Hmm...that's nice

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

I * will * admit though, my daughter needed surgery, and she mentioned something like

" well my mom works in the OR and is a first assistant, and she said x y z ... and the surgeon immediately changed her demeanor, as well as her surgical approach-- which I knew was initially not a good approach at ALL..( I had something I had to do that day I don't remember why I wasn't at that appointment) ... anyway... this surgeon I didn't know from Adam, and she was not a breast surgeon, like my daughter needed, so I ultimately had her go to the best breast surgeon on the east coast... lol so I never boast unnecessarily about my credentials, however I have zero qualms about pulling any and ALL strings I can to get myself , friends and family the best care available

and I thank God that I have access and relationships to some of the best there is in the field... I work at a major University Level 1

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

ðŸ™„ðŸ™„ðŸ™„ Oh lord Those are the WORST

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

I'll add , though , when a family member pulls the " I am/ know someone who's a nurse/ doc etc etc, I usually put no stock into it, because 9 times out of 10, they don't work in the OR, and trust me , I don't care WHO you ARE or KNOW... if they don't work in the OR, they are just as clueless as someone who ISNT in healthcare, so it doesn't bother me, and I speak to them just like I would any other patient...one patient I had, an RN , had the decency to admit and tell me " I'm an RN, but I have no clue about the OR or what happens down here , so please, talk to me like any other patient " lol

it seriously IS a whole other universe

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

I was recently very ill. I became very ill because of the poor and delayed treatment at a local hospital. I was in septic shock in ICU and my husband called my sister because he knew I needed help.
My baby sister (also a nurse...like my older sister) arrived from Chicago announced who she was, called the MD's on the carpet and had me transferred to MGH. She, and my doctors, saved my life.
I agree that many "in the healthcare field" are not nurses but when they are I try to make them feel comfortable that their loved one is in good care.....then he/she usually will calm down.

Wow, thank God you are ok... and transferred to MGH!!

Graduatenurse14 · Mar 30, 2017

In my state, we receive a "Wallet card" with our license info on it when we receive our license. I guess we're supposed to carry it around, but it's too annoying to pop it out of the perforation without ripping it. And everything is verifiable online anyhow.

Maybe we live in the same Mid-Atlantic state!!

When I received my first license I carefully removed the wallet sized copy and got it laminated and kept it in my wallet. It was like $4 for the size of a credit card! :no:

My second one is ripped and crunched up in my wallet- I think. It is so difficult to remove them without it ripping!!

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

Your post just answered the previous question -- why would we ever NOT mention that we're nurses. In addition to the fact that it changes the dynamic of the conversation, many people "play the nurse card" -- whether or not they are, in fact, licensed nurses -- in the hope of intimidating or threatening someone or because they expect "better treatment." If we as nurses are doing our jobs, EVERYONE gets our best. So the "better treatment" quest is often seen as an attempt to threaten or intimidate whether or not it really is. Over the years, I've found that people who loudly announce that they or a family member is a nurse are actually doing so to threaten or intimidate. The rest of us lie low until we're outed or busted because we don't want anyone to mistake our intentions.

When I'm in a situation where I am being given instructions about a healthcare matter, I never announce I'm an RN, so they go on and on like I don't know wtf they are going to say, but a few times my husband outed me, and said " why are you letting them go on and on and talk to you like you are not an RN in the OR?" And then I'm embarrassed lol

I then save the doc / nurse a whole diatribe that they would neeed to give the average patient I don't know, it's just not my style to boast and throw my credentials around..

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2017

Maybe we live in the same Mid-Atlantic state!!
When I received my first license I carefully removed the wallet sized copy and got it laminated and kept it in my wallet. It was like $4 for the size of a credit card!
My second one is ripped and crunched up in my wallet- I think. It is so difficult to remove them without it ripping!!

I just did a super-quick stalking of your posts and I don't think we are, although we are very close geographically. My state *was* a part of your state at one point, though.

WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN · Mar 30, 2017

This debate of whether or not it's rude to look at the computer kind of surprises me. Of course, to release information you have to have the appropriate permissions. Aside from that, sometimes I feel it's helpful to have them look at the screen. In the outpatient clinic I work at, our monitors swivel so we can have patients/family/caretakers look at the chart at their visit. One frequent reason is to review and confirm their home med list... patients sometimes find it easier to read along with the MA/nurse. My son's physician shows me my son's growth chart or weight-based tylenol chart from the computer. I've done it for patients or caretakers wanting to read radiology reports. As long as you have consent and do not show the list of other patients, I have no issues with this. I'm noting this conversation though that others may not feel this way.

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Well, that's different because you're inviting them to look at your screen, and perfectly fine as long as HIPAA is not violated (if the screen only shows the one patient you intend.)

carylene · Mar 31, 2017

Family members who are nurses, doctors or POAs are not authorized to stand in the patient's room and look over the nurse's shoulder at the computer. Yes, they are entitled to look at the patient's chart -- if they're POA or the patient wishes them to -- but most hospitals have a procedure for allowing chart access. It involves signed paperwork and an appointment for a visit to the Medical Records department so that a physician can be present to look over the chart with them. If they merely want to learn more about the care their family member is receiving, I am happy to go over that with them (without them looking over my shoulder at the computer) or to contact the physician to discuss the care with them. Looking over the shoulder is not allowed. Furthermore, it is rude and offputting. I'm really hoping you weren't one of those family members because that will negatively impact your relationship with your family member's caregivers for the foreseeable future.

It always surprises me how different things are from hospital to hospital/state to state. We routinely print out a patients lab results (it is theirs after all) but not physician notes, test results, etc. I even print the whole visit and explain trends, show them the "normal" columns, etc. I think it helps keep the patient happy and on board with his/her care, and can bring up questions for them to ask the physician on rounds.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 31, 2017

It always surprises me how different things are from hospital to hospital/state to state. We routinely print out a patients lab results (it is theirs after all) but not physician notes, test results, etc. I even print the whole visit and explain trends, show them the "normal" columns, etc. I think it helps keep the patient happy and on board with his/her care, and can bring up questions for them to ask the physician on rounds.

just to be on the safe side, please check your facility's policy (the actual written policy) on this. I've worked in many parts of the country, and every facility I've been in has one.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2017

Pull out your RN license? Why not just answer "yes"?

If it were a civil question, that is what I would have done. With the attitude that I got...

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2017

I know he asked you but it would have been more polite, more professional and more correct to let his nurse answer the questions. You could have clarified anything he didn't quite grasp or ask your own questions. If I had been the nurse I would have been annoyed too, especially with the license thing.

She walked in during the conversation. I wasn't explaining anything in front of her. I would not have jumped in on a colleague like that.

You're assuming details that I didn't provide.