Oh God, A NURSE is my pt!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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Ever had a nurse as your patient and really found this quite challenging...thinking she/he is questioning your care/assessment/priorities... or God forbid reporting your conduct to your shift leader :-(

haven't had a lot of problems with nurses.

However, I am now looking after an 82 year old ex pediatrician who doesn't seem to understand why we are not behaving how nurses did in the 1950's.

He wants us to bend his straws, pass him the remote control which is well within his reach, that type of thing.

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Specializes in burn, geriatric, rehab, wound care, ER.

I just thought of another instance when I was a patient. I didn't tell the nurse that I was one too. I was in labor with my first child and asking lots of questions -trying to remember the OB stuff from school. The RN mistook this for anxiety and slammed me with something I believe was nubaine - which I hadn't asked for. I remember feeling the contractions but I was so out of it I couldn't even speak. It was awful. The next time I was a patient I made sure they knew I was a nurse.

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I'm currently orienting in an acute dialysis unit (I have 5 years chronic HD experience but hadn't worked in a hospital in 7 years!) To my horror, one of my first patients' sitter told me she was a retired RN. It sure made me feel insecure (I thought, has she noticed that I can't make a hospital corner if my life depended on it?!) But later I relaxed; one of my coworkers (25 years in the unit!) came in and questioned what was going on with my pt like I didn't know what I was doing; my "sitter", however, rolled her eyes and said, "What is her problem?!"

After that we had an enjoyable time and good conversation.

DeLana :)

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Specializes in geriatrics, pediatrics.

I once worked in a nursing home where the patient was the mother of a state health inspector. I was always nervous and worried that she would tell her daughter something or the daughter would find something I did wrong and turn me in. The daughter ended up turning me in but just to say I was one of the best nurses that cared for her mother. Made my day

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I've had plenty of patients who are nurses or have family members who are nurses or doctors. Most of which actually work in the same hospital I work at. I've never had any problems with them. In fact, they are some of the nicest patients I've ever had and I've enjoyed conversing with them when I get a chance to.

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Specializes in Case Management.

I have 3 stories about nurses taking care of nurses (and a doctor):

1. I was the patient, the nurse was actually a student. This was way back when and she had just stuck the old fashioned thermometer in my mouth. I looked down at the end of the thermometer, eyes crossing and saw the red tip, "DID YOU JUST PUT THE RECTAL THERMOMETER IN MY MOUTH?" I asked while still continuing to hold it with my tongue.

2. shortly after finishing school, as a young graduate, we got a young doctor from another hospital who happened to live near the small community hospital where I worked. He was a runner, with a beautiful home and beautiful (nurse) wife, and 2 beautiful toddlers. Had been running in his neighborhood when a neighbor found him down. He had had a massive cerebral event. (I believe it turned out to be an aneurysm that burst) We took care of him and his devastated wife who stayed by his side. It was a very sad case. There were not too many of us who did not cry at some point during our shift when caring for this man.

3. This was odd. I happened to be the patient. I still do not know what to think about it. I presented to my ER at about 24 weeks gestation with fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, flank pain, and mild contractions. It was my third pregnancy. I was admitted on evenings and had been medicated and was dozing when night shift came on. The night nurse, I will never forget her.

She pulled down my covers and said she had to check me. I said the doctor already did that and I was fine (no dilation, high and tight). I wanted to just refuse, but I kinda got the feeling she would not take no for an answer. Then she did the most unbelievable thing. She reached WAY UP, and proceeded to push up down and around. (I had an OB who routinely stripped my membranes when I went post-term, so I know what that feels like, and it felt like she was trying to do the same thing.) It felt like she was trying to dilate me, and strip my membranes. Did she try to start me into preterm labor? I screamed for the house supervisor, and told her to get out of my room. The supervisor came, called the OB and got me an order for MSO4. She (the supervisor) gave me the injection herself. I was dc home in the morning. I looked for this nurse whenever I came in after that but never saw her again. Nothing else was done. Did what I think happened, happen?

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
"DID YOU JUST PUT THE RECTAL THERMOMETER IN MY MOUTH?" I asked while still continuing to hold it with my tongue.

OMG is that ever funny, but true!:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

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I know what you mean, their is that initial insecurity feeling, but remember, they just want to be taken care of the best just like any other patient. Don't assume they know everything because they don't, encourage questions. I have taken care of many nurses as patients, physicians having babies, and physician's wives, but in the end, they just tell you what a great nurse you are and what a great job you've done. And yes, they like to know what you tell their patients...and its ususally a good thing for them to know, it builds trust with them. Martbabynurse.

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i actually like taking care of nurses as i feel they may have a little knowledge about whats going on. whenever someone says, "oh ya i know...im a nurse" i always respond with "thats great. i will explain everything like i would to anyone just so that i dont miss anything, that wouldnt be fair to you" and they seem to appreciate that...now docs are another thing...i do admit i get very nervous on the inside...wondering if they think what i am telling them sounds ridiculous cause they already know...or when i take care of their spouse, i can almost feel the appraising eyes. ill take 1 trillion nurses over 1 doctor anytime (altho i have never had a condesending doc as a pt i must admit)

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We have a few nurses and doctors as pt in our clinic where I work. They are treat like any other pt. As an MA I usual have to draw their blood, it is at first a little scary, thinking they are watching your every move. But generally they want to be treated as any other pt.

If you know what you are doing , they will act like you know what you're doing.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Here's what I am confused about by this whole thread.

Why do some nurses assume that just because their pt (or family member of a pt) is a nurse, that that person is "out to get you" or will find fault with everything you do? If you are a pt, what is your biggest concern? Nit-picking at your nursing care and reporting your nurse, or getting better? I've been a pt many times, and trust me, the last thing in the world I am doing is watching every little thing my nurse did . I just wanted to get better and get home!

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Specializes in NICU.
I've been a pt many times, and trust me, the last thing in the world I am doing is watching every little thing my nurse did . I just wanted to get better and get home!

I felt the same way, which is why when I saw nurses giving me IV meds without cleaning the ports on the IV tubing I didn't say anything. But when I had a 104 degree fever the next day, you'd better believe I brought it up. Even if that wasn't the source of my infection, I still think it was very poor nursing practice...

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