Camouflage RN

Sometimes it comes up, if it doesn't then I don't generally mention it. My second child was born with a couple cardiac defects, and at his first newborn appointment with the pediatrician, he asked "Did anyone tell you he has a murmur?" I told him, "He has a VSD and a bicuspid aortic valve. The VSD was diagnosed at my ultrasound, and then he had a repeat echo in the hospital before we were discharged." Him: "Are you a nurse or something? You drop these terms way too easily." I wasn't trying to "drop terms" or prove that I'm not a lay person in that regard, but I was just telling him that yes I knew about it and what the dx was. Jargon sometimes just pops out. I've had to correct myself when using the term "MVC" in conversation..."er, 'car wreck.'"

With the cardiologist I did say I was an adult CVICU nurse (I was at the time; I don't get a lot of CV pts where I'm at now), only because I didn't need her to put the anatomy and CHF issues in layman's terms. That pendulum kind of swung the other direction when she started giving me every.single.number that his echos show! Ventricular size, filling pressures, exact pressure gradients...all these things that I wouldn't have known even on my own patients. If it's not a value that I could get from a PAC/VAD/SVO2 monitor etc., then I don't exactly know what you're talking about. I mean I understand the principles, but she goes out of her way to make sure she knows all the numbers before coming into the exam room. I suppose that's good though that she's so thorough and cares about making sure we have all the info.

Now at well-child checks when the ped goes into his/her usual spiel about the importance of seat belts and bike helmets, I usually just smile and nod, maybe a "Oh yes, I like seat belts."

Although once I take that back...I did get a little bulldoggish because when I said my oldest daughter was allergic to amoxicillin, the ped said "That's probably just a penicillin rash."

Me: "A couple of those 'penicillin lesions' were fluid-filled blisters. First time she got it, it was a rash with a couple little blisters. I am NOT taking the chance that next time she takes it, she gets SJS/TEN. Why risk that happening to her when you guys can just prescribe something else when she needs it? The amoxicillin allergy stays in her chart."

Although once I take that back...I did get a little bulldoggish because when I said my oldest daughter was allergic to amoxicillin, the ped said "That's probably just a penicillin rash."

Me: "A couple of those 'penicillin lesions' were fluid-filled blisters. First time she got it, it was a rash with a couple little blisters. I am NOT taking the chance that next time she takes it, she gets SJS/TEN. Why risk that happening to her when you guys can just prescribe something else when she needs it? The amoxicillin allergy stays in her chart."

I did that when my youngest had the same reaction. I wasn't yet a nurse, but having a friend whose son ended up with SJS I went a little nuts about putting an allergy in the chart. She was 9 months old and covered in little blisters. Fortunately, the pediatrician we saw that day was also concerned and I didn't have to go full bulldog. :)

I don't go out of my way to "hide" it, and unless I feel someone is in danger I don't go out of my way to inform anyone that I am a Nurse. I have however used that fact when my father was in the hospital and had some less than stellar care. I made sure EVERYONE that was slacking knew I was a healthcare provider I wouldn't tolerate him being put in danger. Other than that I don't see why it matters to most.

Oh, yeah, there's a lot of times I don't say a thing.

But my PCP knows because I am sometimes a tad opinionated about things, and if he is to gain my cooperation, he has to give me his rationale.

And sometimes I'll say, "Just pretend I'm somebody who doesn't know a thing, and explain it to me that way." Because if I know if I am the patient, my nursing knowledge can get in a jumble with my emotions.

Other times/places, I let the 'educator' blather on and nod my head. Being as how my current career path doesn't require that I am always up with the latest of the latest, I never know when I might hear something I needed to know.

I generally do not mention my nursing license or level of education.

I don't necessarily conceal it, but I don't go out of my way to proclaim it either.

It depends. I'm in nursing school so I usually don't say a whole lot, but my GP knows I am in nursing school. I had to talk to him before I decided to do it to see if he thought with my previous health issues that I could handle it. I'm 4 years seizure free!!! So know he will talk to me in medical terms, and often he has a student with him and I can hear him in the hallway telling him or her about me. I feel like he is kind of proud of me considering he thought I would have died about 3 years ago. I love proving him wrong!!

I got caught out when I refused a referral to an immunologist as his reputation is pretty poor at my hospital, I may be a surgical nurse but the immunology ward is next door so I stuck my head into the registrars office and asked him who I should see. Result no adrenaline required since seeing my doc!

My GP works part time as an ED clinician so is pretty on the ball. He has also asked my advice on best parking around my hospital as it is a massive headache at the moment!

It has led to a pediatrician blowing off my concerns on my child and he did misdiagnose her three times. Her new pediatrician has truly looked in to her issues and now she is fine. It has led to her not being admitted to the hospital during serious illness ' because you are a nurse and know how to keep an eye on her'. I work with adults but whatever