Are you married sweetie?"

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I'm always asked by my patients " are you married " every time I work, I feel so uncomfortable explaining my personal life to these people! does anyone else feel this way.. I have my own view on marriage and equality for people that I wont share with patients but what do we do when asked personal questions about our life..:sarcastic: Some nurses go into great detail about all their kids all that... am I not being personable to my patients

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Would the people who advocate lying about marital status to spare the patient's feelings also be in favor of withholding negative news (e.g. a cancer dx.) for the sake of the patient's feelings? If they can't handle hearing you don't have kids and don't want them, they're probably too emotionally fragile for a bad dx.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I wouldn't tell a patient I didn't want kids. Might be seen as insulting if they have children or love children.

ehhh i completely disagree with you. her not having/not wanting children and saying so is exactly as disrespectful and offensive to them as they having and wanting children, if you continue that logic.

i think its just as disrespectful when pts ask me WHY my hubbs and I dont have kids yet.....none of their business. I usually say something just as uncomfortable like "oh dont worry, we are practicing!"

that usually makes the elderly smile.

i feel particularly sad for one of my late 20s coworkers who has tried multiple IVF rounds and miscarriages only to finally deliver a critically ill micropreemie when people ask about her child bearing status.

idk, when its the elderly, i understand that in many ways they are just trying to make small talk while I hang IV abx and that in their reproductive years, you got married to your HS boyfriend and started having kids @ 18 or 19.

i tell them too, on occasion that I went and got my bachelors, met and dated my husband, started my career in nursing and we are saving money. kids are expensive! and thats the honest truth. :-)

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Specializes in Critical Care.
In every other context I agree with you. But remember you are at work and these people are your patients. They are vulnerable and to possibly offend them is no good.

people need to stop being such delicate little flowers.

physically delicate, okay, fine, im here i can handle that. that's why they pay me the big bucks.

but outside of the teeny walls of that hospital room, they have to function in this world.

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