Ever lie about what you do to your MD?

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Anyone ever lied about being an RN to their MD or any other HC professional? Since Ive become a RN I always have people asking me what I do. Once I say Im a RN and they see me acting squeamish with needles... they give me a certain sarcastic look. Also, I find doctors explain less and give me weird looks if I ask basic questions. The truth is that even though I do know more, when it comes to my own body its scary and it helps to have someone go over the basic with me again. Since my insurance card states the hospital that I work for, Im thinking of starting to say that Im the unit clerk.

Am I wrong??

Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Nope. I don't come right out and tell people I am a nurse. I don't want to be bothered with their personal medical conditions/problems, and I don't want guys telling me how much money I make as a nurse...total turnoff!

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

I remember coming into the CICU room after hubby had triple bypass last summer. His nurse asked me, "You're a RN, right?" I replied, "Not today, I'm not....I'm a SW..scared wife!"

I don't care if I am a nurse, when it's me or my loved ones I want the same consideration others get. Maybe I don't know what an art line is and would love an explanation. Maybe all those pumps and bells and whistles scare me as much as the next person. Maybe, just maybe, I'm scared about possibly losing my husband and can't think straight.

Maybe ignorance is bliss and my KNOWING the complications, possible outcomes, etc is scaring the bejeezus outta me.

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Specializes in Medical.

Ever since I had a doctor patronisingly refuse to tell me my BP (Me: "What is it?" Her: "It's fine" Me: "Okay. So what is it?" Her: "It's nothing to worry about" Me: "I'm a nurse, I know how to interpret the actual reading") I tell them. I don't introduce myself as a nurse, but I don't shy away from using clinical terms to describe my symptoms and they usually ask.

When it comes to family as patients I try to avoid letting on that I'm a nurse but either it's that they reset a heparin infusion and didn't change the flask (lay people like the rest of my family won't pause the pump just as it's about to run through then request they hang a new bag), or the IV's been in three days and is looking inflamed, or someone tries to tell me how to feed a stroke patient, and the truth just pops out.

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Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I have learn never to tell anyone I am in nursing school, almost finished one more semester to go. I usually just sit and play dumb when people start discussing medical conditions, meds, etc. Or worse yet complaining about hospitals, nurses. I recently was at a family affair and listen to two relatives, both unit clerks, give medical advice to everyone at our table, what meds they should be taking, what tests they need etc. It was hilarious, they had no clue!!!!!

BTW my doctor knows and yes I love him but he does think I should know more than I do, or gets a kick out of my fear of needles. Not giving them getting them

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

No, my doctor knows I'm an RN, he worked closely with me when I was in the ER and I save his tushy a time or two on orders he had written.

Nice thing is, he usually believes me when I call and tell him "I have bronchitis can you call something in for me" or "I have a yeast infection, can you call me in a difulacan?" Etc... He trusts me.

I've worked in my hospital 16 years, so nearly everyone knows me. When my husband was recently in the hospital on respirator isolation, I went in one morning to see him and he was very upset. He had asked for a glass of ice water, and it took over an hour to get it. When he finally got it, the nurse told him "well since your on isolation, it's such a hassle to have to garb up that we check this room last". I was very upset. I went directly to the nurse manager with my complaint and added a few more. I said "You've put my husband on isolation, he cannot leave the room, and yet the "policy" is to make him wait??? Do you think this is appropriate?" I also mentioned that when I am here, I do not mind emptying his urinal, but when I'm not here, no one comes in to check until it's totally full and he has to ring before he can void again.

I told her that I would go to our risk manager with this complaint if they weren't addressed satisfactorily - the nurse manager said "can you at least give me the opportunity to talk with my staff first?" I said "of coorifice, which is why I came to you first."

After that, my husband was treated very well. People checked on him more often, and he didn't feel so isolated. He never had to wait for more than 5 min for his light to be answered.

Sometimes, it pays to be the squeaky wheel.

Babs

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

I'm basically the relative from hell. I know the rules and policies, and I know my way around medicine - so I will speak up when appropriate.

My daughter recently had her first baby (check out my photos of my grandson). She was in labor for 24 hours, and pushed for 6 hours. But she wasn't making any progress. She didn't want an epidural initially, but eventually requested one. Because she gets herpes outbreaks on her lower back (although she did not have one while in labor), anesthesia didn't feel comfortable giving her an epidural. They wouldn't give her anything for pain because "it was too close to birth". At one point, the doctor and midwife left for over 15 minutes - the nurse was in the room with us. Her boyfriend had one leg, I held her other while she was pushing, she started saying, "he won't come out, God, please, help me, I can't take it anymore" I said the the nurse, "Is there anyone else in this department as close to delivering as my daughter? She said "no", I said, then I would appreciate a doctor or midwife get in here ASAp, because if anythng happens to my daughter or my grandson, there will be hell to pay.

The doctor was back within minutes of her delivering this message. My grandson could not pass thorough her fully dilated cervix. So it was decided at 2200 that she would have to have a C-section, a midline incision.

I work in PACU, so now we were moving to my territory. My daughter was screaming with pain by this point. Her body still having the urge to push, but the baby not moving. And again, they would give her nothing for pain.

We get her upstairs, and the surgeon is sitting writing notes while my baby is crying and begging for help. We had been in the OR waiting area for over an hour, the or was there waiting. I said to the Doctor "What is the holdup?" She said "my first assist is delivering downstairs, I have to wait until she is ready." I said "Dr. Blank, that could take hours, your going to let my daughter lye her in this agony, knowing the baby cannot be born, call in another assist. The nursing supervisor was present. So again, I said to the Doctor and the Nursing Supervisor "I'm warning you both, if anything happens to MY DAUGHTER and MY GRANDSON, you'll all be working for me by the time I'm through with you. The doctor got up, came back in 5 min and said "the baby was delivered, we can move her to the OR now." Her boyfriend also spoke up about his anger at the delay, so we had mom, a nurse with 16 years experience, and the father of the baby angry and upset.

Finally, they took her to the OR. And Iniko was born. My daughter is now now worse for wear, except the midline incision.

I even stayed with her in PACU, as the on call nurse that night was being a nasty (donkey) - of which I pointed out to him and he apologized. I reminded him, I'm here as a mother and grandmother tonight, not a representative of this hospital. Don't push me - and you best not take your frustration out on my daughter. "I've seen him be short with patients before."

It all worked out.

Sometimes it pays to stand up for your loved ones, just like advocating for your patients.

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Specializes in Home Health.

My doctors always know. They ask what I do and I tell them. We have had some interesting conversations since they know I am an RN. My PCP actually told me I could work 2 jobs to stay in shape since I work 12 hours. I just laughed and said "yes I could".

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Specializes in med/sug/onc/geri.

It would be rather difficult, since my doc is one of the main admitters to my floor, so I see him pretty much every day when he rounds. :lol2: He always asks how the kids are doing. :D

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

I've tried to avoid mentioning anything about being in health care in the past.

Two reasons:

1) I have found that many Medical Professionals do not take my complaints as seriously because they feel I know all of the S & S and I know what to say. So, in other words, I am exaggerating to get what I need.

2) They feel that they do not have to go over concerns r/t my condition because I already know everything. Believe it or not, it is still comforting and reassuring to hear explanations and to be asked if I have any further concerns regarding my dx.

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