facebook "stalking" as a nurse?

[meghan91]

I was just sitting here thinking and thought, wow at my hospital we wear name tags that say our position, first name and last name.

**Does anyone ever worry about some patients who dont have your best interest in mind to try and find you on facebook and kind of stalk you?

** Has anyone had this happen to them, where a former patient kept bothering them via facebook?

** Has anyone had a patient literally stalk you? Do you ever worry about wearing name tags with your full name on it?

**What did you do to stop it?

** Do you think a full name is required on a name tag?

Im not saying all people will do that but working in the medical feild we all come into contact with a ton of people on a daily basis and some might not be the safest people ever either, it was just a thought on this name tag thing. What are your opinons on it.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

If lawyers show their name for advertisement (to promote their business), I'm sure there are plenty of times they use only their first name to protect their self or their families.

...really? I cannot think of an instance when it would be appropriate for a lawyer to avoid using their last name while on the job. Do you have much legal experience?

I have no use for facebook. Never had a problem just talking to, or using email to keep in touch with friends or family.

Good for you. Have a cookie.

[dari98]

My friend had situation with one of the residents sons. He told here that he goggled he and found out that she had just bought a house and what her address was. I think that would creep me out if someone did that to me. Maybe we should have our first name and title and maybe some sort of identification number associated with our license. That way if its a problem those three piece of info would be able to identify us.

[Noimanurse]

...really? I cannot think of an instance when it would be appropriate for a lawyer to avoid using their last name while on the job. Do you have much legal experience?

We have dealt with children in the court system. As a caring parent to numerous children coming from many different walks of life I have experience personally with the legal system and numerous times I have seen where social workers use only a first name and lawyers have had to protect their names and identity, as well. So, to answer your question, I do not have legal experience on my work resume, but I have experienced the legal system to help protect many innocent children. Believe me, there is a benefit to using a first name. If there is a serious enough of a problem where the patient needs more identifying marks, then they can get it through the right legal channels for the right reasons. I'm a nurse, but above all I'm a parent and I have a life to live.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

...Good for you. Have a cookie.

Why thank you, I think I will !

:cookies:

[OCNRN63, RN]

In my state, and I'm guessing most others, patients have a right to know your first and last name and see a clearly visible ID. And, if you think of it, they really have more reason to worry about us than we have to worry about them. In five years, I don't think a single patient has ever asked to see my naughty bits or chased me down the hall, whereas I've done both more times than I like to think about.

You're kidding, right? You have to look at people's private parts because it's your j-o-b, not because you like to (unless you do, in which case, you have a problem).

Nurses have repeatedly been victims of verbal and physical abuse from patients and visitors. I think nurses have plenty to fear from their patients, particularly in a society that is becoming more violent.

[OCNRN63, RN]

People Search | White Pages | Find People | FREE!

If you put your name in here, you will be surprised the stuff this site pulls up. When I searched my name, some of it was accurate, some was not. But I was really unhappy with how much detail was there. You can request to have the information deleted.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

If lawyers show their name for advertisement (to promote their business), I'm sure there are plenty of times they use only their first name to protect their self or their families....but again, the use their name to promote their paycheck. Same with real estate agents or insurance agents, they use their name to increase their paycheck.

Police officers and judges often take extra security to hide their identity (gates at homes, face masks, etc.) I wonder why? Ever hear of judges being shot in their home? I have. I've never heard of a nurse being shot in their home for being a nurse, maybe there is a reason.

I been involved with the child welfare system, often times the last name is not used. Yes, they generally have to have a name tag or id card of some kind, but they too take extra precautions to protect them self and their families, because people do get upset when kids are taken out of their home. They also work hand in hand with police and the legal system so they have a bit more protection close at hand.

Ever hear of a teacher or college professor getting shot or attacked for being a teacher or college professor? I have.

Yes, patients certainly have rights. I respect those rights and enjoy providing those rights to my patients. I have rights as a member of this country and above all my kids have rights. I'm a male nurse so I stick out, I'm 6'9", so I stick out, I'm 300 lbs., so I stick out, I run 1/2 marathons and jog all over town, so I stick out. My wife and I have a full size van to haul our large family (we don't fit in a mini-van) so we stick out. We live in a small town, so yes, we stick out. People know us, I know I'm listed on the state's professional license site, but if I'm treating a psych patient or intoxicated person or some other crazy situation and I don't want to share my last name...well, that is why at my facility first names work. If there is a complaint or concern by patients, well that is why there is administration.

Then you are a perfect example of why the profession of nursing is not more elevated than what it is.

We cannot claim to be professionals and then HIDE from the public when they have EVERY LEGAL RIGHT to know WHO is treating them and they shouldn't have to go through additional channels to find that information out.

Your paycheck example doesn't hold water...it is a matter of transparency to the general public.

So what if you get a psych patient or a drunk to take care of...ALL JOBS HAVE THEIR OWN RISKS!!!!...find another one if you are that paranoid about it.

I for one, am a true professional, wear my name badge proudly and would actively support any law supporting the first and last name being 100% available to the public and would actively oppose any law to the contrary.

[backatit2]

Nurses are professionals and it is time we started acting like it.

Lawyers...do not "hide" their names...the public has a right to know who they are getting legal advice from.

Physicians, do not "hide" their names.

Police officers and Judges...can you imagine how many people they upset every day? By law, you have a right to know the name of your accused and who is convicting you...they are also, professionals.

Social Workers...they sometimes take children away from their parents...can you imagine who they upset? Yet they do not "hide" their names.

Real Estate Agents...also licensed professionals...they don't hide their names either.

Teachers, college professors..don't hide their names.

SO WHY DO NURSES, WHO CLAIM WE ARE PROFESSIONALS, WORRY ABOUT THE PUBLIC KNOWING WHO WE ARE? Being female is NOT an acceptable reason. The public have a right to know who they are getting care from, especially when state law requires that same professional to have a valid license...I do not advocate removal of ANY name from a name tag at the hospital..period.

If we are going to be professionals, then we need to start acting like it...I guarantee that not a single person can post a VERIFYABLE source, where nurses are of a higher target for violence than any other profession.

If you are worried about facebook, then BLOCK your profile from being searchable....which is an option you have!!!!!

i agree with you 100%

i was a teacher and i didn't get to hide my name. is it REALLY necessary that students, parents, or anyone in general know ANY professional's last name? i guess they wouldn't HAVE to, but i don't see why nurses feel they would be excluded from the "requirement" when it is one.

i can see needing to know first names so patients can file complaints OR praise their nurse. i've done both when i've gotten surveys in the mail. i've praised nurses using the "comment boxes" in the lobby which i wouldn't have been able to do without knowing a first name at least - but a last name wasn't really needed. even if the name were "jennifer" or something common - i think a description would suffice for a complaint or praise.

either way, if i were weirded out by a patient, i would probably make a point to flip my nametag around or something when dealing with them. you can't always pinpoint the crazies, but you're right, use the privacy settings on facebook - easy!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

You're kidding, right? You have to look at people's private parts because it's your j-o-b, not because you like to (unless you do, in which case, you have a problem).

Nurses have repeatedly been victims of verbal and physical abuse from patients and visitors. I think nurses have plenty to fear from their patients, particularly in a society that is becoming more violent.

Yes, I was indulging in a bit of levity about the naughty bits. In reality, of course, the GI/GU systems are not particularly more naughty than any other system.

I firmly believe abuse by patients is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. In my practice, I'm most likely to be assaulted by a patient who is not capable of forming a malicious intent. Then, too, there are the off-service traumas with high ETOH levels and patients with psych co-morbidities. It's a problem, for sure. And I can well imagine there have been instances of nurses being stalked outside the facility. So, the line between prudence and paranoia is probably worth consideration. Still, I think it's still a valid point that we're asking patients to trust us far more than they're asking us to trust them. One reason--perhaps the main reason--I have to maintain a boundary when a patient brings up the idea of continuing some sort of relationship beyond the bedside is that however reasonable that idea might seem in the context of their regular life (I don't find it odd that a single woman in her fifties might want to strike up a friendship and see where it goes), in the context of the hospital, the patient is in far too vulnerable a place. And I do have to think about protecting my own interests, even in the most benign circumstances. Granted, I don't really have much to fear as far as being raped in the parking lot, but if a patient begins to confuse my caring for her with caring for her, well, it really behooves me not to leave her feeling like a woman scorned.

I realize it may seem a novel idea to many women, and perhaps especially younger women, but there is a serious imbalance in power in the nurse-patient relationship, and as much as it may not seem like it after being punched, or called into the manager's office for not fluffing a pillow correctly, we are the ones with the power. Indeed, I believe a lot of the acting-out we see is an effort to compensate for that imbalance. It sounds ironic. I recall a comedian discussing what an alien might think watching people walk their dogs while carrying pooper scoopers. Clearly, dogs are the dominant species. But when you start to think wiping a fellow human's butt is servitude, try to imagine yourself having to depend on someone else to wipe your butt. Honestly, as I write this, I'm beginning to think that an awful lot of the codependence and other pathologies we see in nursing, r/t patients, management, and even peers, may stem at least in part from underestimating our power. We're so conditioned to see ourselves as victims that we don't realize we're running the show.

Some of my most difficult patients are admitted for strokes. They can be confused, impulsive, and combative. Also, typically, elderly, frail, and hemiplegic. But I also see post-ictally confused/combative patients whose only problem is their seizure disorder, and they can be downright dangerous. What's important to know is they are in a panic state, and a big part of settling them is convincing them that they're safe. I believe that same rationale may apply to many other patients. I've actually seen patients lay off the call light after taking a few minutes just to sit down and listen to them. Maybe a large part of the value of demonstrating caring is that it gives back some of the power we hold.

Even in a hospital--even in a psych hospital--true sociopaths are rare. A rather larger minority may be so screwed up that we can't fix them in the course a typical hospitalization. But I truly think there are a lot of "problem" patients who will behave more appropriately if we can win their trust, and I think that begins with understanding why they need to trust us.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I'm not talking about people who act out or are combative due to their disease process. I'm talking about the competent patients who are abusive/threatening to nurses.

[meghan91]

all of you have great points. i think patients should have the right to know our last names because we are taking care of them and their life is sort of in our hands most of the time but for the few out there that have plans of hurting us isnt so good. i know most jobs your last name is out there and a lot of people have to worry about people stalking them but since im going to be a RN thats why i brought this up. i have mixed feelings about the whole full name on your badge too. it wasnt just facebook stalking i was really talking about i ment anything over the internet or anything but facebook seems to have become such a big thing now i thought id talk about that. i know all about the whole privacy settings and stuff but thanks to everyone who let me know about them like the taking yourself out of the search i think i am gana do possiably once i figure out how. and not accepting people doesnt always work i know someone who had someone look through her friends, find a random friend of hers on her facebook, steal that persons picture and info and then friend request them with that account and then got to see everything on her facebook WEIRD

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

I'm not talking about people who act out or are combative due to their disease process. I'm talking about the competent patients who are abusive/threatening to nurses.

As more than what other profession?

Nurses get threatened, law enforcement officials get threatened, teachers get threatened...yet, we seem to be the only ones that want to hide our name.