i just had minor surgery and it was the first time i've spent any substantial time in a medical setting since beginning to explore nursing as a career. of course, i was much more observant now that i may be making my way to the field myself! i noticed some things and wondered your take on it, as nurses...
the anesthesist (sp?) took me from the waiting area to the op room and asked me all the history questions and took my BP...but never introduced himself. i don't have any idea if he was a doc or nurse (not that it matters)...or even what his name was. in fact, no one introduced themselves and there were 5 people in the room, counting my doc. i found myself wondering who was what? nurse, LPN, CNA, MA, PA, other? they were all very nice and attentive...it was just curious that no one told me their names or roles or anything.
i thought back to the first surgery i ever had and remembered very clearly that not only did each person tell me who and what they were, but they made it a point to tell me what exactly they would be doing as their part of the procedure. of course, i was i think 20 or 21, alone, scared to death (it was an unexpected urgent surgery), and it definitely showed...so maybe they were just trying to make me feel at ease(?).
so nurses...how do you introduce yourself to patients if at all, and does it matter?
I wish it was just paranoia:o. I worked in an ER that seemed to have more than our fair share of pysch cases. Our badges at the time had our last names on them (have since been removed). People were always threatning to track us down and kill us (i.e. staff). Even for the normal people who would ask if I was related to so and so. That's not imformation they need for me to take care of them. I don't want pt bothering my family.
I can totally understand why, in your case, that you don't want some people to know your last name. Personal safety comes first. However, in general, do doctors ever use their first name only when dealing with patients? The same personal safety issues come into play with them. In a different environment than the ER, (although whenever I went to an ER, the doctors always told me their first and last names), I don't know if nurses should only use their first name, while doctors give patients/residents their first and last names.
To 58flyer: I wouldn't feel comfortable disclosing this much info in most situations. It would be nice to be able to do this, but in many areas, it just wouldn't be wise. How do you differentiate between a criminal and an average citizen?"
Drysolong, sorry I didn't see your question earlier, I musta just scanned right over it. How do you differentiate? I guess you just have to follow your gut instincts. I may be at an advantage since I have 29 years in the police business and I am quite adept at picking out the bad actors in society. For me, with all the interview/interrogation courses I have had over the years, I can just talk to people in a conversational mode and learn all kinds of things about them without them realizing that I was interrogating them. That's how I learned so much about the nurses treating me.
I totally agree that in an ED in a major city, you're gonna get all kinds of wierdos. I have spent time in many ED's on follow-ups in my career so I know what you mean. It's best not to get too close sometimes.
Back on topic... In the past few weeks I've spent more time with health care professionals than at any other time in my life. That's because I have neglected to see a Doc for a physical in about 4 years. I know, my bad. Anyhoo, I'm gettin older and a few things were out of kilter and I needed some tests. After dealing with different specialists I can say this...Those professionals who began the relationship at the start by identifying themselves were the most effective in helping me as a patient. I was more receptive to their care, they felt better about treating me, and overall, things just went more smoothly. I'm not just talking about the Docs, but the techs, nurses, and MAs, that are whom you spend the most time with. Those of you who introduce yourselves to the patient from the start are doing it right. As a pt, isn't this what you would want?
also, my badge always flips around. no matter what i do. and it has happened for the past 12 years. what do you guys do?
also plagued by the badge gremlin here, no matter how i put it on. it kind of stays put for a while if i clip it to my top but it always comes unclipped. any solutions to this? (one of life's little annoying mysteries)
i just had minor surgery and it was the first time i've spent any substantial time in a medical setting since beginning to explore nursing as a career. of course, i was much more observant now that i may be making my way to the field myself! i noticed some things and wondered your take on it, as nurses...
the anesthesist (sp?) took me from the waiting area to the op room and asked me all the history questions and took my BP...but never introduced himself. i don't have any idea if he was a doc or nurse (not that it matters)...or even what his name was. in fact, no one introduced themselves and there were 5 people in the room, counting my doc. i found myself wondering who was what? nurse, LPN, CNA, MA, PA, other? they were all very nice and attentive...it was just curious that no one told me their names or roles or anything.
i thought back to the first surgery i ever had and remembered very clearly that not only did each person tell me who and what they were, but they made it a point to tell me what exactly they would be doing as their part of the procedure. of course, i was i think 20 or 21, alone, scared to death (it was an unexpected urgent surgery), and it definitely showed...so maybe they were just trying to make me feel at ease(?).
so nurses...how do you introduce yourself to patients if at all, and does it matter?
Hello there here is a humble oppinion form Canada::))
This is a very mandatory issue - To introduce yourself to the client / patient (name, title and what are you intend to do further: why, what, where.. and maybe some procedure description in patient language .. to try to make the patient comfortable and to gain trust ! It is so important patient trust you and open himself/herself during the history take or coping during the procedure. It is again very important that all med procedure to be interactive (dual) . So I was a patient myself for a surgery and the MD's and RN's were great and very polite and they presented themselves in the first time!!!
Cheers and keep the good work ! I would consider into the future to work in US as well:)))
In our hospital, alot of auxillary personnel were wearing scrubs. The housekeepers all had the same patterned top, but it was a scrub top. A year or so ago, they changed the uniforms. Female housekeepers got a grey & white "maid" type top, males and transporters got grey polo shirts with the department (and maybe their name) on them. Central supply has maroon polos, the "valet" has what looks like a doormans uniform. Dietary has white dress shirts & black pants, though the younger kids have the option of wearing a blue polo shirt.
It helps, but you still can't tell an xray tech or most lab techs or the aides from a nurse just by looking. One hospital in our area requires white uniforms for their nurses.
On the other side of this problem is Dr.s that come in, don't introduce themselves to us and grab charts. I can't always tell a doctor from a social worker from rehab, and 98 percent of doctors don't introduce themselves, 99% don't wear their ID. I've gotten in the habit of introducing myself to them and expecting them to reciprocate. I work part time on evenings, so there are lots of doctor's I've never met before. Many a cardiologist has become miffed that I didn't know who they were. Oh, well.
Sue
i did finally notice a pattern...that the nurses, CNAs and such seemed to all wear pretty colorful patterned scrubs and the docs wore varying shades of blue ones. BUT...the orderlies and techs (radiologists, etc) ALSO wore varying shades of blue! at one point i noticed that the guy who came into the room to emty the trash and straighten up had the same type of scrubs on as the guy who was reading the x-ray results.
I'm a grunt CNA, male, 60 years of age. I've been lucky enough to be in this profession 3 years and I recall very vividly what my instructor in school taught me: "Good morning Mr. Smith, my name is Mike and I'll be your CNA today." And then proceed to tell him/her what was on the immediate agenda. The instructor had spent 24 years as DON in the local maternity ward and was of the 'starched white cap' class. She was terrific.
This is very "classy" to mention the pt's name as well!!!!!!!!!!
lilrn, that remindedme of a little 'funny'. My hospital is a large one, and a teaching hospital at that. Every so many months, we get an influx of new docs-to-be etc. or they rotate departments (so they're still new to us, anyway) -one time, one who didn't look very doclike (it was late, but they are all supposed to wear the white labcoat with their name/id etc -this one must have laid his down or something) anyway, he went to one of my patients' rooms, and opened up the chart, began flipping pages. I walked up and asked if I could be of assistance. Again, he must have not been having too good a night, but he turned to me, closed the chart, and asked if I were the 'chart monitor or something' -to which I grinned my best 'biker grin' and said "why, YES, for my patients, I AM" :) He calmed down, and introduced himself. As the months dragged on, he turned out to be a pretty good individual, and very calm doc. I always enjoyed seeing that he was on call for some of the patients I had -was always quick to answer a page (nightshift is my playtime) and was one of those docs who actually talks TO you, not AT you. I learned a lot from him. He was finishing with his rotation just before I got taken out of the game myself (had a virus tag my heart, and I ended up with cardiomyopathy -20%EF. Spent about a week in the hospital, my EF was 30 when I left (slowed my heart rate from the 120s to 70s). So I'm on home-rest, and hoping to see good numbers when I get my next test this month. That, and it seems I'm 'married' to Coreg for the time being. Hell, at least its a well-behaved drug (grin).
Wow, didn't mean to drag all that into the post. Oh well.
Wherever I work (rent a scrub RN here) there are usually white boards in the patient rooms. After report I briefly scan the charts, make some notes on labs, diet changes, discharge instructions etc. and head out to meet and greet. If the patient is sleeping I will just put the day, date, my name, my CNA (if those cheapskates provide one for me) and any info, like "going home today!!!" or "please use your call button so you don't fall and break another hip Mr. Kneival" or "you may not have anything to eat or drink this morning so hand over the pizza and six pack" which goes over well.
If these folks are up and coherant I write all that stuff on the board and take a minute to sit and talk with them. I tell them what is planned for the morning, the afternoon etc. and this is a good time to establish the rules, like no yelling, foul language or heckling, and that's just on MY PART. I also clear up any misunderstandings, like whether or not they signed up for the spa makeover package while they are there.
What REALLY skeeves me is when staff are present and do not identify themselves to the patient. It's like playing "Guess My Line" without the audience applauding in the back ground. Once this guy in scrubs came bustling in with a chart in his hand, talking about the pathology results on the uterine fibroids, discharge instructions and follow up care all the while racking his hand thru his hair and sighing. He snapped the chart shut, muttered something about "well I guess that answers all your questions" and sauntered out of the room whisteling "Disco Inferno" .
I think both Mr. Jarvis and I were both at a loss for words after that encounter!
It comes down to respect, how can you have therapeutic conversation if they don't even know who they are dealing with? In my opinion it demonstrates either a lack of empathy or is indicative of burn out. I notice when people burn out they see patients as tasks, not individuals.
Very true. I like to joke around with them a little myself -but you always have to be careful to guage your patient -understandably, some do NOT want any humor or light-heartedness. But most seem to respond well as long as you guage 'em properly (grin). I've even had the patients that nobody wanted (because of their mean attitude) tell me jokes :) I always tell 'em I have one basic rule, and THAT is that its kept clean. I have no love of filthy jokes. Each patient is different, tho, and I've met some very interesting people (patients) -had one who told me how he met his wife (she had passed away recently) -he had joined the army and had just arrived at pearl harbor -met a woman (to be his wife in the future) and they began to date. three weeks later -just before he was to ship-out to some other base, the japanese attacked the harbor. They wrote and kept in touch loosely throughout the war. When the war was over, he returned for her, got married, and they were married until her death. He had tears in his eyes as he talked about it. I told him it was a story fit for a novel, and that he was one lucky man to have been part of THAT adventure. He asked if I were married, and I told him I'd found a woman who liked riding bikes as much as I did, and we had been married less than a year.
I'll never forget him -he also had a curious trait. Everytime (EVERYTIME) he had to have an accucheck, he INSISTED that it be done in his thumb. Thats the only place he would allow you to stick him with the lancet. (said it hurt less)
Plagueis
514 Posts
I can totally understand why, in your case, that you don't want some people to know your last name. Personal safety comes first. However, in general, do doctors ever use their first name only when dealing with patients? The same personal safety issues come into play with them. In a different environment than the ER, (although whenever I went to an ER, the doctors always told me their first and last names), I don't know if nurses should only use their first name, while doctors give patients/residents their first and last names.