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

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

    • 1977
      Yes
    • 2195
      No
    • 2755
      Sometimes
    • 363
      Never

7,290 members have participated

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

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

Of course, it depends. But in the case of getting medical information about oneself or a family member, the person speaking to you will not "dumb down" the information one receives. If he or she knows you are informed, who knows, likely you'll get more complete and detailed information.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

My family ousts me. I'm newer so I think they do it because they are proud of me. Makes me feel horrible though. The only time I'll say anything is if they ask me.

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Specializes in ED.

not all the time, but i did once but i told the nurse i can help move my dad around and going to the bathroom and some linens, i try not to interfere with the nurse and just play a supportive role

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
nursekitten's reply reminded me of a situation that was similar with my late husband. he had a history of pvcs, pacs, and short runs of vt. he was hospitalized for a different reason and i knew his heart was skipping more than usual. the staff did an ecg and reluctantly told me it was "normal" when i asked how it looked.

i wish that the hippa forms included a space for the names of who the patient wants told about his/her condition. that way, there needn't be a reason for nurses to lie, or be in the position of having to refuse to give information, which scares patients and family. obviously your husband would have given that permission. the fact that you were viewed as a consultant by the physician, indicates how uncomfortable health care providers are with releasing information, lest it be wrong. your husband's doc then was safe; and could fault you if you'd misrepresented yourself. i believe family can and, when appropriate should be members of the health care team.

they had no reason to lie to me. it made me question all the care he received. i would rather be considered the ***ch that is a nurse than swallow dishonesty. if i see a reason to tell, i do. i would rather not, but...

that also sets up a "we" vs "them" relationship, which is adversarial and not in any patient's best interest.

i recall many decades ago, that nurses were afraid that if they revealed their status while a patient or the family member of a patient, health care providers wouldn't tell them in intelligible terms, what the information they want to know, is. certainly with all the alphabet soup used in describing situations/treaqtment these days, it's easy for a nurse to misunderstand the initials used for specialties not in his/her realm of practice.

i usually wait to reveal that i'm a nurse (which i always am) until i need to verify the source of what i want to say. in the situation you described, as a family member i'd be very tempted, after the ekg was done, (or any other tests that reveal more information if the patient is stressed), to suggest a mild tranqulizer to allay stress caused by hospitalization. cardiac patients' (and many others) conditions can be exacerbated by stress such as that. your husband would then be able to relax and know that you were on guard in case a clear head on his behalf, was required.

a reason that i've become anxious about nursing care i received, is when i see blatant disregard for universal precautions, in staff. as a former ic nurse, that was my role, to observe nurses to see that they comply with ic regulations, so going into that role is a comfort zone for me. let me tell you, the disregard/lapses in compliance (which aren't related to nurses' perception of the necessity for the policies) are rampant!! :eek:

also i am on several medications that should not be discontinued for any reason, yet they are if orders for them aren't obtained. it should be a priority when establishing the first contact with your patients, to say that you will get their doctors' to order the meds they have received in the past, which are necessary to remain in a stable condition. that was why i revealed my background as a nurse. my nurse didn't want to take the time to do that, even when i told her and him, that there would be serious consequences for me if that medication wasn't ordered. :o

there can be considerable distress for patients when pharmacy formularies don't have their medications (which may include "alternative" substances that work for them). in those situations, permission needs to be obtained for the patient to take their own prescribed meds. it's also in their best interest for their physician to know if alternative herbs and such are "on board". that is when the value of having a nurse who is a family member, can be a very positive thing.

also in many facilities with hospitalists, the regular primary care doctor is missing, in the treatment of their hospitalised patients. that is not a good thing for communication regarding their patients. so a poatient or family member who is a nurse, can be very helpful in evolving a plan of care.

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I do identify myself as a nurse, but I never attempt to make it appear that I expect everything to do done in a better way just because of that. M.

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Specializes in OB, ER, ICU, Supervision, SANE.

I dont identify myself - I dont often hear waitresses telling other waitresses of their occupation prior to ordering, or hear people at check-outs telling their occupation. I am there/my family is there for services and who/what I am shouldnt matter. I have had some patients who werent medical prior to their condition know much more than I, and nurses who knew less....what you do for a living shouldnt dictate care or how you talk to someone. You should be able to tell a person's level of understanding as you talk to them and let that dictate how you share information. If asked, of course I tell.

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I always do so the MD or RN won't talk down to me and also to save time so they won't try to explain in layman's terms (which takes longer).

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Unfortunately, I've experienced first hand medical professionals making assumptions on my education just by looking at me (I'm African-American). Sad but true.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Cardiology.

In that situation I AM NOT A NURSE. I want things explained to me as if I know nothing. I don't want special treatment or anyone to feel uncomfortable because they may feel I'm judging them. (Because, I admit that I feel uncomfortable when I'm taking care of a nurse or doctor--or a family member of a nurse or doctor).

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Specializes in ER.
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

I hate it when someone walks in and says "I'm a nurse" - and proceeds to explain, offer advice, or critique everything.... even though they're home care, hospice, OB, etc... and not in my field of nursing. I keep my mouth shut when I'm the patient, or my children or spouse are the patients. Totally not appropriate to make it about you and what you may know. It's almost like it's trying to intimidate the nurse that's caring for your loved one, or worse, trying to receive some sort of preferential treatment. Same goes for MD's. Grrrrrrr. No place for it. I speak to all my patients as though they have a brain, so unless a nurse is completely talking down to a patient or family, there's no need to interject. You can translate for your family member later, when they're out of the hospital and no one can hear you.

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Specializes in ICU.

my family usually drops the RN bomb. I don't say anything personally unless I am asking for something like lab results. I like the staff to know that they can give me as much information as they are comfortable sharing and not have to worry about me misinterpreting it. Many docs I know treat RN family members more inclusively than non RN family members. I wait and see how the situation is going to shake out before I whip out the RN card, metaphorically speaking of course.

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Specializes in mostly MS cases.

fortunately, i haven't been in that situation before but i guess given that, i think it'll depend.. if the situation calls for it then you may want to identify yourself then..

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