If you go to the ER or doctor's office, do you tell them you're a nurse?

[klone]

Just wondering what other people do.

I generally don't, but when I ask questions or talk about why I'm there, they usually guess that I am.

Last night I had to bring my toddler into the ER because of an asthma attack, and I even tried to dumb it down further, but apparently not enough as the ER physician asked if I was "in the medical field" after I used the term "tachypneic". Oh, well, maybe he'll waive his fee as a professional courtesy.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i usually don't make a point of being a nurse -- unless there's a really good reason. for instance, the time they were going to admit my husband to the hospital in a strange town -- we were on vacation -- for bid dressing changes. "i can go home," dh said, clearly under the influence of the iv morphine he'd gotten earlier -- or perhaps it was the ativan. "i'm a nurse. i can do the dressing changes." since the dressing was in a location he could reach but not see, the doctors didn't look too encouraging. dh must have noticed, because he abruptly changed tactics. "send me home," he said. "i'll come back tomorrow so you can look at it, and my wife can change the dressing. she's an icu nurse." dh was discharged to a hotel -- cheaper than the hospital and a lot more comfortable.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I'm in a small town; everyone knows.

[Caffeine_IV]

I usually don't but it seems to be necessary because unfortunately people look at me and think I'm much younger than I am. And with that, assume that they have to really dumb down things.

I recall when I took my younger sister to the doctor and the doc mentioned some blood tests she wanted to do on her due to her weight.

I asked what the tests were (so I could tell our mother) and she said "basically, they do xyz if I told you the names you wouldn't know what they were for."

I said, "try me. I'm a nurse." She was really embarrassed because her tone was insulting.

At my primary MD, she has my occupation on file so she always shoots it to me straight.

I don't tell that I'm a nurse to make others nervous or get special treatment. Also if I find that someone (patient or family) is a nurse, I don't start throwing out medical jargon just because.

[shoegalRN, RN]

My primary doctor knows I'm a nurse. And that's because I've been going to her for the last 10 years, prior to me becoming a nurse. She's been there before I was nurse, while I was in nursing school, and now as a nurse. She do use medical terms with me and I'm fine with that.

However, if I were to go to an ER outside of where I work, I would not disclose I'm a nurse. Also, if one of my family members is in the hospital, the rule is nobody tells the staff I am a nurse. I am the only nurse in my entire family.

[mnicole]

I do. I recently broke my right ankle and had to go to the ER. I told them I was a nurse because I was asking many questions. The nurses looked at me and wondered why I knew certain things so then I was forced to tell them I was a nurse. They actually helped me more and I got excellent care.

I have not done this when I go to doctors offices though. I will tell them if I am asked "what do you do for a living?"

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I don't need to say anything--most of the time I show up for the appointment/visit in my scrubs.

[Orange Tree]

I never do, but one time I was tempted! The doctor translated "urine" to "pee" and informed me that, "The intestines are inside of the body." while pointing to a diagram on the wall.

[Ruthiegal]

I don't usually say anything until I'm leaving.... :-)

[caliotter3]

I never do, but one time I was tempted! The doctor translated "urine" to "pee" and informed me that, "The intestines are inside of the body." while pointing to a diagram on the wall.

I translate "urine" to "pee" for all occasions.

[Tiffany, RN, BSN]

I never ever bring it up. Sometimes I'll get asked because of the terms I use or the questions I ask but I never introduce myself as a nurse. I like to see how they usually behave towards patients and visitors and I don't want to make them nervous. When I was going in to be induced (at the hospital where I work) my nurse told me that she was nervous to start my IV because I'm an RN. After I told her that I hadn't started an IV since nursing school, she loosened up, lmbo! The only time I have ever brought it up was when I was talked to like absolute **** by a nurse in another hospital. You should have seen her face when I dropped the bomb!

[Ahhphoey]

My regular docs all know (my pcp, rheumatologist, and gynecologist), but thats only because they asked during those initial visits and I see them pretty regularly. Them knowing has only earned me scoldings of how I should "know better" and need to "take better care" of myself since I'm a nurse.

When I go to the ER or urgent care, I only mention my position when they ask when I'm getting checked in. It usually doesn't come up again when I finally see the doctor, though.

[regularRN]

They always seem to know...