Do you identify yourself as a nurse when you or your family are a patient?

[Brian]

We've all been in the situation when either we are the patient or our family and/or loved ones are the patient.

Do you identify yourself as a nurse?

Please answer our quick poll, then share your stories or why or why not.

Thanks

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

no I don't. I don't like people feeling uncomfortable around me or like I am watching their every move. (even though I am. )

[LumpyRN]

i almost always tell other health care professionals that im a ER nurse, mostly because it changes the language that they talk to you in. i usually dont have to ask about specific labs, because they already told me. i know i like it when family tells me they are a nurse, i can change how i talk a little bit, and know that more things will be absorbed by the patient in case they have a question they are afraid to ask me. i also like to think that if there is a nurse in the family, they are smarter than the average non nurse family

i will say i am annoyed when i find out the "nurse" is a CNA, and they got their certification last month....

[funkynurse09]

I don't usually tell people I'm a nurse, but if I am asked what my occupation is then I tell. Also if situation warrant me to tell my profession, I do. I've been a patient in ER and never told the nurses nor the doctor I'm a nurse.

There was a time my baby happened to be a patient in ER, I was working in thesame department but not thesame unit. I introduced myself to the doctor that am a nurse working on the other unit and would like him to attend to my baby and he did.

Sometimes it`s ok to say your profession.

[prettygirllpn]

I never introduce myself as a nurse. My grandmother, on the other hand...well, lets just say, she is proud. I dont want to make the nurse feel uncomfortable or nervous. I just set back and observe.

[jlcole45]

If you tell them they often will provide more specific information because they know you will understand it.

[sharpeimom]

i've identified myself as a nurse when i needed to get information about my mom's condition or about my fil's or mil's status when they were hospitalized and lived out of state. i was given much more information and my questions taken seriously.

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

[mikethemurse, BSN, RN]

I have had to take my fiance to the ER a few times, while in nursing school, and as an RN. She hates if I tell the hospital staff that I am an RN, because she doesn't want them to feel uncomfortable. So...one day, she was c/o SOB, and Chest pain, and I brought her to the ED. They did the usual, EKG, Labs and etc. Everything was WNL, but her Sx were the same. The whole time I was a good boy, and didn't ask too many specific questions, and let the doctor talk to me in that very med school, explain it to a second grader language that drives me insane. They did a CAT scan, and the Doc came in with the results and said that she had, " a problem with one of her arteries, called her Aorta." At this point I couldn't hold back anymore, "problem...Aorta" I needed a bit more information than that. The doc wound up being okay after I explained that I was an RN and worked on a Vascular Surgery Unit (at the time). And my fiance was fine. Misdiagnosed by some computer geek in India with God knows what kind of training. (CT outsourced to India b/c the hospital was too cheep to keep staff over night) I just think that it is interesting that we as nurses feel uneasy when doing our job in front of other nurses. Personally I love nurses as Pts, as family members we can be a bit pushy but with a professional attitude, and mutual respect, I see nothing wrong with letting hospital staff know what you do for a living. It can cut through a lot of B.S. and you can better support your loved ones with clear information.

[bubblymom373]

I dont identify myself as a nurse unless asked. Hubby and my Aunt will usually slip that I am an RN into the conversation . I feel that it does change how you are treated and I am not always comfortable with that. Makes me wonder how would my family member be treated if that info had not slipped out.

[sasha2lady]

When my son was born via c section I was on the OR table, strapped down and numbed...the CRNA asked me where I worked...I told her...she had no idea I was a nurse...she thought I was an aide or something. When the words came out "Im the charge nurse on x shift"....the OR fell completely SILENT and I saw the staff exchange those "OMG" looks. During the discharge process the nurse came in and asked me if I was really a nurse. I said "yea, check on the board of nursing site. You'll find me on there. " I wonder if she ever did? lol I never tell anyone what I do, unless they ask. If they ask me where I work...I just say where it is....then if they ask exactly what I do...then I will tell them Im a nurse but otherwise I dont publicize it. My hubby doesnt think Im a nurse because Im an LPN, not an RN. His ignorance is so amuzing at times. My own doctor doesnt know Im a nurse. Neither does my moms doc....she has me to go to her appts with her sometimes and talk to him about her meds....he just talks to me like Im 4 and dont understand english. One more episode of that and I will pull out the nurse card

[Jamesdotter]

I marked "never", but that doesn't mean that the staff doesn't find out. My family has a bad habit of "outing" me!

[Meems]

i generally do not make a habit of saying that I am a nurse because my being a nurse should not change the way that any health care professonal handles their job. Not to say that I wouldn't do it if I thought it would help.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Its kinda specific to the situation. I do not usually tell folks what I do for a living.

In fact, at the moment I'm doing a peds clinical for another APN certificate. However, since I'm doing it in peds (where I've never worked), few people know I've already been an APN for 4 years.