I have to say this is my pet peeve! I absolutely hate it when they call patients "client" - can NOT STAND IT.
I got out of sales because I hated the greed, and the corporate feel.
Now there is a push somewhere - not sure where its coming from to call patients, "client". Client is a BUSINESS term. It is indicative of someone you have a FINANCIAL contract with. Attorney -CLIENT relationship. Realtor -CLIENT relationship.
I know hospitals charge money for their services, but in a MEDICAL setting - these people should not be called CLIENTS. These are PATIENTS - people who are sick, have an ailment, and are coming for MEDICAL attention.
Calling them CLIENT is a COLD term that ignores their reason for needing medical attention.
I see this on NCLEX questions, and study books as well - calling the patient CLIENT instead of PATIENT.
The term "client" had been around in some settings for a while, then around the year 2000 a work group with the ANA recommended that we use the term "client" as a general replacement for "patient". It was only after this switch that they actually studied the effects of this terminology and as a result they quickly reversed their recommendation, although by that point it had already made it into textbooks and general academia and there was no turning back.
The term we use to refer to someone indicates how we view that person and our relationship with that person. "Client" refers to a participant in a financial transaction or business relationship, while "patient" refers to someone in a therapeutic relationship. As it turns out, patients don't generally like to be seen as a source of revenue, they prefer to know that we see them as someone in need of nursing care.
The term "client" had been around in some settings for a while, then around the year 2000 a work group with the ANA recommended that we use the term "client" as a general replacement for "patient". It was only after this switch that they actually studied the effects of this terminology and as a result they quickly reversed their recommendation, although by that point it had already made it into textbooks and general academia and there was no turning back.
The term we use to refer to someone indicates how we view that person and our relationship with that person. "Client" refers to a participant in a financial transaction or business relationship, while "patient" refers to someone in a therapeutic relationship. As it turns out, patients don't generally like to be seen as a source of revenue, they prefer to know that we see them as someone in need of nursing care.
In shift home care the recipient of care or their family do run the show. The nurses who have the most problems in home care are the ones who go in and try to run rough-shod over the family. We take our lead from the care plan, followed by the family. I've been in home care for about 6 and a half years and I'm highly requested by the families I work with because I adapt to what the family needs from their nurse and then make suggestions to change the status quo only when I see there's a need to adjust the care. Obviously if there's a change in status that needs urgent treatment then I address it right away but I'm not there to "run the show."
I see "client" as a more empowering term for the people we see and care for. "Patient" can be seen as a more dependent term where "client" is more reminding that it is there choice to see us, at least as an FNP now. I graduated in 1994 with my RN degree and they encouraged "client" then to change our view of people we were caring for. Now Intey to avoid both and use name or "he/she".
I had a similar response. 83%? If that was true and 83% were actually PAYING for healthcare, nurses wouldn't be working short staffed every day, food service wouldn't be reduced to reheated garbage, and fresh linen wouldn't be an issue every day of our lives!
I think both words have a lot of similarities: helping, serving, checking up on. However I feel the word client has more negative conontations bc it feels like you should be going out of your way to, idk, make a sale? We aren't selling anything, we're here to provide a service that this person is in need of. However we all have had a patient or two who have acted like they are our only patient and why aren't we going above and beyond regardless of our current load. But I feel when you use this word healthcare staff lose any respect we had (and waaaay too many people already dump on us anyways) and people start taking advantage.
I am a retired RN. I practiced 35 years. This is what I was taught: hospitalized people are patients. Nursing home people are residents. People coming into a clinic for services as well as home care people are clients. Patients are people who are sick. Clients are people who are well. Now as far as being a customer: Getting older and being a more frequent health care consumer, yes, I am a customer. Being a customer I expect the health care product/service/ and or care I purchase to be of quality. Keeping this in mind health care poviders should always strive for quality, respectful services. This is not only for the welfare of the patient/ client/resident but also to insure personnel job security. If I do not not get respectful quality care I will spend my health care dollar elsewhere. Just like if I don't like a particular store I will not shop there.
Just finished my first week of nursing school, The term "client" is used exclusively at my state university, as well as the ATI learning modules. My guess is it's the new PC thing to say.
MunoRN, RN
8,058 Posts
The term "client" had been around in some settings for a while, then around the year 2000 a work group with the ANA recommended that we use the term "client" as a general replacement for "patient". It was only after this switch that they actually studied the effects of this terminology and as a result they quickly reversed their recommendation, although by that point it had already made it into textbooks and general academia and there was no turning back.
The term we use to refer to someone indicates how we view that person and our relationship with that person. "Client" refers to a participant in a financial transaction or business relationship, while "patient" refers to someone in a therapeutic relationship. As it turns out, patients don't generally like to be seen as a source of revenue, they prefer to know that we see them as someone in need of nursing care.