Nurses: Why do many of you do this?

Nurses Relations

Published

I've been a registered nurse for two years now. Sometimes the nurses in my unit and I get together outside of work and chat. One day, the nurses were discussing about their patient encounters (non-medical related). I do not want to write what they discussed, but they were patient encounters that many people would describe as "gross."

I believe patient confidentiality (even when patients' names aren't mentioned) should be respected during work as well as outside of work. I'm sure patients already feel embarrassed about their condition, and it ANNOYS me when nurses say they will not judge patients when giving them care, but then they go around and talk about their patients conditions.

If I was a patient, I'd be angry if an RN talked about my condition outsideof work. Patients trust nurses to give them care while respecting their confidentiality. Yes, we may encounter new and different things each day, and some may feel that talking about so-called "weird" conditions helps them "bond"with others from work, but that does not give any nurse the right to talk about patients like that.

I've noticed there was a thread on allnurses entitled, "What Is Your Most Gross,Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?" This is disrespectful in my opinion. No offense to any of the nurses that do this. Thanks for letting me vent...

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I addition to destressing, I actually learn a lot from the stories. Most recently I learned that nitro paste can be used topically to relieve severe constipation but that it can work a little TOO well. My senior coworkers have decades of material to draw on and it gives us something to bond over, gets me through challenging moments of my own (if Betty could keep a calm poker face through X situation, I need to and can do the same now), and after a really rough code or trauma, laughing over silly situations reminds me that life goes on and is often funny. OP, if you don't see the benefit in sharing war stories, it's totally OK to excuse yourself when they start.
Do tell -- how much nitropaste and where?
Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

In this profession if we don't laugh occasionally we'll cry.....or worse. It takes a huge toll on me mentaly and physically to give, give, give, give all day long and never bat an eyelash. As long as the venting is not done in the earshot of family members and it doesn't give away any identifiers, IMHO it is totally harmless. That doesn't mean anyone should be making fun of patients, that I won't tolerate. If someone is laughing about a situation they encountered or something funny a patient said, its not a big deal. IMO you will burn out fast if you don't lighten up. Best wishes to you.

Specializes in Everything.

WOW

Maybe you should consider a new career path.................... how about with the 'thought police'. Maintaining privacy is important in our profession. However as one of the most stressful professions around nurses have always held the title for blackest humour and the stories that are shared with colleagues. No one sounds as though they are holding a gun to you forcing you to take part.

If you find this aspect of nursing distasteful find a new career, complain through the correct processes or shut up.

It's bad enough for the best out there and the therapy that comes from confiding in your peers with the crazy stories you collect in your life is not only stress relieving it to has an enormous educational value more often than not.

Get a grip

As long as it is done with the best intentions, learning, questioning or even relating to, then there should be no problem. If it is presented with the intent to amuse, gross out or demean a patient than it is in bad taste and very unprofessional, but as long as no identifiers are used it is certainly not a HIPPA violation. Like judge Marilyn Millan said one on time "whats in your heart comes out thru your lips" (i am paraphrasing). I am an acute care pediatric & a Hospice nurse so you can imagine there is no room for disrespectful anecdotes.

I've been a registered nurse for two years now. Sometimes the nurses in my unit and I get together outside of work and chat. One day, the nurses were discussing about their patient encounters (non-medical related). I do not want to write what they discussed, but they were patient encounters that many people would describe as "gross."

I believe patient confidentiality (even when patients' names aren't mentioned) should be respected during work as well as outside of work. I'm sure patients already feel embarrassed about their condition, and it ANNOYS me when nurses say they will not judge patients when giving them care, but then they go around and talk about their patients conditions.

If I was a patient, I'd be angry if an RN talked about my condition outsideof work. Patients trust nurses to give them care while respecting their confidentiality. Yes, we may encounter new and different things each day, and some may feel that talking about so-called "weird" conditions helps them "bond"with others from work, but that does not give any nurse the right to talk about patients like that.

I've noticed there was a thread on allnurses entitled, "What Is Your Most Gross,Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?" This is disrespectful in my opinion. No offense to any of the nurses that do this. Thanks for letting me vent...

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
I agree that what this nurse is doing is highly inappropriate. But before you take on an (older than you?) member of your social circle in what may be viewed as a confrontational way, consider that social norms DO vary quite a bit by region, ethnicity, community size, etc. For example: I've worked in a small hospital where, if you saw a neighbor/acquaintance walking through the halls, it would be considered rude if you did not stop and ask why they were at the hospital -- and you could expect to get a pretty detailed response.

My first job out of school was at a tiny, rural hospital in the South. I was absolutely amazed to discover that they posted a list of all patients at the door, and that it was very common to have older ladies call and ask for a rundown of every patient there at the moment. And they'd usually get it, if the nurse wasn't too busy. They had to know if they needed to come visit anyone! Of course, this was long before HIPAA.

I have never encountered one of my patients outside of work who had anything but gratitude for the services I had provided for them or a loved one.

+ Add a Comment