Do you think nurses get special treatment?

Nurses General Nursing

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So I was looking at some old threads on here and they got me thinking. One in particular about whether cops give nurses tickets. So what do you think? Do nurses receive special treatment when people know you are a nurse? Any personal experience with this subject you want to share?

I have two stories both similar and different at the same time. I was once pulled over after a workout. I had on teeny shorts and shirt and probably definitely looked a hot mess. So I was pulled over for speeding going 6 mph over. I was asked to step out of my car and proceeded to be searched. Officer stated I was being searched because he smelled marijuana. I don't smoke and I don't know how he could have possibly smelled anything besides my sweaty nastiness. But anyways search concluded and officer tickets me for speeding as he has nothing else to charge me with.

Shortly after this I was again pulled over for speeding in the same vehicle. ( Yes I know I have a lead foot lol) This time I was in scrubs and had my name tag hanging on my rearview mirror. I also was going about 15 over not 6 as I was prior. The cop didn't even ask where I was going. Proceeded to give me a verbal warning and then let me on my way.

Now I don't know if this has anything to do with me being an obvious nurse the second stop vs the first. Or whether one cop was just nicer than the other. But it does make me wonder...

Any nurses care to share their experiences, opinions,etc??

Where I live, side streets are not plowed. My husband flagged down a plow truck driver and said "My wife is a nurse and I don't know if she can make it to work tonight."

First time my street has been plowed in ten years according to my neighbors.

I am black, so I can't really say for sure. Maybe it is true from white nurses, but for black nurses...I doubt it.

It depends more on the cop than what you are wearing.

Winry I think you're on to something. In spite of the popular narrative seen in the media, maybe, just maybe all (or even a majority of all) police officers don't make decisions based on race. The preconceived notion is very unfortunate.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, CCU, ED.

No, cops usually will not ticket healthcare workers (unless you are seriously violating the law - drunk, etc.) out of professional courtesy. They frequent the ER with ETOH pts, people they have arrested and need clearance, line of duty injuries, etc. and we always treat them with professional courtesy by getting them in and out as quickly as possible, often taking them before other pts, so they show healthcare workers the same respect.

Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Yes, I always say I'm on my way in to work, I am on call...( all 3 times I actually WAS) officer says: where do you work

me: ----- Hospital, the OR..

ok have a good shift be careful ✔

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

My dogs' veterinarian put a note in their files that "mommy is an RN". I don't get preferential treatment, per se (I still pay full price, etc.), but it lets the staff know that they don't have to dummy down the conversation like they do with the general population.

The chocolate Lab is on a course of prednisone right now, and the conversation went something like:

Vet: I'm gonna give him a month's worth of steroids.

Me: Standard taper?

Vet: Yep, let us know if symptoms worsen, otherwise, you're all set.

Me: Ok, great, thanks.

With a lay person, they would have had to go into the importance of following the steroid taper schedule, the dangers involved in stopping abruptly, and the anticipated side effects to be on the lookout for during the treatment, then when the secretary handed me the meds at checkout she would have had to repeat all the instructions again. Them knowing I'm a nurse saved them and me about ten minutes of unnecessary discussion.

So it seems we may not get special treatment lol. More or less it seems people tend to use their own discretion. So I guess if a cop sees a nurse as another member of their public service superhero squad you may get lucky and not end up being ticketed or worse. But if the cops could care less about your career choices than your lawbreaking then you end up ticketed. It doesn't seem like many get preferential treatment elsewhere either like the doctors office or in restaurants except for a few special nurses I suppose lol. It appears some of us get lucky and others not so much.

Specializes in Emergency.

I know a nurse who got pulled over for a DUI. The officer allowed him to call me to come get him. His car didn't get towed and he didn't even get a ticket. If I wasn't there, I wouldn't believe it.

We live in a small town and while the officers have a good relationship with the ER nurses, these two had never crossed paths.

Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Yes, I do . BUT... only by other healthcare professionals, docs, other nurses, etc Also from cops...

Specializes in Oncology, LTC, Rehabilitation.

I worked in Newark NJ on 9/11. Around 9:30 that night, the hospital allowed us to attempt to leave our hospital, and to get home. All of the major roads leading into NYC had been closed, and the tunnels and bridges leading into New York were still closed, but the powers that be had opened the highways for emergency personal, and very limited traffic. I lived off the 2nd to last exit going towards the city. I had no idea what to expect, but I was more than scared, and just wanted to be home. The 8 lane major thoroughfare I traveled was eerily empty, but I knew I would need to cross a large toll Plaza, that would lead to a large bridge I needed to cross to get to my exit, and from the emergency radio transmissions, every toll plaza leading to the city was closed. As I approached the toll Plaza, I could see multiple vehicles off to the side, that were being searched, people being detained, and soldier's yielding M 16s. It looked more like Beruit, than NJ. I stopped, at the command of a soldier, he approached my car, asked for my ID, asked where I was coming from. I had my stethoscope still hanging around my neck, and had scrubs on. He looked me, and he assumed I was heading to Liberty State Park, where they had set up the triage site and make shift morgue for the victims. He said something about my selflessness, and I burst into tears. I told him I was just tring to get home, and that I did not deserve to be called selfless. He put hand on my arm, and said "of course u do, your a nurse". He stood there until I got ahold of myself, and then let me pass. I was the only car on a bridge that daily held thousands and thousands of cars. And the only reason I was allowed to pass was because I am a nurse.

Specializes in Cath Lab.

I got pulled over for going 70 in a 65 (people were passing me) on the highway. I was leaving work and had scrubs on, have a sticker on my car that says Cath Lab call team, and a stethoscope hanging from my mirror. I got a ticket.

I would have rather had the special treatment

When I was younger I usually got a warning when they found out I was a nurse. Had 2 tell me they don't ticket nurses. But I've also had others not even blink when they ask where I work and I say I'm a nurse. So I think that yes, sometimes it helps.... but not always. :sorry:

When I was younger I usually got a warning when they found out of was a nurse. Had 2 tell me they don't ticket nurses. But I've also had others not even blink when they ask where I work and I say I'm a nurse. So I think that yes, sometimes it helps.... but not always.

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