Do you think nurses get special treatment?

[NurseLife88]

So I was looking at some old threads on here and they got me thinking. One in particular about whether cops give nurses tickets. So what do you think? Do nurses receive special treatment when people know you are a nurse? Any personal experience with this subject you want to share?

I have two stories both similar and different at the same time. I was once pulled over after a workout. I had on teeny shorts and shirt and probably definitely looked a hot mess. So I was pulled over for speeding going 6 mph over. I was asked to step out of my car and proceeded to be searched. Officer stated I was being searched because he smelled marijuana. I don't smoke and I don't know how he could have possibly smelled anything besides my sweaty nastiness. But anyways search concluded and officer tickets me for speeding as he has nothing else to charge me with.

Shortly after this I was again pulled over for speeding in the same vehicle. ( Yes I know I have a lead foot lol) This time I was in scrubs and had my name tag hanging on my rearview mirror. I also was going about 15 over not 6 as I was prior. The cop didn't even ask where I was going. Proceeded to give me a verbal warning and then let me on my way.

Now I don't know if this has anything to do with me being an obvious nurse the second stop vs the first. Or whether one cop was just nicer than the other. But it does make me wonder...

Any nurses care to share their experiences, opinions,etc??

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I am black, so I can't really say for sure. Maybe it is true from white nurses, but for black nurses...I doubt it.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I got pulled over on the way home from work, got a ticket. I was wearing scrubs. I have been pulled over on the way to work wearing scrubs. Given a ticket.

I have gotten off when I am not wearing scrubs LOL. I got pulled over on a back country road in Northern MI by a sherriff for going 10 over the speed limit (55). I was let off with a warning because I had no current tickets or infractions. I was visiting family and going into town to Wal Mart.

I have had a far easier time without being in scrubs LOL.

[WinterLilac]

My sister-in-law who works as an RN in the emergency department of the local hospital was pulled over for speeding. The police officer who pulled her over had brought a lot of drunken degenerates to the ED the previous weekend so my sister-in-law said "You owe me a favour!" So he let her off.

[NurseNick4994]

Not if you're an LPN. I was pulled over a few days ago and given a ticket for, "Driving at a high rate of speed" (notice how he didn't even put an actual speed on the ticket), after I had just spent 16 hours at work and explained all that after the cop asked where I worked (I was in scrubs). I was just like, "Okay, I'll just remember this if he ever ends up in my territory."

[cleback]

Darn.... I have been pulled over twice... once for a rolling stop on a right turn and another for going 7 MPH over. Ticket both times. :-( maybe I should keep my name tag visible.

[NotYourMamasRN]

Once I was going 10 over and a cop followed me all the way home, riding my butt without his lights on. I wasn't in scrubs but was on my way to TNCC after stopping home for my books, and told him that when he asked why I was rushing. He gave me a ticket. I went to court in my scrubs after working 12 hours overnight with huge bags under my eyes. Judge dropped my ticket.

[nancy welch]

I say Yes they do. I was a nurse aid for 10 years and a RN for 20 years before I had to take an instant retirement, not that I wanted to but I could barely walk anymore. I was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis and 3 herniated and 1 ruptured disc, It was not a so called distinct movement related injury, in other words not a workers comp case. I can not think of any certain moment where I did something and said ouch my back. it kind of snuck up on me thru the years. My primary care Physician nick named it an old nurses back, as did the Neurosurgeon, and my chiropractor. I ended up having a discectomy but ended up with drop foot,not that anything went wrong with the surgery, we all know sometimes things just happen and I refuse further surgery at this time. .Giving up working as a nurse was traumatic for me, I felt like I was in one of those old time movies where a General walked up to a Military Private and rips the stripes off their uniform for doing something wrong, but I did nothing wrong, all I did was many many years of hands on nursing care. I have only had 2 people look down on me and they were both Medical Assistants.My Physicians, PT and Chiro have all been good to me, and the Nurses and NP they really show me extra empathy, I do not want people to feel sorry for me, but it is really nice to have people not think that I just am lazy or don't want to work,a stereotype for people with back pain . Every time I go for my check ups I have a list of the interventions that I have done at home, from my Low back trac, to exercises I learned from PT, to some of my own manipulation techniques and more exercises that my Chiro has taught me, to my TENS unit that I wear for pain, cripe I even do some Senior Citizen style Belly Dancing exercises that I learned off of you tube,this keeps my lower back moving which in a long run helps with pain, Of course I do it by the couch so if I lose my balance I only fall on the soft couch..lol.. But these people are always my Top Cheerleaders, they always encourage me, they are my Sisters and Brothers, and they always remind me that once a Nurse always a Nurse, I get so depressed by all this back stuff so it sure is good to hear..So I say YES, I am treated differently, but I think that is because they can identify with the past work that I have done and that I am still a part of the "Health Care Family" even tho I am retired. I love all my Cheerleaders, I couldn't do it without them.

[Feelgood RN]

I think there is an overarching sense of professional courtesy between fire, police, emt, and medical staff. We all work in similar venues and have our place in taking care of the community. That being said there is no doubt that being in scrubs helps getting out of tickets.

I'm also going to throw out there that having a set of breasts doesn't hurt. I was going to invest in some to get out of tickets but was advised that it might not work so well.

Either way your best bet is to treat them with respect, don't act like an idiot or like they're an idiot, and you'll more than likely be treated fairly. There will always be the one that's having a bad shift, but hasn't that happened to all of us?

[Dodgern]

I got pulled over a few weeks ago. ....young,snot-nosed cop wouldn't reduce it.

Had to go through a lawyer. ...seriously, I hope he learns before he needs us to look after him.

[jaderook01, BSN, RN]

I think there is an overarching sense of professional courtesy between fire, police, emt, and medical staff. We all work in similar venues and have our place in taking care of the community. That being said there is no doubt that being in scrubs helps getting out of tickets.

I'm also going to throw out there that having a set of breasts doesn't hurt. I was going to invest in some to get out of tickets but was advised that it might not work so well.

Either way your best bet is to treat them with respect, don't act like an idiot or like they're an idiot, and you'll more than likely be treated fairly. There will always be the one that's having a bad shift, but hasn't that happened to all of us?

My breasts have never gotten me out of a ticket. The only time I was not ticketed, I was on my way to work and the female officer let me go because I reminded her of her daughter.

[CalArmy]

Sometimes I think scrubs work better then boobs lol.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I have no problem with professional courtesy until nurses believe they are entitled to speed and run stop signs, etc. I've seen that attitude expressed here before.

I got pulled over a few weeks ago. ....young,snot-nosed cop wouldn't reduce it.

Had to go through a lawyer. ...seriously, I hope he learns before he needs us to look after him.

Not if you're an LPN. I was pulled over a few days ago and given a ticket for, "Driving at a high rate of speed" (notice how he didn't even put an actual speed on the ticket), after I had just spent 16 hours at work and explained all that after the cop asked where I worked (I was in scrubs). I was just like, "Okay, I'll just remember this if he ever ends up in my territory."

Aaaaandddd there we are.