Patient or Client?

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Specializes in LTC.

why has the trend change so much? i am a student and i am realizing that even the older generations are using "client". why is this? was there an across the board change in patient title?

i feel like using "client" just makes it so impersonal and like i am working at a tax/lawyer/other "client" based system; as in being there for the money.

can a nurse still use the title of patient when addressing patient/clients? if not, why not? who decided it?

for the nurses that are out there in the "real" world, what do people prefer to be called? and what title do you use when referring to a patient?

:confused:

thanks ahead of time!

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Specializes in med-surg.

I use patient all of the time. I have never used the term, "client". I hate it and will never use it.

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We refer to patients as patients.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

patient.

hookers have clients.

i am a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC.
patient.

hookers have clients.

i am a nurse.

Hahaha! I thought about that profession but didn't have the guts to post it! I totally agree!

Why is the medical profession trying to switch to "client" then?

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Specializes in MSP, Informatics.
Hahaha! I thought about that profession but didn't have the guts to post it! I totally agree!

Why is the medical profession trying to switch to "client" then?

hmmm...because as nurses we are getting --!!Blanked!!--- as much as hookers?

actually, some of our upper managment call our patients residents.... some of our frequent fliers do seem like they reside here, but come on...they are patients!

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Hahaha! I thought about that profession but didn't have the guts to post it! I totally agree!

Why is the medical profession trying to switch to "client" then?

:)

because it's all about the money.. which is amplified by the crunch from the centers for medicaid/medicare and JCAHO for patient satisfaction.

health care is a business.

patient = customer.

yes, i'm thankful that we have patients because i have a job and can feed my family, but i'm not going to consider myself a person with "clients".. thats not why i became a nurse... but thats just my opinion.

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

I take care of patients, lawyers and stock brokers have clients...

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Specializes in ER, education, mgmt.

At my facility, our administration and organizational development people call them "customers", but the nurses and physicians call them patients and we always will.

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.
patient.

hookers have clients.

i am a nurse.

:chuckle

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

The last time I heard a patient referred to as a client was in nursing school. I guess only acadamians and administrators call them clients. If you said that to me I would have to think about what you are talking about.

Thanks for the laugh, flightnurse. You should have posted a warning for that one, LMAO.

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I was taught that

people in hospitals =patients

people in nursing homes = residents

people in clinic type of settings= clients

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