Identifying yourself as an RN when flying commercial

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

Just curious though because I see a lot (actually oversee through shoulders [Yeah I'm a bit tall] ) use their "Dr." title in these cards. How about for RN's?

That's because Dr. is a title (it takes the place of Mr. or Ms.). RN is not a title in that sense.

delilas · Apr 2, 2010

I'm not an RN, but in the past as EMT and LPN, I've stopped at three car accidents and assisted on an airplane once. I have no problem with people knowing I'm a nurse; on long plane rides, I'd welcome the chance to comfort a patient who's hypoglycemic (though in my case, it was a person with a mild peanut allergy who didn't know how to use their epipen when the person behind them opened a bag of peanuts).

I don't run around telling everyone my profession, but I don't place myself as a last reserve "only if no one else will step forward/only in an emergency situation" either. I normally think of it this way: if my love one were flying and had a small medical issue that scared them, and all it took was some reassurance and orange juice, or a stranger showing them how to use their epinephrine, wouldn't I be extremely grateful to that person? I would, so I do.

Guest27531 · Apr 2, 2010

No, I do not identify myself as an RN unless there is an emergency and my help is clearly needed. Luckily, when a medical emergency arises there is generally at least 1 doctor who steps forward and their license to practice is vastly different than mine. My help would only be needed in a true emergency. That said, I was on one flight when there were no doctors who stepped forward and the call came out again for anyone with a medical background. I did identify myself and was able to provide service in an important way. The pilot had been about to divert the flight to land at the nearest airport. My knowledge provided the information needed to know that the flight could safely continue the 45 minutes to our destination and the patient and crew were greatly relieved to have help in making that decision. My husband and I were given a great deal of thanks and an upgrade to 1st class for the second leg of our trip (very short but sweet).

jennylouwho · Apr 2, 2010

I have a friend who does put it down. The flight crew always introduces themselves to her and confirms that she's a nurse. She does it so that they know who they might go to in a medical emergency. Sometimes announcing the need for a dr or nurse gets people into a panic, where the flight attendant can privately get her. There is a drop down next to the name portion when purchasing a ticket on many (can't swear to all) airlines that lists jr, sr, dr, rn, etc.

elkpark · Apr 2, 2010

I don't know about identifying yourself on a card, I would assume it was a personal preference really, but I do know about the Good Samaritan laws that protect you if you assist in any medical situation from being sued. As long as you don't do anything you are not trained to do and adhere to the RN scope of practice, you would not be liable for anything bad that might happen. As a matter of fact, if you do not help in a medical emergency and someone finds out that you were there when it happened, you could lose your license!

No, you cannot depend on the GS laws to protect you, and there is no "duty to respond" (outside of my place of employment, that is) in my state.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I think I would step forward in that situation if I were on a flight. But the thought of injecting phenergan scares me! :eek:

sunnycalifRN · Apr 2, 2010

Oh, yes! I always identify myself as an RN . . . then I get an immediate upgrade to First Class!!! :lol2: :lol2::jester: :lol2: :lol2:

Guest27531 · Apr 2, 2010

Oh, yes! I always identify myself as an RN . . . then I get an immediate upgrade to First Class!!!:lol2::jester::lol2:

Hey, wait a minute, April Fools Day was yesterday... :yeah:

Guest27531 · Apr 2, 2010

I think I would step forward in that situation if I were on a flight. But the thought of injecting phenergan scares me!

First of all, the nurse who described doing that did not tell us the details. The phenergan came from ...where? In general, I have found that Advanced Practice Nurses are more aware of the legal aspects of practice and may be better able to judge when they are within legal bounds in unfamiliar situations. For example, since many AP Nurses diagnose and treat (write presciptions) there are many opportunities to consider whether they would be "covered" if they treat family members, neighbors, people on a plane, etc. Most hospital RNs are accustomed to being covered under specific state and hospital rules and may not realize that the rules change if they are not in the hospital. Do you know the difference between what you can do in the hospital and out of the hosital?

There are many reasons NOT to step forward if you are at all unclear about how your function fits into the legal picture. Realize it is one thing to step forward to help with CPR and quite another to be handing out medical advice or giving treatments. It's wonderful that you would be willing to step forward but you need to be clear within yourself when you would be "practicing medicine without a license" which you need to avoid.

There are many reasons TO step forward if you are clear about these things. As I learned in my one situation when I did step forward, nursing can help the situation even when medicine is not involved. Being present with the affected passenger and crew can have a tremendously beneficial effect.

To any mature, experienced nurse who steps forward to help and does not step outside legal boundaries I say Thank you.

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I'm just a passenger like everybody else... pass the Gin & Tonic please...

That's the thing - if I were on a flight and there was a medical emergency, I would probably be too snookered to safely help.

Besides, unless it's a woman in labor, or a breastfeeding emergency ("Do you need help getting that baby latched?"), I would be ZERO help. Likewise, my husband, the hospice nurse, probably wouldn't be very helpful either.

Guest27531 · Apr 2, 2010

That's the thing - if I were on a flight and there was a medical emergency, I would probably be too snookered to safely help.
Besides, unless it's a woman in labor, or a breastfeeding emergency ("Do you need help getting that baby latched?"), I would be ZERO help. Likewise, my husband, the hospice nurse, probably wouldn't be very helpful either.

:lol2: :lol2: :yeah: :lol2:

RelloydRN · Apr 2, 2010

I have not delivered babies after getting my RN license. I only got to deliver babies when I was in college. I think I'd be nervous if I'd be asked to help in-flight deliveries!