Single expression for patient/client/resident

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Rehab.

Dear colleagues,

we are currently draftig an english translation of our diploma supplement (BSc. in nursing) and are not sure at all which expression is right when we want to address the person receiving nursing care independent of the setting. In German, there is a single expression called "Pflegebedürftiger" (Pflege=nursing, Bedürftiger=person in need). In English, I am aware of the expressions patient (in hospitals), residents (LTC) and client (home care). Do you have any suggestions? Many thanks in advance!

Martin

Patient is the most encompassing.

Hi,

please check your pm.

Not gonna stop referring to as patients in Home Health. Private Duty sure, but Home Health *admitted* patients are only a minute away from being on a Med Surg or Skilled bed. Increasing numbers are being readmitted to the hospital within 24 hrs.

Our small agency just experienced an MI 4 hrs post acute discharge, Sepsis with internal bleeding 3 days post Skilled discharge (dc planner failed to make timely home health referral and patient was septic in less than 24 hrs from time of referral) and 1 CVA within 24 hrs discharge in one week. We couldn't get out to admit fast enough, not that we could have prevented those major conditions.

The others that remain stable enough not to be readmitted in critical conditions are still very much comparable to a Med Surg patient and remain high risk. Not going to start calling them clients, I'll die on that hill on principle. The last thing the Home Health industry (not Private Duty industry) needs is to have their increasing acuities whitewashed with a label of client.

Specializes in Rehab.

Hi Libby,

I am aware of the real situation. However, my request concerns the translation of an official document for which I am personally responsible. So I don't want to make avoidable mistakes. Usually, I use patients in my writings and up to now noone corrected this.

Best Wishes

Martin

I guess I don't understand what exactly you're asking but in the US, home health patients are referred to as patients by CMS. As is done in acute care, so I would ie patient as a single expression. As well as drop your use of client in home care.

You will never please everyone, but patient is the oldest and most widely used term.

Specializes in Rehab.

@nutella, I am not able to send PMs since I'm a newbie with

...already done!

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