Coworker as pt??

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Okay, how many of you have had to take care of a coworker? I've had to a couple of times before, and it's really stressful (at least, IMO). What do you all think? Should employees be allowed to be pts on the unit where they work (assuming there is a choice, of course!) ...Would you want to be a pt where you work?

some health care workers are understanding, but when you get a really bad one they are the worst of the worst..frequently they believe that the deserve perks

i have known doctors who went out of town for a battery of tests because they don't want to be cared for by those they know

wouldn't bother me no matter whether is was the vertical or horizonal

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I don't really mind taking care of a coworker; I've cared for coworkers and famous folks and never had a problem.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I've taken care of my hospital CEO and also a co-worker.

Didn't feel awkward with the CEO but was a little apprehensive about providing care for the co-worker (she works eves. I work nocs).

It all turned out ok in the end, though :)

cheers,

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Well, I got the impression from this coworker (who is above most of us in the food chain, but works on our unit), that she was not entirely thrilled when certain people took care of her. She was pretty sick while she was there, but I'd have to imagine that it didn't help when people she knew had to ask her about her BMs and stuff. I never had her as a pt, but people asked me to go in and do things because they were nervous or felt like she didn't want them in there. I did it, but I didn't really want to. I think it was very awkward for everyone. I'd imagine that our comfort level depends greatly on what they are there for, and also their comfort level...I bet that if the pt doesn't have a problem with it, the nurse will be more comfortable. Just thinkin' is all! Thanks for the replies!

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We are a small hospital and I work in OB, I've been the nurse for doctors, docs wives, many nurses (nursing assistants, housekeepers, kitchen staff etc) from mine and other units. It is a bit stressful and intimidating but it's always been okay. As a potential patient I'd personally rather go someplace else I think. . .

Same here . . . . . I've taken care of many folks that work at the same hospital. However we are rural and 70+ miles away from another hospital.

I did have my last child at a different hospital - it was just too weird for me to think of my co-workers doing cervical checks. ;)

steph

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

Over the course of my nursing career, I have been privileged to care for doctors, ceo's, nursing supervisors, wives and family members of the aforementioned, and even some celebrities.....

I have had some very wonderful moments as a nurse with them....such as the time I was the ICU nurse for the dying, young ER doc whom everyone just loved, and the whole ER staff stood outside his door in his final moments to say goodbye, and then hugged me and thanked me for "giving him the best chance"....affirming me as an excellent nurse....this was really humbling....and I was thankful to have been there that day...

I think it's good to have the familiarity of medical treatment with people who truly will do their very best to take care of you.....although, early in my nursing career, back in the day when we still carried oil lamps! (just kidding), my nursing supervisor was assigned to the care of the chief of surgery who had an emergent appendectomy.....he was a notorious jack-ass, who would throw charts and yell at nurses....everyone was scared spitless by him....

My supervisor really got him.....and it made all of us do a happy dance...heheheh.....it seems that when he woke from his anesthesia, she had taped a polaroid pic of his twigs and berries with a yellow ribbon tied around it to his bed rail....so the first thing he saw was this picture when he opened his eyes!!! She reminded him that she held one other copy, and "if you are a good boy, I won't show it to anyone else".....well, let's just say that he was on his best behaviour from then on.....no more throwing charts, no more yelling.....I just loved that supervisor.....(aren't we nurses somethin????)

In this day and age she would have been drawn and quatered....guess we did have a bit more leeway in some things years ago...

crni

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would not be comfortable because I witnessed many of my co-workers break the HIPPA law just to get information about their collagues. One situation got really ugly. I have sought care for basic things, such as immunizations, podiatry and simple prescriptions because of convienence, and for me, that information is not that personal. WHo cares if the world knows I have plantar fasciitis? Or had a PPD? But, for really personal things or lifesaving I would prefer to be elsewhere. There was an incident once I heard of where after a physician did surgery on one of the attractive female managers, he complimented her on her perfect breasts during a meeting in front of other collagues. That was horribly embarassing and inconsiderate.

That being said, I hate to care for co-workers. My experience with them is that they are more demanding and inconsiderate of my time. I work in a very busy clinic and while I will squeeze them in discretely, many of them make it obvious to the other patients in the clinic, and want to REALLY speed up the process. Some ask for specific doctors, and heck, if they want to see that one,they have to WAIT until he is finished. I have some that will tell me to squeeze them in and then, leave. I leave a note on the chart for the doctor to say this is an employee and then, if the person is not immediately there, the doctor will get mad at me because he has patients to see. Then, I will try and call the employee, they are nowhere to be found, and then when they arrive, they want to get angry at me because the doctor is very busy midway through his day. Some will demand their lab results from me, and that...I am not comfortable with. I firmly believe that the physcian should be the one to interpet their results and explain before I do. Once I answer them, then, it is a long debate about what it could be and what else should be done...I just don't wish to get that far involved.

When I have used the hospital's services, I try to use them at a time where it does not interfere too much with the regular flow of the clinics. Of course, I also want to be squeezed in, but will make time just in case things do not go as planned. I also will come as early as I can so that it is not really obvious to the patients.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

IM going through this right now.. I need to have some surgery, but i am having a big problem with going to "MY" OR, letting MY PACU nurses take care of me and then because i will be there at least a day or two,, letting my co-workers take care of me. Its not really letting them take care of me, but their access to my chart. I just dont really know that i want everyone i work with having access to my life like that. Maybe im being a bit rediculous,, but ive seen it done before, and there are some who cant wait to pull the chart and thumb through it like its an open book to discuss with others. I hate every minute ive seen that done and really resent it.

I have no doubt that i would get good care, or i wouldnt be working there in the first place. I just cant get past the chart siutation. Maybe if i could keep my chart under my pillow id feel better.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I would not be comfortable because I witnessed many of my co-workers break the HIPPA law just to get information about their collagues. One situation got really ugly. I have sought care for basic things, such as immunizations, podiatry and simple prescriptions because of convienence, and for me, that information is not that personal. WHo cares if the world knows I have plantar fasciitis? Or had a PPD? But, for really personal things or lifesaving I would prefer to be elsewhere. There was an incident once I heard of where after a physician did surgery on one of the attractive female managers, he complimented her on her perfect breasts during a meeting in front of other collagues. That was horribly embarassing and inconsiderate.

You do bring up a good point. I would have to accept that fact that if I were a patient, then my business would be everyone's business because people just can't be trusted.

Dispite the fact everyone knows about HIPPA people still ask inappropriate questions about coworkers who are inapteint. I was on the elevator hearing a manager talk about one of his employees kidney infections. Just yesterday I was at a meeting a someone across the table asked "how is so and so doing that's a patient on your unit (a coworker)"...."I just smiled and said "HIPPA" and we laughed about it. But I was uncomfortable with that.

We recently had a coworker inpatient for a routine surgery and it was all over the unit that she was a drug addict. That was not a "need to know" and definately a HIPPA violation.

If I had something to hide, or was just too personal, I certainly wouldn't go to my current hospital.

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No brainer. Treat your co-worker like a patient and don't shy away from the fact that you share another relationship. We will be in this position often, with friends, family, fellow students and instructors could possibly be patients of ours at some point. Give the same level of care to everyone and embrace the deeper relationship you may have.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
IM going through this right now.. I need to have some surgery, but i am having a big problem with going to "MY" OR, letting MY PACU nurses take care of me and then because i will be there at least a day or two,, letting my co-workers take care of me. Its not really letting them take care of me, but their access to my chart. I just dont really know that i want everyone i work with having access to my life like that. Maybe im being a bit rediculous,, but ive seen it done before, and there are some who cant wait to pull the chart and thumb through it like its an open book to discuss with others. I hate every minute ive seen that done and really resent it.

I have no doubt that i would get good care, or i wouldnt be working there in the first place. I just cant get past the chart siutation. Maybe if i could keep my chart under my pillow id feel better.

I don't blame you. This happens more often than people think, and I wouldn't want people to know my intimate business or seeing me in my weakest moment.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

"I just cant get past the chart siutation. Maybe if i could keep my chart under my pillow id feel better. "

Make your concerns known to your doctor, ask that only very pertinent info be put in your H&P, not the complete one he/she has in your personal office file. Most H&Ps list all the social etc. details, there is no reason it has to be there for everyone to see for a simple procedure.

To the OP: I've been treated by coworkers in my own ER, and they were great. I did make one long time coworker so nervous (just by being there) that she blew my first stick, and rushed out to get someone else :lol2: I have huge veins!

They also gave great care when my dh had CA, both ER and floors. I guess it all comes down to what kind of place you work in and the relationships you have with your coworkers.

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