The nursing school I attend has earned acclaim as one of the few programs in the USA to teach the Modeling and Role Modeling theory as a basis for nursing practice, emphasizing a holistic approach to health care. When I graduate I will be eligible to sit for the holistic nursing certificate. One of the things that we do at my school is to use the word “client” instead of “patient” for reasons being that:
A patient is one who is given aid instruction, and treatment with the expectation that such services are appropriate and that the recipient will accept them and comply with the plan
A client is one who is considered to be a legitimate member of the decision-making team, who always has some control over the planned regimen, and who id incorporated into the planning and implementation of his or her own care as much as possible.
I was just wondering what other schools use the term client as well as RNs. Those who use the term ‘patient’ would you consider using the term ‘client’ instead? Why or why not?
I loathe the use of the word "client". As others have pointed out, this suggests a business relationship that we could terminate at will. We can't do this with our PATIENTS. We have to take care of them no matter how abusive they are.
Yeah, the tried to get us on board with "client" in nursing school. I refused and our instructors didn't push the issue. I'm under the impression that they think it's stupid too.
I have always thought of it as patient until I started nsg school this semester. On the first day of classes they told us it is now client.
Seems like a silly semantic argument to me.
If I were sick and in a hospital I think I'd be much less concerned about my "title" than my treatment. I tend to think our patients/clients might feel the same way.
One of our books always uses 'client,' the other pretty much always uses 'patient.' Most of the NCLEX books use 'client.' Our instructor powerpoints are usually with 'patient,' yet our care plans call for 'expected client outcomes.'
For a non-nursing perspective....my grandfather (who happens to be a doctor) got very upset when I called someone a 'client' say that only "laywers, insurance salemen, and hookers" have clients.
"Customer" may even result in less than optimal outcomes.
On the radio today I heard and ad from hospital letting prospective patients, clients, customers know that they have "caring nurses" that were "attentive"and (I am not kidding) "comfortable showers with scented soaps." What is next? 600 thread count designer sheets?
A "customer" chooses a hospital like a hotel. It is not only silly, but if staff are reduced to pay for the aromatherapy soap in the bathroom and nurses are hired for their customer service skills and not clinical competence outcomes will surely suffer.
INMO this camel's nose must be kept out the tent at all costs.
I did the "client" bit for several years, but I think we are getting back to working with "patients". The label "client" is still widely associated with attorneys, and I would never like to be confused with one of them........
This side of the pond even client is now considered old fashioned.
They are 'Service Users'...
Which of course means we are 'Service Providers'
(Anyone need a servicing?)
It is not a phrase that is catching on (Thankfully)
OMG! Is this what the New Britain is about? I thought with the NHS they would have stayed "patients." Looks like the Masters of Business Admin have attacked healthcare in the UK too.
At a group home where I did my psych clinicals they called them "consumers." I was like, "*****! This isn't McDonalds!" My instructors say "client," I say "patient," but they've never corrected me.
The nursing school I attend has earned acclaim as one of the few programs in the USA to teach the Modeling and Role Modeling theory as a basis for nursing practice, emphasizing a holistic approach to health care. When I graduate I will be eligible to sit for the holistic nursing certificate. One of the things that we do at my school is to use the word "client" instead of "patient" for reasons being that:
I was just wondering what other schools use the term client as well as RNs. Those who use the term 'patient' would you consider using the term 'client' instead? Why or why not?
Our school used both and all of our texts except for our Pharmacology text used "client". I don't think of inpatients as clients. I could get on board with the idea of calling patients "clients" in other settings such as home health, diabetes education etc... I'm not completely against the idea of switching the terminology if I were given sound reasoning as to why this is a good idea, how it will improve the nurse-patient/client relationship, change the status of nursing (for the better obviously), and if someone can justify the time worrying over this subject when so many other issues seem a bit more pressing.
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hrmgtm
10 Posts
if we are working in hospital it's a patient
if we are working at home as a home care nurse then it's a client
but all has different -2 ideas
