Personal Information

[kheadrick]

This past weekend, I had a patient who was insistent about asking about me personally. This patient wanted to know my relationship status, my age, my last name, etc. I explained that I that I wasn't allowed to disclose any of that, per our hospital policy. Are there better or different ways to handle this situation in the future. It seems to arise often.

[NOADLS]

My last name is on my badge too, and I've never really thought too much about it. I work on a dementia unit in a LTC facility

Anything I say, they forget when I am there next!

[sharpeimom]

I worked in a state psych hospital for twenty years and the only things on my badge were Katherine and below my name were RN MSN.

I worked 35 miles from where I live and only a handful of people recognized me in that town if I happened to stop somewhere on the way home.

We moved back to my old hometown where I had very high visibility parents so I'm recognized. It's very small and everyone knows or is related o practically everyone else. After we had settled in, my husband commented that he should have taken my name instead! I look so much like my dad that there's absolutely no doubt of just who I am. In such a teeny tiny town, people feel totally comfortable and justified asking just about anything. If you don't answer something they think you're being rude or worse yet, uppity. Saying, "That's none of your business!" or "I'm not comfortable talking about that." or "Now why would ask that?" would only offend and soon be all over town.

At work or church, a good solution for me has been to divert the questions and try to talk about our animals instead. That's why I always carried a few furkid pictures in my pocket. Just in case.