Family Members/Patients Who Write Down Your Name

Nurses Relations

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Do you ever have those patients or family members who write down everything? Your Name, Your title, your care provided, etc.

I get annoyed sometimes but If its a once in a while thing, I am okay. If its a repetitive everytime I go in the room thing, I get a little defensive.

Specializes in Critical Care.

As a publicly licensed professional, you're legally required to provide your full name that you are licensed under if asked, at least in my state, I'm pretty sure the laws in every state require this in one form or another.

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About last names, I know all my doctor's first and last names. It is posted on their badge and office, on the hospital website they are affiliated with. Any pt can obtain this even if you hide your badge. They can get copies of their medical records.

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Specializes in ICU/PACU.

I had a family member do this and when she left the room I looked at the notepad and noted several errors in her recording. For example she wrote EKG instead of echo and etc.

I don't think anything will come of it it's just annoying to me.

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I'm such a smart *butt* I squirm my way out of it. They will be like "and what did you say your name was?" i'll be like "Caitlyn" then they ask my last name and i just laugh and say "Oh, you'll never be able to spell it. Just call me Caitlyn" Then i quickly change the topic to something else. Also it makes it enjoyable that my work spelt my last name wrong on my badge and I've NEVER corrected it nor have i brought it up.

I feel as a person, it is my right to protect my identity. Yes, it is patient's right to know who is taking care of them. And all they need to know is "Caitlyn who has their nursing degree is taking care of you." That is the ONLY information you need to know about me. People forget that their nurses are people too with their own rights to privacy..

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besides...writing stuff on a notepad cannot be used against you. Like lets say something were to go to court and they claim they have this "notepad of notes against you" they could have written that AFTER the event or the patient's hospitalization in an attempt to frame you or put the blame that something happened on someone. It is not a legal document. Especially if someone has no medical background because they don't know what they are writing...they just write stuff down that they think is important.

Like once, i had a patient receiving blood and they wrote "Blood at 7:00 hung by Caitlyn" nothing happened during this transfusion but lets say it did and they blame ME for "not checking" when i have clear documentation that i checked blood bank number, blood type, vitals...everything that needs to be doubled checked by TWO NURSES. who are they going to believe?? a little notepad that gives the court NO information or me, who has a legal documentation by myself and another nurse that i did things correctly?

probably not them.

Let them write stuff down if it makes them feel better. it means NOTHING!!!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I'm such a smart *butt* I squirm my way out of it. They will be like "and what did you say your name was?" i'll be like "Caitlyn" then they ask my last name and i just laugh and say "Oh, you'll never be able to spell it. Just call me Caitlyn" Then i quickly change the topic to something else. Also it makes it enjoyable that my work spelt my last name wrong on my badge and I've NEVER corrected it nor have i brought it up.

I feel as a person, it is my right to protect my identity. Yes, it is patient's right to know who is taking care of them. And all they need to know is "Caitlyn who has their nursing degree is taking care of you." That is the ONLY information you need to know about me. People forget that their nurses are people too with their own rights to privacy..

You do realize that your license is public knowledge and can be viewed by the general public.

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You do realize that your license is public knowledge and can be viewed by the general public.

Yes, but good luck to them looking it up without knowing my last name. Our hospital does not make us put our last name on our badge. It is only our first name.

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As a publicly licensed professional, you're legally required to provide your full name that you are licensed under if asked, at least in my state, I'm pretty sure the laws in every state require this in one form or another.

I was in the "I don't have to give out my last name if I don't want to" camp. But you make a good point.

We all would expect a physician to reveal his full name. As licensed healthcare professionals, I guess we're under the same obligation.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I'm such a smart *butt* I squirm my way out of it. They will be like "and what did you say your name was?" i'll be like "Caitlyn" then they ask my last name and i just laugh and say "Oh, you'll never be able to spell it. Just call me Caitlyn" Then i quickly change the topic to something else. Also it makes it enjoyable that my work spelt my last name wrong on my badge and I've NEVER corrected it nor have i brought it up.

I feel as a person, it is my right to protect my identity. Yes, it is patient's right to know who is taking care of them. And all they need to know is "Caitlyn who has their nursing degree is taking care of you." That is the ONLY information you need to know about me. People forget that their nurses are people too with their own rights to privacy..

Patients have a legal right to know your full name and you are legally obligated to provide it when asked. Patients have the legal right to make inquiries about your license to submit complaints without have to go through your employer.

Regardless of who's responsible for spelling your last name wrong, you are knowingly misrepresenting your identity to your patients, which is a criminal act under my state's NPA.

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