Clients? Are they no longer patients?

Nursing Students General Students

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Just curious about this...all my literature refers to the patients as clients now, has this turned into more of a business? When I think client, I think business, customer, etc.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

Me, too! I believe "client" is the PC term we are using now.

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I HATE the term "client." As if we aren't reminded enough that health care is a big business...out to make $$$. I say patient. And I write patient. All of the texts our teachers are using use "client," but all but one of them actually uses the word "patient" when talking about care.

This is not the only industry that is seeing this. When working on my masters in criminal justice I read repeatedly of the move to call inmates "consumers." CONSUMERS!??!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!! Hell will freeze over before I call an inmate a consumer.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm too old and crotchedy to call patients "clients". Not gonna happen. I'd rather go to the pasture. It's not just a word, it's a shift in attitude and the traditional nurse/patient relationship. I just can't see myself smiling and nodding to a a guy who doesn't want to cough/deep breathe/get up after surgery and bringing him a home-baked cookie instead.

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Specializes in Psych.

I think outpatient when I hear the word client.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Sorry but in EMS i learned people were victims. Then it changed to patients, now its clients and residents if you are at a nursing home. Ill stick to patient.

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Glad to see I am not alone in this...

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I'm not a fan either. It says "client" on a lot of my clinical paperwork and I constantly find myself changing it to "patient."

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I don't like how the books are using "client" instead of "patient". I still call them my patient. The word "client" will change the nurse/patient relationship b/c "client" brings to mind $$$ and "patient" makes people think of a sick person that needs your help.

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OMG I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I'm in nursing 3 and I like our medsurg book because they call folks in the hospital PATIENTS! It's ridiculous....if I'm ever admitted to the hospital, I hope I'm called a patient and not a client. I'm not there to buy life insurance or talk to a lawyer...I'm a patient!

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Specializes in Psych.

Our nursing faculty uses the "client" terminology too, but our med/surg book still calls them patients. I prefer patient as well. Its just like how servers in restaurants are taught to call customers "guests" now too. That one really got under my skin too.

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I use the term patient when I write up my care plans. My instructors don't mind, as they too don't use the term client.

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