Do You Remember Your Patient's Name?

[CaLLaCoDe]

I have to admit I am not a strong customer service devotee. Oddly, I'd rather save the patient's life than know the name of the patient's life I saved. Sometimes I'll use sir or madam but rarely use "Hon," "Sugar," or "Dear." Sure, a flagged chart with two patients, a jane smith occupying a room adjacent to a joan smith warrants my now pay attention alarm.

I knew of a nurse who would not only remember the patient's name several years out but could state the diagnosis, the patient's main concerns during his stay, his girl friends name, his heart rhythm (OMG!).

I believe it's a form of intelligence to recognize a person and address them with their name spontaneously when let's say, you see their face when zooming around a corner to get to a patient's room. It's really amazing to me, that that person has such an antenna. Not everyone has this ability and I'm one.

So, what about you? Do you reference your fellow coworkers as what's her face? Are you apt to forget names following introduction? Are you an expert at name memory and recognition? What's your trick?

[Katie5]

A person's name is important to them. Repeating as soon as you're told, may help jug your memory.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

a person's name is important to them. repeating as soon as you're told, may help jug your memory.

that's the problem, i think. i jugged my memory. if i'd kept it accessible, i might remember my patient's name without looking at the computer, my scut sheet or their name band.

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

I am always impressed whenever I go to see the dentist. The staff, the doctor, the receptionist, everyone calls me by my first name. I wonder how different it would be while I was there I was addressed as sir, "honey," "sweety," or you?

Oh, what's the most troubling is when your patient remembers your name from the last time they were in the hospital and you've forgotten theirs. How embarrassing.

[Sarah Bellum]

I remember names of a good number of my pts from when I was a PCA.

Funny story - my son had a procedure at a small hospital several months before I started nursing school. The CRNA was very nice, he let me go back to the OR to be with my son to be with him while they put him out. All went well. Then I started nursing school, figured out that the CRNA is married to one of my professors. Fast forward almost 2 years. Son has another procedure at the same facility. Yep, got the same CRNA who actually remembered US before I had a chance to tell him that his wife is one of my profs!

And I do not live in a small town, but I guess I do live in a small world. :)

[CuriousMe]

I'm excellent with names. However, I'm so quiet that no one ever remembers MY name!

I'm the opposite, I'm lousy with names.....but I tend to be an extrovert so folks often remember mine. I hate when I do that.:grn: