Do you ever have patients that you know?

[Lurksalot]

Have you ever had to care for a patient in the ED that you knew in some way(personally, a friend, casual acquaintance, family member)? Do you ask to be reassigned if you know them? Is it okay/appropriate to take the assignment of a patient that you know? If you work in your hometown, I could see this come up pretty frequently.

[nighteyes719]

I work in a very small town where eveyone knows everyone, includes all the patients know the nurses as well. It gets hard at times, because you know stuff you wish you did not know and eveyone else knows your a nurse and wants information on them. And I have teenagers and I see alot of their friends and families come in for this or that. And you can't say anything when you really want to protect them. The worst was when a boyfriend was admited to someone I know and you find out stuff. What do you do when it comes down to HIPPA and your loved ones? A difficult situation to be in .

[ernurse2244]

I am a solo ER nurse in a small rural hospital. I have cared for friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members and never really gave it a thought. I have never gotten any negative feedback and have frequently gotten positive feedback. They seem to be grateful that someone who cares for them on a personal basis is at the bedside. Additionally, people I did not know would be in the ER and from then on, when I would run into them at the local grocery store would stop me and make small talk, feeling that I was now a friend. I have worked codes on friends and on children I didn't know...the friends were easier, I can assure you.

[jov]

Here's a story for you...

years ago I worked at the County Coroner's office as an inquest secretary. One of our deputies was a retired RN. She got the call to go to the ER at the hospital near her home, for a homicide. A woman's husband went ballistic and stabbed her to death. When she got into the room and started her exam on the body, she realized it was her daughter. Pretty crazy. Furthermore, when the husband got out of jail he went to court to try to get custody of his kids, whom the deputy had been raising since he murdered her daughter...

[nurse2beeinthefuture]

In the past year as a nursing student I got to know several nurses and other nursing students. During that same year I found myself in the ER many times due to several severe illness. Once my friend from highschool cathed me, first she asked me if it would be ok or if I wanted another nurse, I said that I practically knew everyone here so she just as well be the one. One of my felllow nursing students tried to draw blood and couldnt get a vein for the life of him. Working with those you know can be more anxiety on the nurse but hey remeber you may have that situation that you have to do it

[WannaBTraveling]

Here's a story for you...

years ago I worked at the County Coroner's office as an inquest secretary. One of our deputies was a retired RN. She got the call to go to the ER at the hospital near her home, for a homicide. A woman's husband went ballistic and stabbed her to death. When she got into the room and started her exam on the body, she realized it was her daughter. Pretty crazy. Furthermore, when the husband got out of jail he went to court to try to get custody of his kids, whom the deputy had been raising since he murdered her daughter...

I think that might be the sadest story I have ever heard. I can't imagine burying my daughter for any reason (car accident, illness, whatever), but at the hands of some lunatic bast%.