Nurses and nursing student, how do you talk to your PCP?

purplemania, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2005

why don't you ask them if there is a communication problem? I will say that students tend to think every disease they learn about is just around the corner. But it sounds like more than that is going on here. Just ask. I would stick with the newer (younger?) person and have a heart to heart talk.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Nov 17, 2005

definitely get your answers...don't be timid. Express to him how long you have been dealing with these probs and make it a point to say that he appeared to be actively seeking out a diagnosis until just recently. Bluntly, as "why?" It may or may not have anything to do with you being in nursisng school....so wouldn't you feel silly for switching docs if it wasn't necessary?

He may suggest that he believes you are having classical "med head syndrome" as we call it around here haha. In that case, seek out a third practicioner...not your old one.

or

It could be he had a hunch as to what it may be but hit a road block when you labs came out non-convincing and is now pondering his options and slowing down some to look at the bigger pic

I joined with my PCP at the same time I started nursing school. Even if I hadn't told him that I was a nursing student he would have known based off my vocabulary, that seems to just be second nature to me "Well I have had NVDx2 days, fatigue, and epigastric pain..." not something you here often in an everyday conversation:rotfl:

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

My doctors know I'm an RN because they have patients on the floor where I work. We have a good relationship. The only difference I've encountered with being a nurse is that I get loads of free samples. I've never had a doctor treat me any different because I'm a nurse. I let them do the diagnosing, I just give a list of my symptoms. I don't go in talking all medical, just normal conversation in their office. If I've been nauseated that's exactly what I say or that I'm vomitting. If it's a cold I let them ask me what color the discharge is. In other words I let my doctor do his/her job. Having had surgery at another hospital I never told them I was an RN. I can't stand it when my patients or their family member says "well I'm a nurse" so likewise I don't do it either. I would go back to my old PCP since he did take you seriously. Seems as though this new PCP has a preconceived opinion of you already. I'd switch back.

Aneroo, LPN · Nov 18, 2005

I am totally up front with my docs about my medical knowledge. I want them to talk to me like a person, not put me down. I also usually only go to a PCP now if I need a script- I am the type who is "I know what's wrong, give me a script for something". I'm probably a total PITA though. :)

Now with my OB, and def when I find a peds MD, I want them to talk to me like I'm a patient and a mom. Esp with my kids- I want to be in mommy mode. My OB knows I'm a nurse only b/c of the the risk I take with my patients. They ask if I am steering clear or certain patients and stuff like that. That and I've run into them at work. :) -Andrea

EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

At first I was upfront with my practitioner, but now I like to keep that part of me cut off. They are the practitioner and I am the patient. They have a "real" world view of me, they see things that I can't.

An old courtroom saying comes to mind regarding self representation, "a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client."

I would be interested to hear how other nurses conduct their visits with their PCPs.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Nov 18, 2005

honestly, it just depends what you are being treated for in relation to your lifestyle

in my case, stress ulcers and dpression secondary to starting nursing school during hubby's deployment...my student status and role changes played a large role in my illness/condition

but for other dx it may not need to be disclosed

i don't reccommend hiding anything from your PCP to establish a relationship esp. since you will be seeing him/her longterm for multiple prob/cond. as they arrise

also, it is a personal choice. If it makes you feel more comfortable one way or another based on your perception of their reaction....

and like another poster added before...you are not a doctor so be cautious not to act like one.

KatieBell · Nov 18, 2005

Of course your PCP can look up various things about you, based on what you disclose, and usually good ones ask what you do for a living because certain jobs increase people's risks for certain things.

I've always picked my docs from the decent residents- so we generally have an equal relationship. It's a little hard for them to talk down to me when we have just spent an hour working together on a code...

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

I never tell anyone Im a nurse unless the situation calls for it. I find that when you are being treated for something you dont get all the information about your healthcare because you "already know" it. I dont care if I do know it I may have missed something or forgot something.....So just tell me like you would a non-nurse patient. The one time I had to tell was (actually it was my husbnad telling) when I was in a county hospital in labor with #3. Everything they did , internal monitoring, breaking my water all the way to IV meds was never explained to me. I had PIH and had the PIT, MAG and ABT, multiple bags of other fluids hanging , When I ask what all of this was for the nurss response was "it does not matter what all of this is it matter thats we know what we are doing and know how to give it".....Witch Anyway I remember they got down there and started putting things in and what they were doing was putting in a internal monitor but never told me anything. I can hear the nurses talking about other nurses, patients and personal information. They were laughing and cutting up, making jokes....They were so rude and disrespectful until in the middle of the internal monitor placement ,when I kept saying "What are they doing, Whats going on" ,my husband said "Hey did ya'll know my wife is a nurse":no: :eek: :eek: :eek: Several people left the room and things were a whole lot quitter. That is the only time I have ever told I was a nurse... otherwise I wouldnt.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2005

I never tell anyone Im a nurse unless the situation calls for it. I find that when you are being treated for something you dont get all the information about your healthcare because you "already know" it. I dont care if I do know it I may have missed something or forgot something.....So just tell me like you would a non-nurse patient. The one time I had to tell was (actually it was my husbnad telling) when I was in a county hospital in labor with #3. Everything they did , internal monitoring, breaking my water all the way to IV meds was never explained to me. I had PIH and had the PIT, MAG and ABT, multiple bags of other fluids hanging , When I ask what all of this was for the nurss response was "it does not matter what all of this is it matter thats we know what we are doing and know how to give it".....Witch Anyway I remember they got down there and started putting things in and what they were doing was putting in a internal monitor but never told me anything. I can hear the nurses talking about other nurses, patients and personal information. They were laughing and cutting up, making jokes....They were so rude and disrespectful until in the middle of the internal monitor placement ,when I kept saying "What are they doing, Whats going on" ,my husband said "Hey did ya'll know my wife is a nurse":no: :eek: Several people left the room and things were a whole lot quitter. That is the only time I have ever told I was a nurse... otherwise I wouldnt.

What an awful experience. I worked on OB/GYN for 12 years and can never imagine treating a patient like that. I hope you reported them?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 18, 2005

My PCP has been taking care of me for about 15 years, so he's seen me through welfare, nursing school, my first few years as a VERY stressed-out RN and beyond. We've become friends during this time, and he's made it clear that he respects me both as an individual and as a professional (he once told my sister, who's also his pt, that she ought to pay attention to what I tell her because I'm a 'pretty sharp nurse':) ).

So whenever I go to the office, we talk 'shop' for a while, then get down to business, and we usually finish with some chat about our families.......like me, he's got grown kids plus a couple of teenagers, so we have that in common as well. (My oldest daughter was his pt for a short time, and he thinks she's just neater than peanut butter! His oldest boy is the same age, and the kid is nowhere close to settling down, while my girl is in a long-term relationship, runs a business, and has a child.) The important thing is, he takes me seriously whenever I say something's wrong, whether it's with me or a family member, and I appreciate that.:)