"I am a nurse!"

[Emergent]

Ever have a patient or family member who, the first thing out of their mouth is "I am a nurse!". Then they proceed to brag about their illustrious career, showing off their knowledge, grandstanding and expecting the red carpet treatment. They fiddle around with monitors, turn off pumps and saline lock IVs, crossing boundaries right and left.

Then they announce that they love it here and plan on applying! You go to the BON site, verify their status, then email your supervisor ASAP!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

My family members have usually outed me before I could ever have said anything. Other times, based on the questions I ask, they figure it out. But I try to be very unobtrusive and respect boundaries.

[Davey Do]

I do always tell them I'm a nurse, because nothing makes me madder than someone trying to explain that blood is the red stuff that goes round and round and that the boo boo will be better soon. I know that!

Yeah, Rocknurse, but it always makes me feel better when I know that they know that!

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

My mom (to the cancer doc) - "Well, my daughter's a nurse."

Me: A PEDIATRIC nurse, mom.

As a similar poster mentioned....most "nurses" here end up not being RNs with a current license to practice. Smile and wave...

This was my mom when she was fighting cancer. She told everyone from the surgeon to the radiologist to every.single.nurse she encountered how "her daughter was a nurse and worked in this same hospital!"

... and I had to correct her at the time: "yeah mom, a psych nurse, not oncology."

Smile and wave...

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I'm not a nurse but my parents like to brag to everyone that I'm a Medical Assistant like I am something important and I'm like, No, I'm not that great. I just work with kids.

You *are* something important.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

All the damn time!!! I usually respond with something like "you know how this works then" or "good for you great career choice". I treat them & their loved ones no different than any patient in our ER. Often the "nurse" isn't a nurse at all but a CNA or simply someone who helped care for a loved one. Rarely are nurses too intrusive to the point of delaying patient care but when they are our ER has a stellar waiting room with several TVs and close proximity to the vending machines full of fine nutritious treats.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I definitely stay incognito in medical situations. I only share experience if I have to provide help to family members/S.O. at home s/p discharge.

I don't volunteer that I am an RN in medical situations. There have been times when I have been asked my occupation, IMO because I have been given an explanation using medical jargon and I understand it without explanation.

[Cat365]

I just went to my provider this morning. I have managed to have a provider without them realizing I'm a nurse. However, I think they are on to me.

"Have you been exposed to anything recently?"

"I work in an ER, so probably." Busted

I remember being asked some questions about childbirth from an acquaintance that figured out I was a nurse. My reply "I'm an ER nurse, not maternity. I don't no nothing about birthin no babies Scarlet. But I can run really fast to birthplace."

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Whenever I go to my primary care doctor she always laughs and tells me "you know too much"

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Sort of like Monty Hall on "Let's Make A Deal"?

Which door is most correct?

[Crush]

most "nurses" here end up not being RNs with a current license to practice. Smile and wave...

I really am a nurse (RN w/ active license) but when I am with my family, I am family.

I can't use " I am a _____ nurse" since I work float pool and am cross-trained for a variety of areas.

My point was when I am not at work and with family, I just want to be a part of the family.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

I don't volunteer that I am an RN in medical situations. There have been times when I have been asked my occupation, IMO because I have been given an explanation using medical jargon and I understand it without explanation.

I don't volunteer either. My husband, however, has a difficult time keeping his mouth shut. He will announce to all and sundry that I am a nurse. It wasn't so bad when I was a patient at the sister facility I used to work for because I already worked with the Docs but now that I go to a different facility, I want him to shut his mouth. Oh well. At least I try to be a nice patient. Except when the put the bed alarm on!

[OldDude]

OK how about this...I attend a basketball game, or other sporting event, watching one of my kids. A lot of people know me and know I'm a school nurse...some kid takes a tumble and doesn't immediately jump up...I look around and a hundred heads on our side of the bleachers will turn and give me THE LOOK; "well are you going to do something?" Ugh...