"I am a nurse!"

[Emergent]

Ever have a patient or family member who, the first thing out of their mouth is "I am a nurse!". Then they proceed to brag about their illustrious career, showing off their knowledge, grandstanding and expecting the red carpet treatment. They fiddle around with monitors, turn off pumps and saline lock IVs, crossing boundaries right and left.

Then they announce that they love it here and plan on applying! You go to the BON site, verify their status, then email your supervisor ASAP!

[dec2007]

I haven't read the whole thread, so please forgive me if this is repetitive. The first situation was a quad patient frequently admitted with pneumonia. He was on a vent at home. Family caregiver took it upon herself to frequently change ventilator modes, FIO2, adjust pressors, etc. Second situation is more common. Patient admitted to the ICU with overbearing family member present who immediately shares "I'm in medicine", whatever that means. After several shifts from hell with said family member advising care from the bedside we find out that they actually, a) have recently applied to nursing school, b) are CNA/PCT, or C) work in housekeeping at a nearby nursing home.

[dec2007]

Ah, yes, I forgot one from this weekend: patient has been in the ICU for nearly two months. Wife, who is always at the bedside and sleeps in his room every night showed up yesterday wearing a brand new set of high-end nursing scrubs, same color as our staff nurses wear.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

My parents, now in their 70's with a few medical needs, blurt out "Our daughter is a nurse, too!" to every nurse that comes in the room to care for them. I roll my eyes and get a sympathetic look from the understanding nurse. I ask them over and over to not do that but they just get excited I guess.

PS: I would NEVER interfere with another nurse's care by the way.

My parents do the same thing! Drives me a little nuts, although it's flattering that they're proud of what I do. I just smile and sit quietly, I'm not stepping in on someone else's job.

[bellini]

Ah, yes, I forgot one from this weekend: patient has been in the ICU for nearly two months. Wife, who is always at the bedside and sleeps in his room every night showed up yesterday wearing a brand new set of high-end nursing scrubs, same color as our staff nurses wear.

Hilarious. We had a patient's family member say "I know as much as the doctors" because he had been at the bedside every afternoon for a couple of weeks. He had been able to be at the bedside because he was basically unemployable and had no family of his own. I yearned to say, Fool you don't even know a millionth of what I know. We had another patient's family member who had seen a poster for ACLS while waiting for an elevator and thought she was qualified, based on having sat at the bedside, to do an ACLS course. We encouraged her to apply.

[sevensonnets]

A long time ago before HIPAA (so it's okay to tell it now) a FF's wife claimed to be a cardiologist, and would come in demanding EKG's and tests for her husband. Funny, she never identified herself as an MD in the room, only out at the desk. She would track down his nurse for the day and wait outside whatever room she was in. Actually knocked on a few patients' doors to demand that the nurse come to her husband's room. When I told his actual cardiologist he said, "Huh? Where does she practice?" So we went to his room and he asked her pointblank what cardiology group she was with. She practically wet her pants. Panic time! Her bewildered husband says, "She's a secretary for a construction company!" Doc and I just tiptoed out and let him deal with it.

[Susie2310]

The other side to this is that some family members who are nurses raise legitimate concerns about the patient (as do some non-nurse family members), and the nurse due to prejudice is unable to hear what they are saying or respond appropriately to the concern, and the patient suffers. Egos can get in the way on both sides.

When I am the family member I don't mention that I am a nurse, or ask questions that will obviously reveal this, as I have found that nurses tend to become defensive when they suspect a family member is a nurse, and this results in unproductive behavior, but I will ask questions I consider necessary to my relative's care or take necessary action to assure the safety of my relative. If a nurse/physician concludes that I am a nurse, that's fine with me, and if I think the situation warrants it I have no problem telling them that I am a nurse. If staff ask me directly I will tell them I am a nurse, and my relatives are likely to volunteer this anyway. I try to be respectful and considerate towards the staff, and I am a generally quiet presence, but I don't dumb my behavior down as I don't believe that is in the interest of my relative (the patient).

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

As a staff nurse, I would not tolerate anyone messing with equipment. It did take some time to gain enough confidence to perform, knowing I was being scrutinized by another professional.

As the nurse- daughter of a very sick man, I tried to lay low.. but they knew by my questions, that I was a nurse. Once that was out... docs and nurses alike.. took the defensive attitude.

That should not happen, healthcare professionals need to collaborate.. no matter what.

[jena5111, ASN, RN]

You *are* something important.

Yep, medical assistants are important. In my previous role at an outpatient pain mgmt clinic, the MAs were a critical part of the team. We had some GOOD medical assistants in my clinic.

[iranurse01]

i have had both the good and bad in this area. typically i will ask for clarification by asking where they work and in which department. that gives me a better idea of who and what i am about to deal with. the best compliment ever came from a doctor when i took care of his wife. she was to have a routine surgery that became very complicated and required returning to the OR not once but twice from the PACU. upon arrive to icu she was way not stable and he was attached to the bed and watched everything. after almost 2 hrs of running, transfusing, treating severe hypotension and a blood reaction she stabilized. his only comment was that i was exactly where i should be- the bedside- and i should never leave it.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

oh yeah,her nurses cap must have been made out of gold and diamonds and huge.

We give everyone a heads up on these beauties.Very wacky. I love the ones that tell me they are Doctors.Then we find out they are from other country ,never practiced in USA and never really were doctors in their country either.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

I have learned the hard way not to share unless I have to. Neighbors who find out I am a nurse suddenly feel free to ask me for things that I am not licensed to do, such as a Medical Diagnosis.

Then they decide to call for any ache and pain that they might have and include their kids in the process.

Yep. Learned to keep my mouth shut unless I have to mention it. (grin)

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

As a staff nurse, I would not tolerate anyone messing with equipment. It did take some time to gain enough confidence to perform, knowing I was being scrutinized by another professional.

As the nurse- daughter of a very sick man, I tried to lay low.. but they knew by my questions, that I was a nurse. Once that was out... docs and nurses alike.. took the defensive attitude.

That should not happen, healthcare professionals need to collaborate.. no matter what.

Amen, and hallelujah to that!