i'm a RN

EmmaG, RN · Feb 5, 2008

Yeah, I've had those. The relative who claims to be a nurse, doc, friend-of-the-CEO.... my favorites are the backwood cousin-Jethro lawyers.

I just smile and go about my business.

Back as a relatively new grad, I did have a woman literally back me into a wall after her father coded, screaming at me that she was a nurse and blamed me for his death... the doc pulled her off of me and told her I'd done nothing wrong nor in any way caused her father to die. That was fairly traumatic for all involved.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

thanks emmanuel people can be just crazy.. oh and my thank you button does work.. you made me feel better

EmmaG, RN · Feb 5, 2008

thanks emmanuel people can be just crazy.. oh and my thank you button does work.. you made me feel better

Unless they are interfering with the patient's care, just let it roll off your back. It's just tough talk...

I have had family members tell me in a non-threatening manner that they are nurses; you can always tell the ones that aren't out to harass because they seem to be rather reluctant to do so.

I've met quite a few as a traveler. Whenever a patient or family asks how long I've worked the hospital, I'm honest and tell them I'm a traveler. None have been concerned about it; they think it's cool lol. That's usually when I find that the family member or some relative is a nurse, and they start asking about traveling. I've also received some excellent tips on things to see and local restaurants, etc. :)

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

i had a patient who's daughter came up to me and didn't even tell me her name.. she just said " first of all i'm a RN" ... i said "so am I".. she was mean and bossy and took up all my time .. how do you guys handle patients families that try that pathetic introduction to bully some info out of you? can you tell me some stories about family members that tried that on you.i would love to hear from you. thank you all in advance for some reason i can't thank anyone anymore..with the thank you button..

I usually chart the conversation verbatim, quotation marks included if a patient or family member is out of line. I hate having to do things like that that, but I'd hate to have a patient's family complain that I was unprofessional in any way. This way, I can pinpoint the exact time the dynamic in the room shifts - when the LOL starts screaming "My daughter is a big shot lawyer who will sue all of you ugly bitches!!!" (And said daughter runs out of the room mumbling "I'm so sorry, I do real estate law... just thanks for taking care of my mother" and I don't see her for the rest of the shift...etc..)

It amazes me just how entitled people seem to feel when they come into the hospital - and common courtesy just flies out the window.

Blee (who had one of those days and is trying to cool off before getting up to do it all again )

leslie :-D · Feb 5, 2008

i've had those bullying types, puffing their chest out..."i'm an RN".

on a couple of occasions, i've replied with, "i'm sorry", followed by my sympathetic face.

kinda throws them off.

leslie :nurse:

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

luckliy the pt and her daughter have gone back home.. they can crawl back into the hole they came out of... i rarely say i am RN even when i take my mother to the dr...

EmmaG, RN · Feb 5, 2008

i've had those bullying types, puffing their chest out..."i'm an RN".
on a couple of occasions, i've replied with, "i'm sorry", followed by my sympathetic face.
kinda throws them off.
leslie

I love it! :lol2:

TiredMD · Feb 5, 2008

We get that too.

Them: "Well, I'm a doctor, and . . . "

Me: "Oh really? What's your specialty?"

Them: "Um . . . psychiatry."

Me: "Oh, okay. I'll make sure I don't use big words."

:w00t:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

You know, I was just talking with a co-worker about this kind of thing the other day. And we both were of the opinion that it's unprofessional on the part of the family member to try to push their "nurse" status on you (as though that actually matters).

I also like the "I'm a doctor" people; had one "doctor" who was actually a physics professor. Sorry, nice try, but a doctorATE isn't the same thing as a medical doctor in a hospital, LOL!

Agnus · Feb 5, 2008

"I'm an RN. What did my mother's test show?"

"As an RN you know I can not legally give you that information."

End of conversation with me at least. She can go rant to someone else if she wants.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

"I'm an RN. What did my mother's test show?"
"As an RN you know I can not legally give you that information."
End of conversation with me at least. She can go rant to someone else if she wants.

i love it .. lol