"Patient" or "Client"?

[HeartsOpenWide]

The nursing school I attend has earned acclaim as one of the few programs in the USA to teach the Modeling and Role Modeling theory as a basis for nursing practice, emphasizing a holistic approach to health care. When I graduate I will be eligible to sit for the holistic nursing certificate. One of the things that we do at my school is to use the word “client” instead of “patient” for reasons being that:

A patient is one who is given aid instruction, and treatment with the expectation that such services are appropriate and that the recipient will accept them and comply with the plan

A client is one who is considered to be a legitimate member of the decision-making team, who always has some control over the planned regimen, and who id incorporated into the planning and implementation of his or her own care as much as possible.

I was just wondering what other schools use the term client as well as RNs. Those who use the term ‘patient’ would you consider using the term ‘client’ instead? Why or why not?

[LydiaNN]

They are consumers where I work, but then, my field is so different, I probably should just butt out.

[GatorRN21]

Health care is not like fast food. People know where to get a good hamburger but don't know what type of disease/illness is ailing them. People are able to be customers when going to resturants, lawyers, dry cleaning, etc because they have a specific issue they are aware of and have knowledge of. Ex. getting a divorce see a lawyer, hungry go to a resturant. But in health care, things are much different and people come into the hospital unaware of what type of tests needs to be done, how to be treated, etc so they need to rely on the health care team.