Quite frequently, I find myself caring for patients who are nurses or who are former nurses, or those who have family members who are nurses. I have to say that these people make me a little more anxious than those who are not and those who do not have any family connection to nursing. When I see RN after a patient's name, it almost makes me intimidated, even though I'm an RN myself.
Although I'm not sure what, exactly, causes this anxiety, I think part of it has to do with feeling the necessity to perform to perfection. Not that I give substandard care to non-nurses, but I feel like I have to be especially mindful when I'm caring for a nurse. After all, they know what is going on, and will likely know if I'm doing something wrong or am missing something.
I've had RN coworkers as a patient. It was fine. It was nice to not have to explain stuff to them .
This may be fine for your coworkers but I caution you to assume that any patient that has a role in healthcare would not need further instructions. As a patient, I want to hear all the instructions because I may not be in your specialty or familiar with my own illness or procedure. When I had a hysterectomy I knew the basics but I had never had one before (obviously) nor taken care of anyone with this surgery in many many years. Things have changed and I needed updated information.
My reaction to loriangel's comment was that I was a L&D nurse, had been the baby nurse in cesareans, and I still was a bit shellshocked when I had an emergency cesarean with my 4th child. And my nurse was a former nursing school student/colleague.
She actually said "I'm glad I don't have to explain all this to you because you are a L&D nurse".
Well, actually, you do. Even if I've done it a thousand times, having it happen to me made it so completely different.
Same with hospice, which I were I work now. When my father-in-law was in hospice I made sure to tell my colleagues to be the nurses in this situation. My family kept wanting me to be the nurse and not the daughter-in-law and/or wife.
Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I don't need teaching. Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I take responsibility for teaching my own family.
If a patient is familiar with the medical industry such as being a nurse/doctor or just an experienced patient, can they change their settings on the IV machine? Or use their own medication from home, such as taking NSAIDS etc.
When i've been in the hospital as a patient, I was familiar with lots of stuff like taking out an IV catheter but the nurse freaked out and was affraid of getting yelled at because of what I did. I told her i'd take the blame! The Charge Nurse told me taking our your own catheter can cause a bacteria infection.
I already have a superb immune system! I don't get infections!
I have lots of HCPs as patients. It really doesn't bother me and it really doesn't change my care. I don't change the way I talk to them either, I explain things to them like I would to everyone else other than throwing in an "as I'm sure you know...". I get nervous when things are explained to patients because it is assumed they must know because they are a nurse or a doctor or an RT or medic or whatever.
Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..
My first semester in nursing school I was assigned a patient who not only had been an RN for over 35 years, but was also a nursing lecturer and a clinical instructor. Intimidated? Oh boy! I just addressed it right away, said she had so much wonderful knowledge and I would be happy to know from her unique perspective how I could anything better. She was the best, I learned sooooo much about doing physical assessments, and especially auscultating lung sounds. It has stuck with me and I use what she taught me on every patient, God bless her!
When the patient is the nurse or MD it's usually pretty pleasant. If the family member to the patient is a medical professional it can get unpleasant. I'm assuming that's because said professional is usually in charge of the patient's care on a daily basis and giving up control isn't part of their plan.
On a side note, if I am the patient I usually don't divulge that I'm a nurse. Unfortunately this fact startled a nurse after my last c-section. I had a J-P drain, I noticed the bulb had partially come off of the drain tube. So I'm playing the role of self-sufficient nurse, I waddle over to the sink, wash my hands, grab some gloves, waddle back to bed and start fixing my drain. My nurse walks in and jumps at the sight of me sitting on the side of my bed, then notices the gloves and drain in my hand. You could tell she asked me "what are you going?" in the nicest way she could muster at the moment. To which my husband chuckles and let's the nurse know that I'm a typical stubborn nurse and 'that drain thing' I have broke. I'm sure she was relieved that I knew what I was doing but perturbed that I didn't just tell her first that I was a nurse. And more preturbed that I didn't call to have her fix it.
@ Spidey's Mom Yes! This exactly! I have taken care of so many hospice patients over the years I couldn't begin to count. But when it came time for my Aunt's hospice I found myself telling my uncle often "let's wait and see what the hospice nurse says." I knew all of her hospice nurses and knew what most of them would do. But I always wanted to make sure. I'm the same way with my children, I never worked peds so I second guess myself often.
If a patient is familiar with the medical industry such as being a nurse/doctor or just an experienced patient, can they change their settings on the IV machine? Or use their own medication from home, such as taking NSAIDS etc.
When i've been in the hospital as a patient, I was familiar with lots of stuff like taking out an IV catheter but the nurse freaked out and was affraid of getting yelled at because of what I did. I told her i'd take the blame! The Charge Nurse told me taking our your own catheter can cause a bacteria infection.
I already have a superb immune system! I don't get infections!
I'm not self-conscious that I'm doing it wrong when I have a nurse patient, but when it's a retired nurse (especially one who has been retired a while) I do slightly worry that they will take issue with something where the standard of practice has changed since they were a nurse.
Years ago an elderly retired nurse patient told me and another nurse we were bad nurses because we didn't give HS backrubs, which... I think suggests they have been out of the game for a while.
Back rubs are very important for the immobile patients's skin integrity and circulation. I got one from a nurse trained in another country and felt much better. She also got to evaluate my skin prior to back rub.
If a patient is familiar with the medical industry such as being a nurse/doctor or just an experienced patient, can they change their settings on the IV machine? Or use their own medication from home, such as taking NSAIDS etc.
When i've been in the hospital as a patient, I was familiar with lots of stuff like taking out an IV catheter but the nurse freaked out and was affraid of getting yelled at because of what I did. I told her i'd take the blame! The Charge Nurse told me taking our your own catheter can cause a bacteria infection.
I already have a superb immune system! I don't get infections!
It's not hard to remove a IV catheter.
Only staff hired, trained and validated by the hospital should be carrying out medical procedures. Many health care disasters have occured (including death) because a patient or a family member attempted to carry out a procedure in the hospital. A patient cannot change settings on their IV machine. Patient's may use home medication only after permission (by order) has been obtained from the physician and home meds have been reconciled by physician and nurse. These are legal requirements.
I am curious to know how much nursing experience you have, as the scenarios above have nothing to do with technical ability.
I've had RN coworkers as a patient. It was fine. It was nice to not have to explain stuff to them .
You have a legal and professional obligation to explain "stuff" to them. What if they didn't know as much as you thought they did? Would that not increase stress? Would it not deny them an opportunity to ask additional questions or reveal that their consent was not as "informed" as it should be. You may be able to use more medical terminology, but you are not allowed short cuts.
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Cardiac/Renal, Ortho,FNP.
You are not alone...I hate it too! Even though I have a professional degree and an NP. I hate being judged but honestly, I've never had any of them say anything but nice, encouraging things to me. Taking care of other docs family members, same thing. I think if you do what you are supposed to do-they know it. If you make obvious, life threatening mistakes then they will have to speak up. Otherwise, they understand b/c they would be nervous taking care of YOU for the same reason. After a while it will be like comparing how someone else breathes compared to you...so what? Both of you are alive and doing the same thing. Everyone is an expert in something and nobody is an expert in everything. Find your thing and do it well-work on the other stuff. That's it--you're just a human taking care of another human.
Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN
11,305 Posts
My reaction to loriangel's comment was that I was a L&D nurse, had been the baby nurse in cesareans, and I still was a bit shellshocked when I had an emergency cesarean with my 4th child. And my nurse was a former nursing school student/colleague.
She actually said "I'm glad I don't have to explain all this to you because you are a L&D nurse".
Well, actually, you do. Even if I've done it a thousand times, having it happen to me made it so completely different.
Same with hospice, which I were I work now. When my father-in-law was in hospice I made sure to tell my colleagues to be the nurses in this situation. My family kept wanting me to be the nurse and not the daughter-in-law and/or wife.
Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I don't need teaching. Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I take responsibility for teaching my own family.
Just a thought or two . . .