Do you always state that you are a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Curious....

If you accompany a family or friend for any kind of treatment do you state that you are a nurse? How about if you are getting treated?

Yep,I usully do tell I am a graduate nurse,it doesnt bother me.I also noted when the docs find out I'm a graduate nurse they get happy and excited,I even received money from a doc (my mom's boss) as a graduation gift:)Also he said he will try to find a job for me:)))

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Unless I'm in my role with our parish nursing program, I don't.

Except.....

My mom has chronic hypertension, and one day she did a REAL good impression of someone having an MI. We were in the ER (after a 12 hr shift for me, so you can imagine). Doc comes in. We've been in the ER 6 hrs at this point, and I'm tired. So, I said, "Dr. X, I need to know a few things. What's her cardiac enzymes, what does the 12 lead say, and are we looking at a cath?" He says, "Oh, her labs are fine, don't worry." I said, "Is her Troponin I less that 0.04 or not? Her T waves looked a little high to me." He asked where I worked I told him (and told him I'd been up about 20 hrs at that point), and he let me see for myself what was going on (mom was telling him, "let her look at my labs, please.") Thank goodness he could see that my imagination was taking me straight to MI, CABG with 6 stents, EF of 10%, sudden death, etc., and I needed someone to tell me my mom wasn't going to end up on a helicopter before the afternoon was over.

BTW, it was esophageal spasm with angina, and mom was fine, no new cath needed, but man, that was a bad day...

Specializes in Psych, M/S, Ortho, Float..

I think I have "NURSE" tattooed on my forehead. Part of it is because I have worked in most of the hospitals around here and have done some teaching so I usually get busted. I had surgery in a hospital that I hadn't worked in and they were bullies. Doctor had included my profession in the history. I was in pain and scared. All they saw was "nurse" and ignored the patient bit. I got myself discharged early because I decided that I could take better care of myself without these nurses interfering. I would have liked to have been just a patient.

Unless I'm in my role with our parish nursing program, I don't.

Except.....

My mom has chronic hypertension, and one day she did a REAL good impression of someone having an MI. We were in the ER (after a 12 hr shift for me, so you can imagine). Doc comes in. We've been in the ER 6 hrs at this point, and I'm tired. So, I said, "Dr. X, I need to know a few things. What's her cardiac enzymes, what does the 12 lead say, and are we looking at a cath?" He says, "Oh, her labs are fine, don't worry." I said, "Is her Troponin I less that 0.04 or not? Her T waves looked a little high to me." He asked where I worked I told him (and told him I'd been up about 20 hrs at that point), and he let me see for myself what was going on (mom was telling him, "let her look at my labs, please.") Thank goodness he could see that my imagination was taking me straight to MI, CABG with 6 stents, EF of 10%, sudden death, etc., and I needed someone to tell me my mom wasn't going to end up on a helicopter before the afternoon was over.

BTW, it was esophageal spasm with angina, and mom was fine, no new cath needed, but man, that was a bad day...

I just had the same thing EXACTLY with my mum. Bloody esophageal spasms...not funny, not funny at all! My mum already has a long and distinguished cardiac history (I actually carry her doctor and med list on my person all the time).

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I don't usually tell people that I'm a nurse for two reasons: I don't want to field any questions(ha! I'm a peds nurse--if you're over 21 and 120lbs i can't help you.) and I don't want any attitude. BUt I get outted pretty often. I ask a lot of questions, want to see lab results and PFTs, keep an eye on the EKG, etc.

My DH has stage 4 lung disease so I am a bit hyper-vigilant where he is concerned. Last time he was in CCU I stayed with him about 16hrs a day because he was so out of it, he didn't know what was going on. I was on the phone with his night nurse and I mentioned to her that I was concerned about his lytes and EKG changes, so I needed her to know that his condition can turn on a dime and he has "looked into the abyss" several times. She just continued to reassure me, yadda yadda blah blah, then said,"Uh...let me call you back." :eek: 20 minutes later I got a call. sure enough DH had an "event". That nurse apologized to me, though. She said DH just looked so healthy she couldn't believe he would pull a fast one like that. Yeah, that's what they all say. Right before he starts circling the drain...

most of the time no, but people pick up on it with the nurse talk such as is he npo?what prns can he have? are you giving that im or sc? etc......

Specializes in tele, oncology.

The two times I've had to send family members (my mom and my hubby) to specialists it's been to docs that I interact with frequently at work; makes it hard to hide it.

I think in general it works to everyone's advantage, b/c I'm not one of THOSE nurses in that kind of situation. I'm one of the ones who will say "yeah, I'm a nurse, but this isn't my area of specialty".

There have been several times when something has come up...like son desatting during surgery, other son taching up to to 220's while septic, me having my BP and HR tank post-op, baby decel'ing during delivery. Each time, knowing that I was a nurse meant that the nurses could cut to the chase and not worry about long explanations; they could get down to the business of taking care of us in urgent situations.

I think part of why it's so evident that we're nurses, even when we don't volunteer it, is b/c it gives us something to hide behind during a crisis. When our youngest was seven weeks old, he became septic. When hubby told me to stop being a nurse and start being a mom, my response was that if I switched to full on mommy mode, knowing what I know, I would have a breakdown. At that point our son was lethargic, had a 106 rectal temp, hadn't had any intake or output for going on ten hours, and his soft spot was about an inch deep; they had been unable to get an IV in him to get fluids and abx started and were in the process of doing a LP. Being in nurse mode allowed me to cope with the situation.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

If the problem is in my area of specialty I always do- that way they know right off the bat that any info I'm contributing to the history isn't just someone " talking out of my hat". If it isn't a close family member or I'm in an area that I don't have a lot of background in, no, it just makes the staff nervous and can scare off the care givers from comming into my family members room- not the outcome I want. It could be worse- how'd you like to me a malpractice lawyer with a family member in the hospital. If you let that slip they are going to have to draw straws to get someone to care for your family member!

Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

I have to admit...early on in my career, I think I told EVERYONE that I was a nurse. That was only because I worked so hard to become one that I thought everyone should know! :)

Nowadays? I keep my mouth shut. ;) It's best for everyone that way!

Specializes in ER/Trauma.
(I actually carry her doctor and med list on my person all the time).

Thanks for that GREAT tip!! You'd think that an ED nurse like would've thought of that before... :imbar:imbar:imbar:imbar

Typing this out while sending an email to my parents to list their meds and docs, RIGHT NOW!!

- Roy

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

*Yawn* .... long night....

2B, I thought I was the only one who did that...One for mom, one for dad (diabetic, MI x1). It beats sitting in the ER trying to decipher "well, I had the brownish egg shaped one, and then the middle sized white round one..." when getting a list of her last med pass....

Med pass...well, you know...god, I need some sleep, I've got to go back tonight, and one of my patients is the spawn of Satan...

'night, ya'll....

Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.
Nope - not unless asked. However, the way I talk usually gives me away - lol!

You're right, drop one word of technical vocabulary and you've blown your cover. I do mention if only if I want to save time if a provider is offering lengthy explainations. The provider is usually grateful to save the time also. I rarely do it otherwise, unless a provider says something really stupid. I am a case manager and often have to accompany patients to appointments. Most of my docs know me, but if I encounter a new provider, I always tell them that I am there so I can better help and reinforce what is being told to my patient. Don't want them to think that I am an examiner.

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