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?
