Okay so this is just sort of a vent and probably a little irrational pet peeve of mine.
But I always can't help but wonder what exactly someone actually does when they say ... "I work in the medical field".
So either they do something that the general public doesn't know too much about ... like for example a perfusionist... While highly educated and trained ... The public doesn't know what a perfusionist is for the most part.
So if speaking to non-med people maybe it's easier for said perfusionist to say "medical field".
Another scenario that comes to mind is when someone works at a clinic or hospital but has a 100% non clinical job yet wants to give the impression they are some kind of clinician.
So when people tell me "I work in the medical field", I always wonder --"what exactly do you do"?
Often when I'm just chatting with someone in a non-work setting and the topic of our occupations comes up I usually just say "I work in health care" if I don't really want to go into great depth about the details of my job. If I say "I'm a nurse" then they ask "oh, what hospital do you work in?" and I have to explain that I don't work in a hospital, and then they ask what kind of clients I see in the community and then I have to explain hospice palliative care and then it turns into this huge downer when they realize that my job is to help people die and honestly, most of the time I just would rather not get into it.
I had no idea their assumption might be that I'm a housekeeper or cafeteria worker trying to make myself sound important! I guess though that I don't really care either
You never can win with this situation. There was another thread a few weeks ago(?) talking about whether or not to "reveal" that you're a nurse when seeking care or with a family member. The consensus was no, that it looks like you're being overbearing or pompous. So if you're trying to talk with the provider in higher terms than a layperson would, it's either "I'm a nurse" and you look pompous, or "I'm in healthcare" and it's assumed you are support staff trying to 'look good.'
Somewhat related, back when I was still a nursing student, my provider (over the phone) sent me to an urgent care to have labs done for possible electrolyte imbalance. I hadn't mentioned that I was a nursing student, I didn't try to guide the nurse or doctor, I didn't try to act like I knew more than I did, I didn't act high and mighty. I was in the middle of studying for the NCLEX, and so my brain was pretty much a set of flashcards at this point. The doctor asks me if I had felt any spasms when my blood pressure was taken, and I said no. In my brain, "trousseau's sign!" popped up and so I laughed at myself. The doctor looked at me to explain, and I just quickly explained what had happened and that I was studying pretty hard. Again, not trying to run the show here, this was the first mention of me being a student. She finished up, walked out of the (non-soundproof) room and complained all the way down the hall to the nurse that she hated having nursing students as patients and they're terrible to work with and they think they know everything and etc. Thanks, doc. You just lost all my trust as a patient and if I ever work with you (possible if she rotates to the ED I now work at as an RN, like some UC docs do), all professional respect.
I hate trying just to act like an innocent bystander in my family members' or my care. If you do, you get talked to dumbed down to: "She had what we call hypo...gly...cemia. Low blood sugar. Your body needs gluuu cose to function." Omg, stop. I've used this as an important lesson to remember to assess my patient's level of understanding of a subject before providing education. I've worked oncology my whole career, so on the same note- when educating me on cardiac issues, remember I'm not a cardiac nurse. I've had this happen where I've been educating a nurse on CVL care and skipped sections saying "But you're a nurse, you know that" and they look at me sideways and say "I have 25 years of labor and delivery experience, and next to none with central lines." Also, in oncology, I've had none medical folks with very deep knowledge of their condition. Tailor education to your patient!
Sounds like that doctor was pretty rude about it. I have been in the hospital and heard nurses giving report about me outside my door telling the oncoming shift that I'm a nurse.
I would prefer people say they are in health care, rather than the medical field. I don't practice medicine, but I do do health care.
I just tell people I'm an ER nurse and leave it at that. Kinda says a lot.
Can't hide the fact I'm a nurse on my admissions, as I've worked with most of the staff for years and a good many more have been my students. Gotta love a small town.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Women's Health, Education.
Wow, I respectfully disagree with so much that is written in this thread! It says something about healthcare today and the hospital/LTC environment that patients and family members are willing to enhance their healthcare credentials to get staff members to respect them.
When a friend or family member goes to the hospital I always tell them to keep someone at the bedside as much as possible. Why? Because the hospital is incredibly unsafe for patients. Bravo to those who want to advocate for their loved one, I sure do when it's my family. As nurses, we need to be a little less sensitive about our own egos and remember where these actions are coming from -- fear and concern. I've seen some doozies of mistakes made by people who refused to listen to patients' protests that procedures were not being done correctly.
For instance, at my last place of employment a nurse insisted on giving a patient a cardizem tablet rectally, despite his and his wife's protests. Turns out it was supposed to be an ointment compounded in the pharmacy to treat anal fissures. But she refused to listen, until he was screaming in pain.
If I have a medical person at the bedside, I say "oh good, we're on the same team".
And maybe they shut alarms on their own because after hearing it ring for 20 minutes to no avail, they figure it must not matter.
Wow, I respectfully disagree with so much that is written in this thread! It says something about healthcare today and the hospital/LTC environment that patients and family members are willing to enhance their healthcare credentials to get staff members to respect them.
. . .
If I have a medical person at the bedside, I say "oh good, we're on the same team".
Oh, I definitely agree. I love it when people/caregivers can tell me exactly what's going on and I know they'll be able to understand and carry out any new directions. I'm also glad when I see someone actively involved in their/their loved one's care. I find it happens a lot with family members of patients with chronic illness, they bring a folder or binder in with everything I'll need to know, not that they can't recite it from memory.
From the other side of things, I was my mother's caregiver (before I was a nurse). She was being admitted through the ED and I overheard the ED nurse give report to the unit. She said "the daughter's with her and she knows what she's talking about... really, she'll be able to answer any questions you have." On the unit, the nurse that was doing the admission took all the information from me, and we set her up together. My mom was confused at that point so I had to give her history and really all information that wasn't subjective. It made me feel a lot better about her care that they listened to me and respected me, even when I was "just" a layperson.
From the other side of things, I was my mother's caregiver (before I was a nurse). She was being admitted through the ED and I overheard the ED nurse give report to the unit. She said "the daughter's with her and she knows what she's talking about... really, she'll be able to answer any questions you have." On the unit, the nurse that was doing the admission took all the information from me, and we set her up together. My mom was confused at that point so I had to give her history and really all information that wasn't subjective. It made me feel a lot better about her care that they listened to me and respected me, even when I was "just" a layperson.
I think it's all in the approach. As an ED RN, I love to have a good historian in the room! I have seen patients with obscure illnesses and I look to the family members for their knowledge and experience every time. They live that stuff! I had a patient with an LVAD, which was rare in our ED, and the spouse taught me all about the battery pack, troubleshooting, etc. I was clueless!
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
Oh, I definitely agree. I love it when people/caregivers can tell me exactly what's going on and I know they'll be able to understand and carry out any new directions. I'm also glad when I see someone actively involved in their/their loved one's care. I find it happens a lot with family members of patients with chronic illness, they bring a folder or binder in with everything I'll need to know, not that they can't recite it from memory.
From the other side of things, I was my mother's caregiver (before I was a nurse). She was being admitted through the ED and I overheard the ED nurse give report to the unit. She said "the daughter's with her and she knows what she's talking about... really, she'll be able to answer any questions you have." On the unit, the nurse that was doing the admission took all the information from me, and we set her up together. My mom was confused at that point so I had to give her history and really all information that wasn't subjective. It made me feel a lot better about her care that they listened to me and respected me, even when I was "just" a layperson.
I think the difference here is, you *are* a nurse. You're not someone claiming to be a nurse but in truth you work as a tech at Rite Aid.
And maybe they shut alarms on their own because after hearing it ring for 20 minutes to no avail, they figure it must not matter.
When an alarm just begins to sound and I'm walking down the hallway and see the daughter silencing it (within seconds) of going off - that's not okay. I've never let an alarm ring for 20 minutes. Alarms are such a high priority in my workplace. Any alarm that goes off is met with either the primary nurse or a fellow colleague investigating the origin - whether serious or benign.
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
Wow, I respectfully disagree with so much that is written in this thread! It says something about healthcare today and the hospital/LTC environment that patients and family members are willing to enhance their healthcare credentials to get staff members to respect them.
When a friend or family member goes to the hospital I always tell them to keep someone at the bedside as much as possible.
All of which can be done without superficially bumping up your credentials. Being a sciolist and protecting loved does not have to be mutually inclusive.
Since we've gone from a humor thread to something more serious, lets got there the whole way instead of just looking at a very focused portion of things.
I for one, upon seeing someone claim titles they've not earned tend to think it has more to do with their insecurities (about themselves and the care both) than it has to do with protecting others. It is an assumption, yes, but a safe one to say: One who is self aware and knowledgeable enough to know a loved one needs protection should know better.
By way of your viewpoint:
If I want great service at a restaurant, best way to accomplish this is to walk in and claim to be a world renowned chef. Or perhaps national food critic would get better results? (I've witnessed this and no, it doesn't work.)
I can get a better seat on a flight by telling everyone I am either a pilot or a CEO of the airlines. (Again, people have tried this and the results are not good)
I can keep a mechanic honest by claiming to be one myself as well. (Very common tactic that people use which always leads to them testing your claim.........and higher prices)
To go a step farther, it is dangerous and unethical to claim knowledge you don't have. God forbid a new nurse not see it for what it is and take their advice when it is bad. Your example with the Cardizem shows one of the instances where the person was right. But do you take into account all the bad advice given out by people who wish to pull the wool over the eyes of caregivers? I've known too many examples of outlandish requests being made by a sciolist.
It is important to work with, not against your healthcare team. Dishonest claims to titles you don't have is working against them.
By the way, I'm sure I don't have to tell you: When the day comes that you take bad advice from one of these individuals and the outcome is poor...............well............. you can get back to me and tell me how long it took to climb out from under that bus. All their claims of being an expert will disappear in the wind and will be replaced by "Oh, I have no idea why she did that. Oh, don't ask me what she was doing, I just work at Wal-Mart. I don't even know what those words mean."
Sometimes we have to set aside our innate (and often hyperactive) desire to "exude compassion" and defend individuals with poor coping. In some cases, nothing short of calling something out for what it is will do. In the case of dealing with sciiolism, I feel it is unsafe to get too caught up in their story telling. I am a patient advocate, and identifying the sciolist for what they are is of benefit to the patient.
And maybe they shut alarms on their own because after hearing it ring for 20 minutes to no avail, they figure it must not matter.
Anyone in health care, i don't care if you're an aid, a nurse, or a doc. you do not ever touch the pumps, ever! You could be a nurse at the same hospital, and unless you are clocked in on this unit, you don't touch the pumps.
I think the difference here is, you *are* a nurse. You're not someone claiming to be a nurse but in truth you work as a tech at Rite Aid.
Right, I did deviate from the original topic a bit there (even though I wasn't even in nursing school at that time, I was a teacher). I'd definitely take a total layperson that admits they're a layperson and is willing to learn over someone talking up their nonexistent credentials and really understanding nothing any day.
Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.
I had a patient who was giving me instructions on where and how to insert an IV catheter on her. These instructions were not suggestions, but rather said forcefully, to the point she told me to remove a perfectly good one because, although it felt fine and was flushing well, "it didn't feel right going in". At one point I asked her what she did for a living and she said "I'm in nursing". I figured out that she wasn't a nurse or she would have just said so. I asked her if she was a phlebotomist. She denied this and stuck with her line, "I'm in nursing". I have no idea what that meant, but I suppose it made her feel more in control of the situation. I don't really care what she did for a living. I listen to patients, no matter what job they have, when they tell me where other people have had success placing IVs. I always take that into consideration. But when you take it so far as to insist a perfectly working catheter be removed because you don't think it felt quite right going in, we have a problem that isn't going to be solved by how you make a living.
annabanana2
196 Posts
Often when I'm just chatting with someone in a non-work setting and the topic of our occupations comes up I usually just say "I work in health care" if I don't really want to go into great depth about the details of my job. If I say "I'm a nurse" then they ask "oh, what hospital do you work in?" and I have to explain that I don't work in a hospital, and then they ask what kind of clients I see in the community and then I have to explain hospice palliative care and then it turns into this huge downer when they realize that my job is to help people die and honestly, most of the time I just would rather not get into it.
I had no idea their assumption might be that I'm a housekeeper or cafeteria worker trying to make myself sound important! I guess though that I don't really care either