So I was out with my girlfriend and I get a call from my sister explaining to me that someone had called my house asking for me. She said that the person said he was a patient of mine and wanted to talk to me about how he was doing etc. They told my sister and I quote "I found you number on the internet, you know you can find alot of stuff on the internet" Ahem...***** Well i nearly drove off the road, started yelling and screaming using some of the most colorful words i could conjure up at the moment. Not only is that extremely weird, but in my book, this classifies itself as stalking. I guess I also need to say that this person went to high school with me, and by with i mean I never was friends with this kid, never talked a single word to him at all, holy crap...i didn't even think the kid spoke! So 2 days ago I'm watching TV with my dad and the phone rings, we have caller ID that pops up on the TV when its on and I freaked out and I said DO NOT PICK THAT *#$@^#@ PHONE UP!!, of course its th Sis person calling again. I really didn't think the person would call back but he did and now I'm legit like freaked out about it. The kid not only has a laundry list of medical problems for which i don't give a hoot to talk to him about, but he also has mental problems, WHICH i might add he felt the need to talk to my sister about for 20 minutes the first time he called. So today when everyone in my family was around I said listen, if this number pops up, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES pick it up or I'll shove the phone so far up all of your ***** i'll make it come out your mouth. Of course my mother the pacifist is like well why dont you talk to him he probably does not have any friends. I said are you out of your mind ?!?! The phone call itself crosses so many boundaries in medicine/nursing that I cant even begin to tell you, not to mention the fact that it stalking! And of course my mother still wants me to be nice and I'm yelling by this point about how my philosophy is "Once a patient, ALWAYS a patient" and finally my father steps in agrees with me. Now here's where Im looking for advice...Im not sure if i should tell the hospital I work at or not..it doesn't seem like a hospital issue but I honestly don't have enough experience to know if thats the right thing to do, something tells me I should but like i said I'm not sure? So I'm willing to take any advice you might have...And on a funny note..i call optimum to ask if there is a way to block nuisance callers and she tells me, oh that feature was supposed to be out at the beginning of may but it's due to release in the first week of june...lol
OP, I just checked your bio and I was right in my assumption that you were an East Coaster, NY. Couldn't anybody else tell?
What does that have to do with anything? Unless you're trying to insinuate and generalize that all people from NY use filthy language around their families.
Anyway, I'd pick up and tell him once that he's out of bounds and any further questions/comments/concerns should be followed up with his primary provider.
I know it's not funny to you but I quite found your post to be funny. I'm sorry for laughing and good luck!
What does that have to do with anything? Unless you're trying to insinuate and generalize that all people from NY use filthy language around their families.
laynaER, is your name OP? No, it's not on this thread.
Don't look for a reason to be unhappy. My conversation with the OP was in jest
You should just be direct with him, just like we are supposed to be with any other "mental patient". Tell him he absolutely cannot call this number, and it is not appropriate for him to be calling you and if it continues you will have to take it to the hospital, police, etc. Your actions at this point are kind of passive aggressive and they don't really solve anything. As inconvenient for you as this is, you need to take action and set limits and boundaries, not just stomp around your house avoiding him and yelling at your parents.
i worked doing home care and forgot to block my number one morning when scheduling my stops... well of course my phone rings at 9:30 on a saturday night calling to say that patient's dressing is oozing a lot of fluid and could i stop by and check it and change it. I politely told the caller that i was no longer on duty and if they were concened they should call ems and go to the hospital. I also told them not to call my home number again and that any urgent calls should be made to the agency. She was a little indignant when i told her that but i just calmly repeated the message and assured her i'd call the agency and report the issue.
Bite the bullet and take the call and set them straight - if they persist then take action.
I work in home hospice. Sadly now, many people have the feature that will not accept blocked calls. I don't answer MY phone for any numbers I don't recognize. I have also programed in all my pts numbers (and alternate numbers). It keeps me from having to look the number up AND lets me know if a pt is calling MY phone. My voice mail message also says, "This is Sharon. Please do not leave me a message about a patient. Please call the office at ++++++++".
Some family members STILL leave me a msg. I'll call the on call and let them know.
baha yes i did, I love how people automatically assume I'm a female and I'm not..ahhh the stereotypes of the nursing profression...wait i bet you think i might be possibly gay or not smart enough to get into medical school to? bahahah lol
I read your entire post & I figured out you were male. I also figured out you weren't gay because you stated you were out with your girlfriend. But, I also picked up that you are probably pretty young (ie: immature). Living at home with parents, treating them very disrespectfully with your language and tone & not having the guts to professionally tell this caller to knock it off. It all seems pretty simple to me.
ah jeez, can we stay on topic? The OP's parents are adults and can tell him to cram it if they don't like his language. (there, I went and got off topic. grrr)
I do agree that you should answer the phone ONE TIME and tell the caller that it is unprofessional for you to have any kind of personal relationship with him now that he has been your patient (despite going to HS school together). Be nice but firm and then say something like "that is all I am allowed to say. Good bye." and HANG UP before he can say anything else.
Also, report it to your unit supervisor, nursing administration, etc. Report it verbally and via email so there is a paper trail. If the dude continues to call you at home you may have to report it to the police also. As someone else said, they probably can't do anything but it will create another paper trail.
1. I don't see how the hospital can possibly help you. What means do they have to protect their employees outside of the hospital? I wouldn't even bother to let them know except so they can warn other employees.
2. The next time he calls, answer the phone. Explain to him that you cannot take his calls or discuss his care outside of work. Do not allow him to mention his needs or why he is calling it does not matter. Firmly explain that he is not to call you at home again.
3. The NEXT time he calls, do not answer the phone. Notify the police and get a restraining order.
I agree, be professional/mature and answer the phone and explain this to the caller. YOU have to set the boundaries. Spare your family of having to listen to your language and having to listen to a phone ring but unable to answer it. Im assuming this is their home? Its YOUR place to deal with it, not your family's. This person may continue to call if you dont deal with it. From now on, cover your last name on your badge so no one else can do this (I know this person knows you from school and it wouldnt have done any good in this situation). Step up to the plate and deal with it.
That's exactly why I cover up my last name on my badge. I had one patient say to me, "I looked up your first name on facebook and I couldn't find you!" That was a relief.
First of all, the patients have a right to know who is taking care of them. Second of all, all the patient has to do is call the nursing office and ask who was the nurse taking care of them at such and such a time and they will tell them your full name with credentials and they won't even bother to let you know they told them.
First of all, the patients have a right to know who is taking care of them. Second of all, all the patient has to do is call the nursing office and ask who was the nurse taking care of them at such and such a time and they will tell them your full name with credentials and they won't even bother to let you know they told them.
What right do they have to my last name? My badge doesn't even have my last name on it.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
baha yes i did, i love how people automatically assume i'm a female and i'm not..ahhh the stereotypes of the nursing profression...wait i bet you think i might be possibly gay or not smart enough to get into medical school to? bahahah lol
in most places and on most forums, the assumption is that you're male unless stated otherwise. here it's the other way around. live with it.
and here i was feeling bad for assuming you were male and not a gay female!
.thumb.gif.a0171653eaae518ecf728198d692fc48.gif){kind=avatar}
laynaER
228 Posts
What does that have to do with anything? Unless you're trying to insinuate and generalize that all people from NY use filthy language around their families.
Anyway, I'd pick up and tell him once that he's out of bounds and any further questions/comments/concerns should be followed up with his primary provider.
I know it's not funny to you but I quite found your post to be funny. I'm sorry for laughing and good luck!