Being a patient where you work

[NelleG]

has anyone ever been a patient on the hospital unit where you work? It's a real possibility for me in the future and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I tend to be a rather private person and I have some medical history that I am not comfortable sharing with my coworkers. I could always not tell my complete history but that's not in my best interest. Anyhow, just looking to see how others have dealt with this before.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

first, I do not believe there is any such thing as privacy. And when it comes to my health, I would rather the whole world knows than not get appropriate care. Anyway, who really cares????

I have been treated in my facility more than once. If anyone talked about the incidents it never got back to me. I was glad people who had an interest in my well-being were attending me.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

I would NOT want to be a patient where I work. It involves getting my skin assessed or a foley placed by someone who knows me? Forget it.

[JBudd, MSN]

Been there, done that, got the scars. Its no big deal. I wasn't on the unit where I work, which you should just ask your doctor to make sure happens for you. The times I was seen in my own ER, well, my friends went all out for me.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I'd rather a stranger take care of me than someone I know.

I'd rather a person that doesn't care one bit about me, be my nurse than my friend.

Looking at it in black and white, I'd have to say that's seriously messed up.

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

FWIW, I just recently had to have a major surgery and I opted to have it at another (though affiliated) hospital. Mostly because I just couldn't stomach the thought of someone I know having to put in a foley which was a requirement

It was hard enough to use a surgeon that I know personally through the hospital but I knew his work and that helped me to get over the "eww" factor.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I get all my care where I work. I prefer to know who is taking care of me. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but I don't worry about dealing with incompetence.

[s0ad]

Due to insurance reasons and being in a smaller area this is quite common for people at my place of work. We've had doctors, nurses, ancillary staff we know on our floor. Thankfully I've never experienced that. I agree I'd be quite mortified. However, many of the nurses and doctors I know that have been through it are able to make jokes. I feel like some doctors even forget, if you see 25 butts a day, you'll probably forget about most of them.

I must admit this is why I chose not to have a colonoscopy. A doctor I see often enough would have done it.... and hecks to the no (though I really don't think it was needed anyway).

Also, I have some people I wouldn't let touch me with a 10 foot pole, though those people are every where and it may be of benefit to know who they are.

I certainly feel for your situation - best of luck to you.