How do you feel about taking pictures with your patients?

[nurse79]

SO do you guys usually jump in if they ask you to take a picture with them and baby? Just curious.

What would be a nice way to get out of it if you didnt want to..well in a polite way of course??? Just curious...

[eden]

Where did I say you had to be forced into the pictures? The OP asked if we minded and I responded accordingly. I have never had anyone take my picture without first asking me.

[Jo Dirt]

Where did I say you had to be forced into the pictures? The OP asked if we minded and I responded accordingly. I have never had anyone take my picture without first asking me.

I have, many times. I've even had people come give me a picture of myself they had taken at work and I never even knew they had taken it. To me, that is just incredibly disrespectful and rude.

And I have also had co-workers- yes!- try to force me into pictures. When I say I don't like having my picture taken and I don't do that they will keep on and on until I have to get nasty.

When I was pregnant in nursing school, I walked out of the instructor's office after an evaluation and a camera flashed right in my face. I got so mad I couldn't see straight and I screamed and ran away. The deal was it was a surprise baby shower...there was a cake and presents and while I felt soooo bad I still believe it is very wrong to take someone's picture without their permission.

So, no, I would not even ask a nurse or doctor to pose in a picture for me and I certainly won't pose in one for them. Call me uptight but I don't believe it is an honor or a duty either (everyone has a right to their feelings and opinions and they should be respected.)

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Doesn't really bother me, but in some cultures/faiths/countries, picture-taking is considered offensive and sometimes harmful. (Best example I can think of: when I was in Haiti, not everyone wanted me to take their picture, as some people believe the camera will steal their soul or put a spell on them.)

[lannisz]

I accept graciously. It's a compliment.

[msmcrn5]

I don't mind taking pictures, I will usually just give a cheesy smile

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have no problem with cooperating. Just NOT during infant rescus. or other such things. I have had to stop people during these critical events, in the past. It's not appropriate and not a good memory, anyhow, for the patients or families!

[eden]

I'm with you on having to stop people from taking pics and video during a resus SBE. A) it's distracting for me and B) who would want those pictures. I don't get that at all.

[everthesame, LPN, LVN]

I prefer not to have my picture taken and will try to make myself scarce when the camera comes out. Of course this isn't always possible. In those instances I just grin and bear it. What I hate is the video camera that comes out to tape mom and baby being wheeled out of the hospital...and I happen to be the one pushing the wheelchair. How can I tell them they can't videotape their baby's first trip outside just because I would be in the shot? It is their family album they are building. It's not about me, it's about the baby and the parents wanting to capture images from the baby's life.

[strn96]

I hate looking at pictures of myself (I'm also "cosmetically challenged"), but if my patients ask I don't mind posing with mom or baby, because I know that this is an occasion that they want to remember in detail. And besides, I won't ever have see most of those pictures. Since I'm an avid scrapbooker myself, I understand their desire to capture their baby experience on film. I don't like it when people take my picture without asking, though. I think it's common courtesy to ask before snapping a picture, especially since some people do have religious or cultural beliefs against photos. Also agree that photos during resus. should not be allowed.

As far as coworkers/family/friends go, I've found the more you resist/complain about having your picture taken, the more likely they are to keep taking pictures of you. So even with them, I try to grin and bear it.

[Jo Dirt]

It's not about me, it's about the baby and the parents wanting to capture images from the baby's life.

That's fine and dandy, they need to just make sure they are capturing it without me in the picture.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Maybe if you don't like getting your picture taken, you can turn it around and ask if they would mind your taking their picture together as a family. Like I said, it doesn't bother me to have my pic taken (though I am no Heidi Klum) but I have been privileged to take some really nice pictures that way. Most people will jump at the chance.

[CEG]

It's funny..when I had my first child I did not really care for the nurse. When the baby was born and we were taking pics with my midwife we got one with the nurse just to "be nice" to her since we didn't really care for if we had a picture with her.

Fast forward to my second child- same nurse! We again took pictures with her to be polite when we really didn't like her. Funny to see that we felt it was a great honor to ask her and would be rude not to when so many nurses feel exactly the opposite.

Even now in L&D I consider it an honor if my patients want to take a pictue with me.