Client or patient?

happthearts · Mar 5, 2005

I was looking at another thread and thinking about the amazing intimacy of nursing, and it occured to me that I really don't like refering to patients as clients. Hey, I'm not helping them pick out a set of drapes, here! This is way more serious than business.
I know administrations would like us to be more aware of customer relations--sometimes to the point that it interferes with good nursing, IMHO--and I know nursing leaders want us to get away from a paternalistic/maternalistic attitude toward those for whom we care, but I tend to see nurse-patient as more than a relationship. To me, it's a covenant. (Yes, I am still in nursing school, and yes, I will become jaded and cynical, but I hope I never lose that belief, even if it does have to adapt a bit to daily reality.)
So, what do people think? Can we call people patients and still encourage them to be participants in the process, or am I just old-fashioned?

Because Our company is a non-medicail Home-health we are not allowed to refere to them as Patients By Law.They are our clients .Even though our CNA'S do the same basic care . We are not under the guise of a nurse.Sure made me feel weird in the begining.

Our clients are still participants in the process,we dissuss the care and they choose how little or how much they feel they need with our CNA .Sometime the Client just need to bath and dressed and made a meal Some time the CNA clean's the home and transport etc.

I personaly think if it is a hospitial ,home health or hospice ETC You should still refere to them as Patients.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2005

Well most of those people I take care of are the recipients of the dollars this government takes from me to support them. Now let me figure which taxes actually come from my worked hours to pay for their medicare and medicaid. And how much local taxes help to fund the home they live in. State taxes go where?

I work as a nurse because I like doing this. They are my patients, always will be.

The term Client makes me think I have to do their taxes too or something along those lines.

allamericangirl · Mar 5, 2005

Just for the record. Webster's definations of the words. Looks like the new references being used by medical employers are not so well accepted by the public that they have made it to the dictionary yet. Maybe we should combine them into a new term: "Custoclypat"

Take the Custoclypat to ER.

Or... Nurse, would you please do Vitals on the Custoclypat.

:rotfl:

http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org

Patient

Adjective

1. Enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance; "a patient smile"; "was patient with the children"; "an exact and patient scientist"; "please be patient".

2. Enduring without protest or complaint.

Noun

1. A person who requires medical care; "the number of emergency patients has grown rapidly".

A patient is the name given to any person who is ill and is being treated by, or in need of treatment by, a doctor. It is derived from the Latin pati which means "to suffer".

Client

Noun

1. A person who seeks the advice of a lawyer.

2. Someone who pays for goods or services.

3. (computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network.

Customer

Noun

1. Someone who pays for goods or services.

allamericangirl · Mar 5, 2005

Because Our company is a non-medicail Home-health we are not allowed to refere to them as Patients By Law.They are our clients .Even though our CNA'S do the same basic care . We are not under the guise of a nurse.Sure made me feel weird in the begining.
Our clients are still participants in the process,we dissuss the care and they choose how little or how much they feel they need with our CNA .Sometime the Client just need to bath and dressed and made a meal Some time the CNA clean's the home and transport etc.
I personaly think if it is a hospitial ,home health or hospice ETC You should still refere to them as Patients.

In my state CNAs do not clean houses, make meals, and do transport. That is the role of the Home Health Aide. Medicare requires that CNAs are also Home Health Aides with specified training in designated areas of skill or they with hold payment for the services provided by the agency.

truern · Mar 5, 2005

I always care for "patients" in the hospital setting but "clients" in the psych setting.

Not really sure why??

Nesher, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2005

Patients!

Someone should do a study or survey and ask the "patients" what THEY want to be called...I'm guessing patient.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2005

Just for the record. Webster's definations of the words. Looks like the new references being used by medical employers are not so well accepted by the public that they have made it to the dictionary yet. Maybe we should combine them into a new term: "Custoclypat"
Take the Custoclypat to ER.
Or... Nurse, would you please do Vitals on the Custoclypat.
:rotfl:
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org
Patient
Adjective
1. Enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance; "a patient smile"; "was patient with the children"; "an exact and patient scientist"; "please be patient".
2. Enduring without protest or complaint.
Noun
1. A person who requires medical care; "the number of emergency patients has grown rapidly".
A patient is the name given to any person who is ill and is being treated by, or in need of treatment by, a doctor. It is derived from the Latin pati which means "to suffer".
Client
Noun
1. A person who seeks the advice of a lawyer.
2. Someone who pays for goods or services.
3. (computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network.
Customer
Noun
1. Someone who pays for goods or services.

God bless the patients (Noun 1.) who are patient (Adjective 1.). But I think I must be ready for Spring Break, because Custoclypat looks like a real word.

weetziebat · Mar 6, 2005

NOW we are on "people served" or if I'm writing in a record I have to write "This "person served" fell, causing a deep laceration" and so on and so forth. It just sounds so silly to me. I really liked "Resident" out of all the terms, because it just indicated that the person was one who lived there, and that seems to work or sounds "right" either where I work or in a nursing home. A resident "lives" there and the resident is obviously the one receiving the services. WHAT, for crying out loud is so wrong with THAT?

Oh, thank you. I thought it was just me, and that I was 'old-fashioned'. I also worked in MR/DD with the 'person served' nonsense. I'm sorry, but to me a person in the hospital is my 'patient', in a nursing home (gee, is that O.K. to call them that nowadays?) is a resident, just like the people I worked with in MR/DD are residents - simply signifying that they live in that house.

Sometimes I get so sick of this PC crap. :angryfire

happthearts · Mar 6, 2005

In my state CNAs do not clean houses, make meals, and do transport. That is the role of the Home Health Aide. Medicare requires that CNAs are also Home Health Aides with specified training in designated areas of skill or they with hold payment for the services provided by the agency.

That's because you are speaking about medicail Home health. We as Non medicail Home health We recieve No medicare dollars not involved with medicare at all .We are We are private paid. We Take cash ,visa M/C long term insurance ,flex care,state funds, and veterens insurance.

In our state Home-health agencys are not allowed to tranport in a private car .But Non medicail home health like my company can. All of our CNA are all licensed and bonded and must have at least 2 years of home-health experiance.They can be caregivers with 2 or more years of experiance. But our company personaly would not higher them. All of our CNA's must come to monthly training meetings and be trained on all the same things any CNA would be trained in there meetings in a regular home health company.

Slobgob · Mar 6, 2005

I think you guys are approaching this the wrong way.

You haven't examined why the word "patient" should be changed to "client". My interpretation of the two words are such:

Patient = One who seeks out medical treatment

Client = One who seeks out advice and enacts their own change

In the old days of medicine, patients were considered passive participants in their therapy/recovery and most appropriately deserved the title "patient".

In todays medicine/nursing, patients are more active. They must sign consents. They must learn about thier illness. They are taught how to take care of their illness after discharge. They are taught about general health practices. They are an active partner in their care, not a passive recipient. This is why they are called "clients".

(Granted I still use the word "patient" cause "client" sounds cold to me. But I also understand that all new changes take time.)

allamericangirl · Mar 6, 2005

Well then instead of having a Custoclypat, you have a Clypat.

:rotfl:

I think you guys are approaching this the wrong way.
You haven't examined why the word "patient" should be changed to "client". My interpretation of the two words are such:
Patient = One who seeks out medical treatment
Client = One who seeks out advice and enacts their own change
In the old days of medicine, patients were considered passive participants in their therapy/recovery and most appropriately deserved the title "patient".
In todays medicine/nursing, patients are more active. They must sign consents. They must learn about thier illness. They are taught how to take care of their illness after discharge. They are taught about general health practices. They are an active partner in their care, not a passive recipient. This is why they are called "clients".
(Granted I still use the word "patient" cause "client" sounds cold to me. But I also understand that all new changes take time.)

LPN1974, LPN · Mar 6, 2005

I think you guys are approaching this the wrong way.
You haven't examined why the word "patient" should be changed to "client". My interpretation of the two words are such:
Patient = One who seeks out medical treatment
Client = One who seeks out advice and enacts their own change
In the old days of medicine, patients were considered passive participants in their therapy/recovery and most appropriately deserved the title "patient".
In todays medicine/nursing, patients are more active. They must sign consents. They must learn about thier illness. They are taught how to take care of their illness after discharge. They are taught about general health practices. They are an active partner in their care, not a passive recipient. This is why they are called "clients".
(Granted I still use the word "patient" cause "client" sounds cold to me. But I also understand that all new changes take time.)

Well, I think you make some very good points.

But I guess old habits die hard, because I just can't bring myself to think of sick folks in the hospital as any other than "patient".

But where I work and in the NH setting "resident" still seems appropriate to me. :)