beacuse of the amount of knowledge I have.

[mandana]

I find it terribly annoying when patients tell me either they are a nurse or their so-and-so is a nurse. It is rarely ever relevant to their care so it gives me the impression that either nursing is their claim to fame and they want to gloat or they think it will intimidate me.

Maybe they are just trying to connect with you?

Amanda

[fergus51]

They all knew when I went in a few weeks ago because it's on my file from the doc. I always just said "But, I only work with babies!"

[llg, PhD, RN]

It depends on the situation. Sometimes I feel I get better treatment because of my credentials. If that's the case, I volunteer it. When seeking treatment for myself or my family, I will do whatever I have to do to get the best I can get. I know how to play the game ... and I'll play however I think it will serve me best.

llg

[DaFreak71]

I find it terribly annoying when patients tell me either they are a nurse or their so-and-so is a nurse. It is rarely ever relevant to their care so it gives me the impression that either nursing is their claim to fame and they want to gloat or they think it will intimidate me.

Of course, there is a time and place for everything. Naturally this might come up in friendly conversation but in most cases no one needs to know you are a nurse. Or a doctor, or a CNA...etc.

I'll bet most people who divulge they are nurses (or divulge that their so-and-so is a nurse) are actually trying to make a connection with you. I'll bet that is their way of saying "I understand your job is hard/you don't have to explain a foley to me, I know what it is/etc". That you would be annoyed at a patient telling you they are a nurse is somewhat telling of how you view nurses in general if you are assuming that the motivation for them telling you is to intimidate you or them wanting to gloat.

[Midwest4me]

It depends on the situation. Sometimes I feel I get better treatment because of my credentials. If that's the case, I volunteer it. When seeking treatment for myself or my family, I will do whatever I have to do to get the best I can get. I know how to play the game ... and I'll play however I think it will serve me best.

llg

I agree and do the same.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

No I rarely tell hospital staff that I am an RN, but most do pick up on it beacuse of the amount of knowledge I have.

:yeahthat:

It usually comes up shortly after I give my medical history. Or after I refuse some (nonobvious) tylenol-containing med.

Seriously, despite a known anaphylactic reaction to tylenol, on virtually every admission/visit, someone tries to dose me with it, in the form of percocet/lortab/darvocet. And I refuse, due to my knowledge meds.

[tampabaylpn2rn]

yes, i definitely tell that i'm a nurse. i've assisted in stitching my daughter's face, putting staples in my other daughter's scalp, i was given all lab results during my husband's hospitalization with chest pain, and when i was in the psychiatric ward, i felt that it got me a little better treatment. Professional courtesy and i would do the same for other nurses. i don't try to sound snotty about it, though.