Is it ever ok?

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 23, 2016

What kind of information are we talking about? Does it pertain to the patient's care?

brycross33 · Jul 23, 2016

Like this patient is being abused by his wife and going into details about it. It really triggered me as an abuse survivor myself. I have never been triggered while working in health care, never ever. So much to the point where I had to call my therapist this weekend because I was having a panic attack. She pretty much told me your a medical assistant your not doing a psych eval, your not their therapist and it's ok to put those boundaries up.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 23, 2016

Of course that's not information you need to know, especially if it affects you.

brycross33 · Jul 23, 2016

Thank you. I had asked this question in another group and people were getting really nasty with me. Saying I shouldn't be working in health care, which obviously set me off even more because I have been in health care for 5 plus years it's all I know as a career.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 23, 2016

Unless it pertains to what is going on with the patient medically, all personal information should be kept by the person who received it.

brycross33 · Jul 23, 2016

Thank you for this. He was also sharing this information with the receptionist as well and I don't think that's ok either.

CanadianAbroad · Jul 24, 2016

He is telling you about the abuse because he is looking for an outlet and is seeking help. So with that, no it is not okay to ignore it and pretend like he didn't say it because you don't want to know. In this case, report it to the doctor and then move on. You do have a responsibility for patient safety here. You not thinking it is right to share this info, is a huge problem. He is seeking help any way he can get it. Does it mean you need to fully invest yourself here, no; but you do have the responsibility to report it. I would also look into your own legal responsibility to report abuse as well. You not wanting to know and not doing anything about it, might have legal implications on your end. So maybe that is why people might be saying you aren't suited for this position due to your past history. You need to separate yourself from the patient and remember this is about him and not you. I have also been a victim of abuse, and I would never ignore the red flags of my patients who are seeking help.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 24, 2016

He is telling you about the abuse because he is looking for an outlet and is seeking help. So with that, no it is not okay to ignore it and pretend like he didn't say it because you don't want to know. In this case, report it to the doctor and then move on. You do have a responsibility for patient safety here. You not thinking it is right to share this info, is a huge problem. He is seeking help any way he can get it. Does it mean you need to fully invest yourself here, no; but you do have the responsibility to report it. I would also look into your own legal responsibility to report abuse as well. You not wanting to know and not doing anything about it, might have legal implications on your end. So maybe that is why people might be saying you aren't suited for this position due to your past history. You need to separate yourself from the patient and remember this is about him and not you. I have also been a victim of abuse, and I would never ignore the red flags of my patients who are seeking help.

Agree. Most providers give local DV numbers and resources; if pt didn't receive that info, giving the number is a step in the right direction, and you can leave it there.

As a nurse and DV survivor, I had to listen to this young woman who was detailing her psychological abuse; I told her that what she describes was psychological abuse, even to the point the a user called her and was screaming at her basically kicking her out; I guided her through a safety plan and gave her our local DV hotline for her to look into; it' s a little different because as a nurse I have to employer the or through education and resources, and to not do that could put an unforeseeable risk.

I'm 8 years post traumatic event and have recently ended trauma therapy; I did exceptionally well, although I'm was emotionally exhausted from the experience and have some self-care techniques that helped based on my years of therapy.

Keep taking care of yourself; in a physician's office, you may be the next healthcare member that can provide resources, especially if there are no licensed nurses around-just something to think about if another person or same pt is looking to you for support and guidance.

brycross33 · Jul 24, 2016

He is telling you about the abuse because he is looking for an outlet and is seeking help. So with that, no it is not okay to ignore it and pretend like he didn't say it because you don't want to know. In this case, report it to the doctor and then move on. You do have a responsibility for patient safety here. You not thinking it is right to share this info, is a huge problem. He is seeking help any way he can get it. Does it mean you need to fully invest yourself here, no; but you do have the responsibility to report it. I would also look into your own legal responsibility to report abuse as well. You not wanting to know and not doing anything about it, might have legal implications on your end. So maybe that is why people might be saying you aren't suited for this position due to your past history. You need to separate yourself from the patient and remember this is about him and not you. I have also been a victim of abuse, and I would never ignore the red flags of my patients who are seeking help.

It's actually not the patient it's the doctor himself who was telling this please DO NOT say I am not suited for this position. I don't know if you read my other comments but I have never ever ever been triggered like this before. I was getting mad that the doctor was telling me this and not the patient. It should be confidential between the doctor and the patient. If the patient had told me that would be a different story. I have been involved with SANE as a CNA and worked on labor and delivery.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jul 24, 2016

Since it's the doctor telling you, not the patient seeking your help, I'd have a chat with the doctor about it.

I'm sorry for your trauma.

brycross33 · Jul 24, 2016

Since it's the doctor telling you, not the patient seeking your help, I'd have a chat with the doctor about it.
I'm sorry for your trauma.

I did talk to him about it and said its not ok that you went into detail about it, it's not ok you are telling me this and not the patient and it's not ok that your telling me his wife is a patient of ours as well. It should come from the patient himself.