Gosh, I felt so dumb!!!

[stella123 rn]

I have to share this embarrassing moment I had. One evening I had a patient who was diagnosed with colon CA and had post chemo fever and diarrhea. I spent quite a bit of time with him explaining all the meds and procedures. He was quiet and polite. Everything went ok. It was a very busy night and it was until 2 in the morning that I finally had a chance to sit down and pour through the chart. I found out that he was a retired pediatritian. I felt so stupid. I am sure that more experienced nurses would not have, but I instantly turned red and felt that I could die. How do you handle medical professionals as patients? I am still learning myself and felt so uncomfortable. I could not believe that no one had told me or that I just did not know this.

[CraftyLPN]

I agree...GOOD JOB!!!

[nursedawn67, LPN]

Actually your lucky, I have dealt with medical personnel as patients and they think they know everything and are so cocky about everything. This isn't ALL med personnel, just some.

You did the right thing...keep up the good job! :)

[ava'smomRN]

I agree with all the other posts! I think you did a great job and you should be proud. Also just because he was a MD, I don't think he would require "special" care. Good Job!!!

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

ALWAYS give medical professionals the same info you would give anyone else. As stated above, they may be out of their area and need the info and secondly, if they are having a health crisis, such as your pt, lots of times, anything they know or remember goes out of their head and they need to have it presented to them. You did the right thing. If they know it all already, well then they can say so or listen to see if they hear anything new.

[mattsmom81]

We try to alert coworkers of a doc or nurse patient, but sometimes it slips through the cracks.

When I have been sick and hospitalized, I don't feel well, and when I had a cancer scare once, I was hungry for all the info and support I could get from my nurses, as I could not trust myself or my thinking.

And as a retired peds doc, he may have had zero idea of the stuff you taught him about oncology! I think you did just fine. :)

[rachel h, BSN, RN]

I usually am intimidated when taking care of other health care professionals- just feel as though I'm being 'judged' on my techniques, knowledge, etc. However, the other night I took care of one of the nicest patients I have ever had... he complimented me on how nice I was and even told me I was a "very good nurse." I found out later in the evening he was an MD although currently not practicing due to some health problems. I think that experience will change how I view taking care of other healthcare professionals from now on. Not having that information right at the beginning of the shift was better, I think, as I went in there and treated him like any other patient, which is really what he needed at that point.

[beckymcrn]

I agree with the above. You did exactly as you should have. I am a oncology nurse also and I would have done the same.

No need to be:imbar

[Agnus]

Every single patient is entitled to what you gave this patient. As has been already mentioned no one knows it all. Especially when it is out side one's speciality.

Even within our speciality we need specifics about OUR situation. Never ever withhold teaching or information because you assume they don't need it. Put yourself in that situation. See how you would feel if a nurse or MD assumed you knew all there was to know about your condition.

[nimbex, RN]

He was NOT a doctor, he was a patient.

[KMSRN]

I am an oncology nurse also and it has been my experience that physicians who don't treat cancer patients know very little about chemo and the side effects and toxicities. If he was a pediatrician, he probably needed and appreciated all your teaching. And like nimbex said, he was not a doctor, he was a patient.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I once had to counsel an ER MD. I prefaced my remarks by stating I did not intend to patronize him, but I wanted to be sure he understood my nursing plan. He said he was grateful to be treated just like any other patient as no one is an expert in everything and he had no nursing experience. Suddenly the nurse became VERY impt. to him, since he was the patient.

[Audreyfay]

I've done diabetes education with MDs who just developed diabetes, or who needed to start taking insulin. Just because they're an MD, doesn't mean they know everything. He obviously did not know those things, otherwise he would have stopped you. I've had people stop me when they knew about what I was going to teach them. No need to be embarassed. I actually prefer not knowing before. I can tell more by their responses than their educational background. Sometimes I just feel more nervous doing teaching if I know they are an MD.

Kind of like the phlebotomist who doesn't want to know if you're a nurse before they do your blood draw.

Good work girl!