Nursing Admissions/Admitting Nurse In Gay Marriage States

[DoGoodThenGo]

As gay marriage will now be legal as of this Sunday in NYS my mind wondered about something.

In states where such things are already legal do hospitals has admitting personnel/paper work switched to the more general query regarding "spouse" rather than the old fashioned "husband" or "wife"?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

It's a tough one

Here in PC Australia many coworkers use 'partner' for all relationships.

However many older p'ts and families and also more traditional younger people find that offensive.

If they are older and married .... I usually say 'husband and wife'

If I think they are gay .... I nearly always say 'partner' (though sometimes they don't like this and prefer spouse)

If they are young , unmarried and have a partner .... it's 'partner' if I think they are a PC more liberal type.

But if they are young and unmarried and have a partner .... it's 'boyfriend /girlfriend' if they not so PC and right wing type. They laugh if I say 'partner' and make some kind of joke ( golf partner / poker partner /fishing partner ... I know .....sexual partner .... big laughs)

What I've have learned ..... use the terms people prefer and avoid the arbitary use of 'partner', 'spouse', 'husband/wife', girlfriend/boyfriend'.

With documentation - only spouse, partner, family member or friend (no girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife)

[OldNurseEducator]

Maybe they can use the title my better half has......designated check casher and financial utilization coordinator. She pretty good at her job too.

I love this!!:yeah:

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Most forms I have seen already say.....Spouse.....officially.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

We should always say partner, to everyone, regardless. I recommend crossing out whatever nomenclature appears on paperwork and replacing it with "partner" in all instances.

Who is "we"? My wife and I both find "partner" highly offensive. Whom are "we" more willing to offend, and why?

Let's be honest, it isn't about acceptance, but about which "offended" party is more likely to sue.:icon_roll

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

When did HIPPA say that anybody (even if married) could automatically have info = the patient has to consent to anybody getting info. In the event of an emergency (big one), then there's the hierarchy of who is able to give consent....be a lot less chaos if durable power of attorney for healthcare were in place- then the 'husband', 'wife', or 'spouse', or 'partner' would be irrelevant.

[everwonder_y]

Most certainly partner or spouse. I hate hate hate being called a "wife". Just my preference. My partner and I never use gendered terms to describe our relationship/legal status. "Husband" and "wife" are archaic terms, IMO, and discriminatory. Good Riddance!

[Always_Learning, BSN, RN]

Here's a thought; during assessment/admission, ask how they prefer to be addressed (husband, wife, spouse, partner, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, life partner, etc.) Then you can document accordingly.

[GM2RN]

Here's a thought; during assessment/admission, ask how they prefer to be addressed (husband, wife, spouse, partner, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, life partner, etc.) Then you can document accordingly.

The problem with this is one of legality. Spouse signifies a legal position, partner or SO does not. So, although a patient still needs to give consent to give information IF he/she is able, there are plenty of instances when a patient is unable to do so, necessitating that the ptaient's condition be discussed legal next of kin, and that NOK give consent for treatment when indicated.

Of course, a DPOA would solve this problem, but many people don't have them.

This isn't really an issue with clinical documentation beyond the initial admission though, so I would use whatever is preferred by the patient and his/her SO after taht point.

[loriangel14, RN]

Where I work it just asks for "Contact person" with no mention of relationship.In a different section of our admission info it asks for POA.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Definitely not husband and wife... (this response is coming from the source)

Who is "the source?":confused:

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

We use "Spouse/Significant Other" as the same interchangeable term on admission where I work. At least by our state law, it doesn't matter if a significant other is legally married or not since our order of Medical decision making rights goes: 1) Spouse 2)Significant Other 3)Adult child, etc. Whether legally married thy still have primary decision making rights, and as far as I know there are no differences in disclosure of information; whether a spouse or significant other the same privacy rules apply.

That doesn't make sense. So, the patient is in surgery, and something more needs to be done (for example). You are saying that the patient's "significant other" (meaning, boyfriend or girlfriend, if not married) is asked for consent BEFORE the adult child is? That is wrong. Not legal.

Where I work it just asks for "Contact person" with no mention of relationship.In a different section of our admission info it asks for POA.

Where I worked, we had to specify the relationship of the contact person. We also would specify if this person is their POA, but it was all done in the same area.

I am surprised by how many people are so offended by the terms "husband" and "wife" (esp straight-forward, heterosexual married couples). I would have no problem being called my husband's wife (if I were married, that is, maybe that's the problem?). Can anyone explain that to me? I certainly wouldn't call it "archaic"! It seems like people think it's an offending or insulting term.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

"Partner" is the preferred nomenclature. It should become universal because it's ambiguity assumes nothing.

Preferred by whom, exactly? Especially to the point of crossing out terms and replacing it with this?

Ambiguity is the PROBLEM. You NEED to know if that person is legally connected to the patient or not. For the day to day interactions, no, it probably doesn't matter, but a situation might arise that it WILL matter. If a male patient with adult children has a girlfriend of two years, say, it's his KIDS that are his next of kin, not her (unless there is paperwork in place that says she is, which is a rarity). It's significant, and could open the door to a world of trouble legally if it's ignored. Finding out ahead of time is imperative.