How does it make you feel?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

How does it make you feel when you find out your patient is a nurse? I feel deceived... Trust me this is one of my favorite patients and I'm just curious as to why she didn't tell me. She still doesn't know that I know and she has been a nurse since before I was born. It just saddens me that she is not concerned about her wellbeing. I know she has other issues and maybe she felt if she told me I wouldnt treat her like my other patients??? All my other patients let me know up front that they are a nurse or have nurses in the family. Am I wrong for feeling deceived??

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Why do you feel deceived?

Are we, as nurses, entitled to know the current or former occupations of all our patients if it has no bearing on their rehabilitative needs?

I'm not trying to be mean, but I just don't understand your feelings of deception. Maybe you could explain?

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I dont tell Anyone Im a nurse, I dont know exactly why, but maybe because they dont feel the need to explain things in detail and expect me to know everything, which i do not;)

Why would you feel deceived? Would you have treated her any differently had she told you?

I had a doctors appointment recently where I did not tell the doctor that I was a nurse, about half way through the appointment he looked at my insurence and said " you work at X hospital?" (where he works no doubt, and frequents my floor too, just didnt recognize me) I just felt the atmosphere change.

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

I agree it has nothing to do with her rehabilitation needs. I think maybe it's because week after week I come into her home and she shares so much with me about her life and family life. Just the other day she was showing me her wedding pics and telling me about her children. She told me about each of their occupations and I don't know, if she trusts me enough. Nurses is a big accomplishment and we all share a common bond. I think I feel deceived because why didn't she share that bond with me

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it would make feel honored, because if i did not knnow it means they had no issues or complaints lol

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

No I would not have treated her any differently. During clinicals I got the chance to take care of an OR nurse post labor and she didn't remember I had clincals with her in OR. I didn't say one thing about her being a nurse until my shift was over. I said thank you nurse X for allowing me to take care of you today :)

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
How does it make you feel when you find out your patient is a nurse? I feel deceived... Trust me this is one of my favorite patients and I'm just curious as to why she didn't tell me. She still doesn't know that I know and she has been a nurse since before I was born. It just saddens me that she is not concerned about her wellbeing. I know she has other issues and maybe she felt if she told me I wouldnt treat her like my other patients??? All my other patients let me know up front that they are a nurse or have nurses in the family. Am I wrong for feeling deceived??

To me, deception is if she had told you she was a schoolteacher, and now you learn she lied, that she was really a nurse. Selective omission is not the same thing, IMO. My husband makes it a point of NOT telling people he's a police officer (clearly, not me, LOL) because you can almost feel a shift in attitude at times. He's not deceiving anyone by NOT telling them he's in law enforcement, he chooses not to share, KWIM?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I don't think every person who has been a nurse feels that "bond" or affinity. Particularly ones who have been treated badly by other nurses.

I think feeling decieved is a little over the top. It simply may not be a means by which she identifies herself.

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I agree, their occupation is only relevant if it is important regarding their disease process, for example a coal miner in for respiratory distress....etc etc,

Now if a cop were in for PTSD exacerbation on a psych unit it would be nice to know if he were a cop.....is up to us to ask these pertinent types of questions in our history gathering

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.
I don't think every person who has been a nurse feels that "bond" or affinity. Particularly ones who have been treated badly by other nurses.

I think feeling decieved is a little over the top. It simply may not be a means by which she identifies herself.

This maybe be true.. She might not identify herself with the nursing profession.. I just don't know why it makes me feel weird. And telling some people your occupation can be personal. I don't tell some people because I hate the stale nursing jokes and the salary questions. Idk maybe I just felt since she shares so much more with me.. That maybe she would have shared that she was a nurse.

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Most nurses I know, including me don't revile to those caring for them that they are nurses. The only time I do is if I feel it's necessary. If your pt chose to not tell you she is a nurse it's her perogitive.

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Specializes in none yet!.

I don't think it is a big deal that she didn't inform you that she is a nurse. Her personal business is her personal business. And she has the right to pick and choose which information to give you.Your her nurse not her best friend. No offense I'm just saying. We care for all regardless of occupation! :)

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