Psych patients being given nurses names?

elkpark · Oct 9, 2015

Clients have a (legal) right to know who is caring for them. Clients have always had the ability to gain access to their records (and the full names of those caring for them); it just used to take them longer. I don't understand the concern so many nurses have that keeping their names secret will somehow keep them safer than if people know who they are. I've been working in psych for 30 yrs now, in many different clinical settings and locales, I have always used my first and last name freely, and I've never had a problem as a result. I understand that bad situations do sometimes occur, but it appears that that is not nearly as common as many people are afraid it is. Usually, the cautionary tales are "I knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who said she got stalked." I did a lit search a few years back when this same issue came up on this board another time (as it does periodically), and the literature shows that the rate of stalking of psychiatric nurses is not significantly higher than the rate of stalking in the general public -- i.e., you don't have any greater risk of being stalked because of your work than you already do.

In the larger sense, if we (nurses) want to be taken seriously as professionals, we really need to get over this "you can't know my last name" thing. Lots of people with much more dangerous jobs than us (police officers, parole officers, judges, social workers) would never consider trying to keep their names secret. Can you imagine appearing in court and having "Judge Steve" presiding over the trial? Getting stopped for a traffic violation by "Officer Sally"? The lit search I did showed that psychiatrists are much more likely to be stalked by clients than psychiatric nurses, but, in 30 years, I've never encountered a psychiatrist who even considered trying to keep her/his name secret.

ETA: Also, let's be realistic. If someone really wants to find out where you live. s/he is probably not going to go to the trouble of getting the medical record and combing through it to look for your name and then attempt to identify your address from your name -- s/he is just going to hang around the hospital, wait for you to come out from work, and follow you home. Hiding your name does nothing to protect you in that case.

dedward · Oct 9, 2015

First, let me say I work with very much the same population as police officers, parole officers, judges, social workers. As far as I am aware, all of them carry guns for protection because their names are known to these patients. In fact, they usually are involved in the referral process, and/or transport the patients to us. Second, many of these patients can be quite violent, both in, and outside of the facility. Many of them have spent significant amounts of time in prison, and are used to having violence as a normal occurrence in their lives. I routinely receive patients in handcuffs, shackles, and accompanied by more than one officer, due to safety concerns. I am 6 feet tall, 230lbs, so I'm not concerned about myself, as much as my family, although I have been threatened, and even injured in the past by a violent patient. I have had patients try repeatedly to find out my name and where I live. (asking coworkers, or other patients that may know me.)

One of our techs recently had a patient turn up at her front door, acting very strangely. This surprised and upset her. Her 2 adult sons were there at the time, and escorted the person off the property. I also frequently work with a woman from mobile crisis that was stalked by a male patient who got her name from the records he requested after discharge from another facility. Several of our nurses have indeed been threatened and stalked in the parking lot by patients. Security will escort them to their cars, but when they leave hospital property, they are very much on their own.

All that's needed now to find someone's home address is a name and an internet connection.

I make a point to leave my job at the hospital. I do not relish the idea of it coming to my house.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2015

Where I've worked, it has been hospital policy that any nurses or other caregiving staff could choose to omit their last names from their badges. I would never have my unusual last name publicly out-there if I had a choice. I also will not be in photos. I come at this as a person who has been stalked, once. Once was enough. Anything I can do to protect myself and my family, now, no matter how small, I'll do.

I agree that someone out to get you is more likely to be waiting for you after work than to look for your name on medical records. I bet few people, period, ever look at their medical records anyway. I don't know anyone who has ever done it.

In psych, safety is the number one priority. That includes your safety. It's logical that safety should always be a priority, no matter where you work.

elkpark · Oct 9, 2015

First, let me say I work with very much the same population as police officers, parole officers, judges, social workers. As far as I am aware, all of them carry guns for protection because their names are known to these patients. In fact, they usually are involved in the referral process, and/or transport the patients to us. Second, many of these patients can be quite violent, both in, and outside of the facility. Many of them have spent significant amounts of time in prison, and are used to having violence as a normal occurrence in their lives. I routinely receive patients in handcuffs, shackles, and accompanied by more than one officer, due to safety concerns. I am 6 feet tall, 230lbs, so I'm not concerned about myself, as much as my family, although I have been threatened, and even injured in the past by a violent patient. I have had patients try repeatedly to find out my name and where I live. (asking coworkers, or other patients that may know me.)
One of our techs recently had a patient turn up at her front door, acting very strangely. This surprised and upset her. Her 2 adult sons were there at the time, and escorted the person off the property. I also frequently work with a woman from mobile crisis that was stalked by a male patient who got her name from the records he requested after discharge from another facility. Several of our nurses have indeed been threatened and stalked in the parking lot by patients. Security will escort them to their cars, but when they leave hospital property, they are very much on their own.
All that's needed now to find someone's home address is a name and an internet connection.
I make a point to leave my job at the hospital. I do not relish the idea of it coming to my house.

I have no argument with what you're saying -- but, again, not allowing people access to their medical records doesn't change any of that (and isn't going to happen, anyway -- people have rights). Perhaps you would be happier, more comfortable, working in a different setting.

marshmallowstar, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2015

I've worked in psych for 15 years, on and off. I've always left my full name on my badge. I've worked inpatient psych at a state prison, escorted sexual assault survivors to court hearings and testified in court against a domestic abuser, where I had to identify my full name and employer in front of the criminals. It's not a matter of whose patients are worse or more dangerous, the reality is if someone is preoccupied they will find your information when they want to, whether it's nonchalantly asking a coworker information about you, requesting their records, or any of the other thousand ways they have of getting their needs met (we all know the resourcefulness of our patients when they're determined.) I agree with elkpark, if psychiatrists have their full names out there so can we. Also I don't know of any parole officers, judges or social workers that carry firearms with them to work, and many of the police officers I know do not carry when off duty.

Obviously it's concerning to you so I would also check with your portal committee. I've not heard of any portal that is posting individual progress notes, that is a tremendous amount of data to push out. Most are supplying test results and discharge summaries, which would not have a nurse's name listed. Check to see exactly what information is being provided

chare · Oct 10, 2015

First, let me say I work with very much the same population as police officers, parole officers, judges, social workers. As far as I am aware, all of them carry guns for protection because their names are known to these patients.

Police officers yes. Parole officers, maybe, depending upon location.

Judges and social workers, possibly as private citizens that have applied for/received a concealed carry permit, but as a required and issued part of their job description, I find this difficult to believe. If you are aware of this, would you post a link?

And as elkpark noted, all that is really necessary if for them to wait outside and follow you home.