I am not sure if this topic already exist, but I just would like to read other people's response regarding hospital employees presenting their hospital/work I.D. when they become a patient in any healthcare setting, visiting a family/friend, or as the healthcare proxy of the patient. When I become a patient myself, I disclose my profession, only discuss when ask to. My two opinions about this is that (1) you don't get proper service if staff knows you're a healthcare provider because they get intimidated, (2) it is often great for them to know, so that they are aware you understand their "language". VERY vocal family members or friends of a patient can often be harmful for the sick individual and they don't receive proper care (in my opinion and my observation). Health care staffs, especially nurses become highly aware, fear of something will happen, so they avoid pretty much engaging or even going into the patient's room. I have witnessed this a couple of times in small and large, well renowned medical centers. I think it is OK to reveal to healthcare providers that you are also a healthcare worker, if the interaction is not aggressive or very demanding. Many people often forget about this and I feel sad for the "individual" in the bed. I treat all my patients like my own family members. That is the only and best way I can provide upmost care for them. Before entering a patient's room, I often receive warning signs from staffs about the patient. It is wonderful, but sometimes, patient's anger is NOT about the nurses, doctors, or other healthcare workers. We forget they are sick and they are in unfamiliar environments. I had a patient 10 years ago, with pancreatic stage IV cancer. He was nasty to everyone, but I took care of him to the end. We all know that this type of cancer is very aggressive and sometimes, doctors give patient and their family a hope to hold on. They told the guy, he will have 6-months to live, but his prognosis was so rapid, that within 2nd week, he was at the end of his life. He became so nice, apologetic about his behavior and thank me how nice I was to him. He had no family at the bedside, so I held his hands, prayed for him, when he took his last breath. This is the main reason why I love nursing.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
I don't like to be outed, but either my annoying family member that I'm there with will out me OR my medical knowledge when speaking with staff will out me. I make sure to clarify that I'm a pediatric nurse and don't work on that specific unit so they know more than I do in that regard, and usually that eases their intimidation.
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Last time I ended up in the ED it was via an ambulance ride from work and I still had my name badge on me which has giant "MD/NP" placard under it ... so no, no hiding it. I got some very strange looks from other patients in the triage area, until I realized I was still wearing it and shoved it in my pocket.
Not sure it made a difference though: Ambulance crew thought I was a tech/CNA, but did fetch me a warm blanket before leaving me in triage and were super nice. Though that may have been because I told them they were my favorite ambulance service, and kept telling them how awesome they were while I spent the ride deliriously rambling.?♀️
Emergency MD thought I was a total hypochondriac and barely assessed me. RN was awesome though! Totally unfazed and still the best IV stick I've ever had - she had 1/2 a liter of saline in me before I even realized she'd placed the IV.
ED visit prior to that was while I was a nursing student - and I was so out of it that I just shoved my purse at the triage person and told them to dig for my ID while I grabbed a barf bag and dry-heaved everywhere - they found my student ID prior to my driver's license. I was also a student in their hospital system so my chart was flagged and treating team would have realized I had a healthcare role anyhow. Other than the RN providing a much more detailed explanation of the mechanism of action on one of the meds I received than I think she would normally give - all the staff seemed pretty normal with me - but they see a LOT of healthcare students and professionals as well as various celebrities and notable figures at that hospital and I don't think most of the staff are at all phased.
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
I think it all depends on the staff dealing with you.
When I'm the patient I say I'm a nurse and I appreciate that people speak to me on their level. I've never had bad or defensive treatment from a doctor, nurse or other health care worker and it's generally been positive that they know I'm a nurse.
As a relative my experiences have been mixed. When my parents were alive whenever either of them was hospitalised they immediately proudly announced "oh my son's a nurse" so no anonymity for me. It often meant I could get things done, especially when my mum was in long term care in her final years.
Once when my mother was on an acute medical floor and frequently when she was in psychiatric care I got outright hostility and defensiveness from the staff. I worked it out that these were bad nurses in general anyhow, whereas the good nurses have always treated me with respect. Just this Tuesday I was in day care for a small procedure and everyone knew I was a nurse - all fine.
Yes, definitely agree with you... "all depends". I brought this topic up because at my hospital, the mother of the fiancé of our hospital CEO was admitted to one of the medical floors. The CEO's fiancé is a Medical Doctor at another facility, and she displayed her work ID proudly at my facility. OK, I get it, you're a doctor. I think it is good in a way, because I was able to speak to her directly in medical terms, without the run arounds, explaining the many "whys". And, she was also calm her mother and explained the procedures being done to her. The daughter was very nice to me, but I have heard a lot of complaints from other staffs (e.g., doctors, nurses, etc...). Apparently, the daughter was commanding the other doctors and was asking a lot of questions. I meant, yes, I would, too, ask a lot of questions if the patient is family or a close relative, but commanding employees how things should be done makes them uncomfortable or fear of going inside the patient's room. As healthcare providers, we shouldn't fear or get intimidated of other healthcare providers, especially when they themselves become patients. I always wonder why. Is it because we don't want to make a mistake/error. I feel like, being a patient with VIP status can have both negs and pos. I still remember when I went for my shoulder surgery. I wrote a letter to my family, place it in a envelope, and instructed them to open it if I don't come out of anesthesia. The letter was all my bank account information and other personal properties. As healthcare workers, we SEE so many things, that's why we, more like me, have fears.
Specializes in Clinical Pediatrics; Maternal-Child Educator.
As a patient, I usually don't tell that I'm a nurse. I don't know everything and appreciate the simple explanations as much as the next person. If it's something I'm very familiar with, I can ask questions to further my understanding if I need it.
As the relative of a patient, I admit I can be a bit of a nightmare, but only when basic standards of care aren't followed. When my family member was seen in the ED, I was recognized as a nurse. I watched the nurse take out a pair of gloves to start an IV and place them on the bed while she was gathering supplies. Didn't think anything of it and was discussing hemochromatosis with my family as we had an on-going debate about how much blood was removed per visit (the spouse of another relative has it). I was actually distracted trying to distract my family member from an IV stick when I started to notice things that bothered me. I looked over to see how the IV stick and blood work collection was going and noticed the gloves still on the bed.... she had started the IV and was collecting the blood without gloves. I wasn't happy, but wasn't going to make her uncomfortable at that point - it was already started and being taped. Another staff member joined into our conversation at that point and said that she agreed with my family member that a lot of blood was taken because (patient's name) had (this experience). The same nurse later on had multiple patient stickers on her scrub jacket and scanned the patient sticker rather than the patient armband for a medication. At that point, I was paying more attention and requested that she scan the armband. She appeared put out by my request and actually said they always use the labels before I insisted on the armband. I could see that not all the labels were my family member's.... I didn't know how to handle the whole situation at the time between not embarrassing the staff, dealing with my own concerns about my family member, and concern for patient care. After much thought about what to do, I ended up writing the whole experience (without the use of names) to the ED manager stating the experience from the point of a ED visitor with a medical background. I was told that they had training on all of the above, but that it would be reiterated.
When I take care of health care providers, I treat them the same as everyone else. I do feel a little nervous at times, but it doesn't stop me from doing what I do as I would for every other patient. My own experience made me realize that probably a lot of times health care workers who are visitors are trying to find that balance too.
Eventually we nurses usually get 'outed' whether intentionally or not. Usually it's our language that gives us away, or else some family blurbs it out. Regardless, I can't remember it ever being a problem.
Just this last Sept 2019 I was in-pt at the world's BEST-EST hospital. Staff knew I was retired RN; no problem. It was an elective admission and I was fully aware and cognizant. But this 5/4, I was a SERIOUS emergency admission this time and I have little memory of those early hours.
Nursing and medical staff MUST have known my background because I believe they went above & beyond in my care. I was so compromised mentally. Even at the 2nd hospital on 5/8, I am so grateful to the staff that recognized my background. They HEARD me as amoLucia, the NURSE, not just amoLucia, the pt. My concerns were addressed on both levels, and that meant ever so much.
It's funny though because one can't seem to turn off the 'nurse' no matter how hard we try to hide it. ?
I might be in minority here, but I never try to hide my profession. I don't announce it, but if asked I admit I am a nurse. Thankfully I haven't had any inpatient experiences, but outpatient they seem to be super nice to me if they know I work in the field, and the providers, like others have said, adress me in more depth and allow me to participate in my care.
I went into my own ER once (many years ago), with wheezing and coughing; just needed a neb. They were swamped as usual, gave me a hall bed. The nurses were so busy, after my VS were done, I just filled in most of the paper chart myself ( allergies, complaint, hx, etc.).
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
I've had both good and bad experiences with taking care of healthcare providers or patients that had family members that were in healthcare. I don't get bothered by it, they get the same quality of care that I provide to everybody. I'm fine with people advocating for their loved ones, I think it's important that they do and many times they do contribute to finding the appropriate diagnosis or treatment for their loved one.
BUT, do not pick apart every single thing everybody that walks into the room does especially if you haven't been a bedside nurse and actually taken care of someone in years, practices and policies change, everyone does some things a little bit different and that doesn't mean it's wrong. That is what drives me nuts, I think it's their way of expressing anxiety but it sure is frustrating to have a myriad of criticisms over things that just do not matter.
When I'm a patient, I don't tell the people I'm a nurse but like others have stated you usually get outed. I don't like my doctor to just assume I know things, and appreciate explanations and education even if it is something I already know.
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
Luckily I've never been a patient in the hospital so it hasn't come up. Although I'm planning to going through a kidney donation later this Spring so we'll see.
My parents have been hospitalized in the past and the second I walk through the door my mother outs me to everyone on the planet. I try not to overstep and the care they have received has always been very good in this particular hospital so I can easily remain in the background.
Luckily I've never been a patient in the hospital so it hasn't come up. Although I'm planning to going through a kidney donation later this Spring so we'll see.
Good for you! You will be giving someone their life back (at least, much closer to normal than they could otherwise achieve).
JadedCPN, BSN, RN
1,476 Posts
I don't like to be outed, but either my annoying family member that I'm there with will out me OR my medical knowledge when speaking with staff will out me. I make sure to clarify that I'm a pediatric nurse and don't work on that specific unit so they know more than I do in that regard, and usually that eases their intimidation.