Clients? Are they no longer patients?

[bassadict69]

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.

[milliemm35]

I agree. I hate calling patients clients. I feel like a salesperson

[limestone]

I"ve been a nurse all my life but 2 weeks ago was suddenly hospitalized with PE's following orthopedic surgery. I did not CHOOSE or SEEK hospital/nursing care--it just happened. Sorry, but I was glad to be a patient and be looked after.

On the other hand, I had just prior to that SOUGHT out and CHOSEN a lawyer for some business matters and as her client, was the one whose wishes were carried out. There definitely was a difference.

I would have been so uncomfortable if my nurse had referred to me as a client. I had enough stress being deathly ill without feeling I had to work at my care. "Patient" meant having my needs met by others or as I got better, being assisted to look after myself. As a "patient" I had input into my discharge planning and that was quite enough.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I use the terms interchangeably. Even when ill, they still are an active participant in care. Things are not just "done" to them. They are consulted and give consent. For that reason, I tend to prefer the term "client" though I entirely agree that for some settings the term "patient" may be more appropriate.

[ruaalien2]

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.

Exactly how I feel 100%

[nmccann501]

i am a student nurse and how it was explained to me was that people need to advocate for themselves and take charge of their own health care and so the belief is that by calling someone a patient it some how takes away from their feeling empowered and so by changing and calling them client makes people more aware that they have choices. the funny thing is i never call someone client or patient i use their name when speaking to them and so for that matter what difference does it make when charting or speaking to another nurse or such about an individual.

[RPN_2012]

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.

I HATE:mad: patients being called "clients", I really, really HATE it! For me patient=health care, client=$$$ & business:mad:, same as customer. I've been in business, retail, office admin, and I had CLIENTS. Now I'm going to be a nurse, and people I will care for will be my patients. I really bothers me when teachers & books call patients clients, grrr:mad:. Especially in Canada where most of out health care is provided for free. When I go to the hospital, dr's office, pharmacy, clinic, x-ray, mri, etc, etc. I FEEL like a patient not a client, and that's what I am and I'm fine with it. If I were to pay for all of that, then (maybe) I would feel like a client, right now I feel like a client in the bank and like a customer in the store not in the hospital. I will get over it, and call them clients when necessary (for school papers, etc.) but they are PATIENTS!!! :) And if I ever hear anyone in the health care field call me client, I will ask them to call me patient.

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

i am a student nurse and how it was explained to me was that people need to advocate for themselves and take charge of their own health care and so the belief is that by calling someone a patient it some how takes away from their feeling empowered and so by changing and calling them client makes people more aware that they have choices. the funny thing is i never call someone client or patient i use their name when speaking to them and so for that matter what difference does it make when charting or speaking to another nurse or such about an individual.

that makes sense, clients have advocates, there is a clear, natural relationship there which is not seen as easily when they are called patients.

but this is just semantics, really. my school is not insistent about it. the texts all refer to them as clients but our instructors, who are older school tend to waffle between expressions, using one then lapsing into the other.

[nursel56]

I use the terms interchangeably. Even when ill, they still are an active participant in care. Things are not just "done" to them. They are consulted and give consent. For that reason, I tend to prefer the term "client" though I entirely agree that for some settings the term "patient" may be more appropriate.

I would say it's the other way around, and most of the time there is no difference between the consent a "patient" gives and the consent a "client" gives. It also artificially narrows the provider/providee relationship into active/passive when in reality the worse off you are, the more will be "done to" you, but that doesn't mean you are more passive or not an "active participant in your care". So if you have a subdural hematoma you will progressively lose the ability to be an active participant in your care, but it doesn't define you as "passive" because you don't have a choice in the matter.

To use the same diagnosis as an example, if you make it through surgery but can now no longer talk, walk etc, your active participation is mandatory if you want to get better. This is the setting that the term "client" may be more appropriate. I would say that in the average acute care hospital, the individuals are mostly having things done to them. With economics as they are, people are probably discharged before they should be in many cases. Lots of patients, not too many clients.

The other problem with the word is the way it's perceived by the majority of people who use it when referring to the healthcare delivery system. The perception is actually harmful, because what stems from it is (unfortunately) business-minded suits-- the idea that one should never be uncomfortable. A recent true example of that is a post-op pt who doesn't want to get out of bed and walk, or cough or any other essential yet uncomfortable thing he needs to do to get better.

I'm not concerned about it too much though, because no matter how many ideas float down from the more esoteric, if something is really a dumb idea most people will ignore it after a while. I'm not bashing the theory people in any way when I say that, though. We need the ivory tower. I think of it as like an idea engine that attemps to keep up with a changing world from which we can contemplate and define ourselves as the footsoldiers at the front. So every time we tell them "they are full of it" we sharpen up our self-perceptions. :)

[CountessB]

i was fussing about this earlier this week. i've come to the conclusion that i can handle the term client for people who are coming in for well-visits or perhaps counselling. however, there will always be patients in the icu... and "cancer client" just sounds plain wrong!

@%~ ad

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

At the hospital, I have patients.

At the nursing home, I had residents.

In people's homes, I have clients.

Seems to work out just fine.