Hmm...that's nice

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 28, 2017

Usually I respond with enthusiasm because they are super helpful with repositioning the patient, helping her up to the bathroom, etc.. We chat about their specialty, and it's usually a nice conversation. I can honestly say I've only had a couple of bad interactions with the "I'm a nurse" crowd, and both times the person was not, in fact, a nurse but a CNA.

A real nurse generally doesn't have anything to prove. A CNA trying to pass him/herself off as a nurse already has issues so it often doesn't go well.

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 28, 2017

I had a patient's parent who did that to me constantly, correcting me about medications because, "I'm a nurse!" Given that she kept confusing Ritalin and Risperdal, I had doubts. I got petty and looked up her license online, only to find out she didn't have one...yup, she was a CNA.

Was it tempting to remind her that pretending to be a nurse is illegal?

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 28, 2017

Quoting Ben Dover: "How about a patient saying he'll call President Obama! So we handed him the phone and he then asked us.
"What's the number?" "
In psych, I have mailed a number of restriction of rights forms to the White House, as we legally have to send them to anyone the patient requests and "the President" is a common one.

When I worked psych, we had a lot of patients who liked to tell us they were close personal friends with the current governor. You'd think we'd get a chance to meet her, but she never came to visit any of her many friends on the psych unit.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 28, 2017

Quoting Ben Dover: "How about a patient saying he'll call President Obama! So we handed him the phone and he then asked us.
"What's the number?" "
In psych, I have mailed a number of restriction of rights forms to the White House, as we legally have to send them to anyone the patient requests and "the President" is a common one.

That's how I got to meet a few Secret Service agents. But it wasn't my patient so I didn't have to deal with them.

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 28, 2017

Oh my gosh, this bugs me so much! That and the people who just waltz behind the nurses' station. I tell people that there is HIPAA protected information and they need to step around the nurses' station. The people who are over-the-shoulder-gawkers at the computer I tell them the same or just open the chart at the nurses' station.
I am admittedly very very territorial with the nurses' station. I don't know why but it really, REALLY gets my hackles up when family walks behind the desk. I guess I think of that as "our" area and people need to keep out LOL.

Every workplace in the world has some version of a "staff only" area. Some people are just boundary-challenged and need to be shown the door.

Wuzzie · Mar 28, 2017

Every workplace in the world has some version of a "staff only" area. Some people are just boundary-challenged and need to be shown the door.

I seriously embarrassed myself once by violating this. A friend of mine was in the ED where I had worked for 8 years but had been gone for about 6. I took a shortcut right through the huge nurses station in the middle as I used to do when I was employed there. I caught myself but it was too late. I got some shade thrown at me until a couple of my friends who still worked there vouched for me and we all had a good laugh.

bagladyrn, RN · Mar 28, 2017

When I worked psych, we had a lot of patients who liked to tell us they were close personal friends with the current governor. You'd think we'd get a chance to meet her, but she never came to visit any of her many friends on the psych unit.

Many years ago there was a pt. at the psych hospital at which I worked who frequently spoke of having played with the Grateful Dead. Everyone considered him delusional...until Jerry Garcia came to visit him.

Ben_Dover · Mar 28, 2017

That's how I got to meet a few Secret Service agents. But it wasn't my patient so I didn't have to deal with them.

Interesting, so the secret service agents actually show-up to investigate a claim or to be admitted?! :wideyed:

I think one of the moderators need to move this thread to Psychiatric Nursing thread... lol

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 28, 2017

Interesting, so the secret service agents actually show-up to investigate a claim or to be admitted?!

Yes, yes they do. They also wanted us to notify them when we planned to discharge the patient. Not sure what happened to the patient after the patient left us--I wasn't involved in the discharge process as the patient wasn't on my unit.

fezz · Mar 28, 2017

I don't mind. I would probably say the same if I was hospitalized.

Ben_Dover · Mar 28, 2017

Yes, yes they do. They also wanted us to notify them when we planned to discharge the patient. Not sure what happened to the patient after the patient left us--I wasn't involved in the discharge process as the patient wasn't on my unit.

On a serious note...

That's great to know. I guess these people (Sec. Svc. Agents) don't take things lightly, which is a actually a good thing! :cool:

Susie2310 · Mar 28, 2017

I have had family member nurses attempt to intimidate me and stand right next to me at the in-room computer looking over my shoulder asking questions. I despise that, too.

Are you sure they are really intending to intimidate you? Have you considered that they may simply be doing their best to learn about their family member's care? I have stood next to my relative's nurse and looked at the computer screen for my relative's EHR with him/her, and both of us had a conversation about aspects of my family member's care. I was my family member's authorized representative and POA. It is quite likely they were in a similar position, wanting to learn more about the care their family member was receiving. Why not try to be helpful towards them instead of despising them? Also, keep in mind that they may be lawfully entitled to ask questions about the patient's care and to receive proper answers.