i'm a RN

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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..

Specializes in PCU, Home Health.

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I wouldn't admit that to a nurse if that were true....

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Family member. I'm a JACHO surveyor. You are out of compliance with everything.

I wouldn't admit that to a nurse if that were true....

I had a HH patient who was a JACHO surveyor. People always said to me "doesn't he make you nervous"? No...why? He's a patient in need of care like anyone else.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

My mother does this all the time, always tells medical personel, "please meet my two daughters they're both nurses"....My sister and I want to crawl in a hole. I've asked my mom not to do it, but she doesn't understand. I try really, really hard to stay out of the way most of the time.

Last time a nurse was putting in an IV for mom. She did it o.k., but her technique was quite....well, interesting, but nothing harmful. I could FEEL my sister inwardly cringing in the corner. I quietly wispered in her ear, "close your eyes and shut up.";)

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
My mother does this all the time, always tells medical personel, "please meet my two daughters they're both nurses"....My sister and I want to crawl in a hole. I've asked my mom not to do it, but she doesn't understand. I try really, really hard to stay out of the way most of the time.

Last time a nurse was putting in an IV for mom. She did it o.k., but her technique was quite....well, interesting, but nothing harmful. I could FEEL my sister inwardly cringing in the corner. I quietly wispered in her ear, "close your eyes and shut up.";)

lmaosmiley.gif And...the older they get the worse the problem gets!

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I love this one!! I end up saying something like "Yeah...me too!" Or once I've said..."I'm sorry to hear that" ....that one got a laugh.

I love the "I'm a nursing instructor" or " I work in the hospital...we do things differently!"

I've had family in the hospital tell nurses that I'm a nurse.....I normally just laugh and say....No....I'm a visitor. I can help you if needed to make their jobs easier today. That normally gets a smile and thank you.

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Specializes in Government.

I never tell anyone I'm an RN. My recent experience indicates I need to keep my trap shut even more.

I was getting my knee evaluated with an orthopedic surgeon. He was using practically baby talk: "Now when this thingie touches this doohickey....". I told him I was a rehab RN and he could use professional terminology without losing me. He got really annoyed and said: "actually for nurses I dial it down even more". And he wasn't kidding.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

I once had a patient's daughter trying to bully me for information...when her mom's chart said DO NOT GIVE DAUGHTER ANY INFORMATION, REFER HER TO SON, blah blah blah. So when she hit me with the "I'm an RN, you know", I politely said, "well then you understand all about HIPAA regulations, and your brother will talk to you about your mother's condition." This woman came into our nursing home at 0230 after calling me at 2100 during med pass and 2300 during report, and 0100 just to check on her mom, right....We had to let her in, we do have a 24/7 visiting hours. I was hoping she would get threatening so I could call the police on her.

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I give them a "time out"!

No, really, we have sheets of paper made up to read "Communication notes" across the top that we leave for the docs/ case manager. I give them a sheet, ask them to write down a list of their concerns so we can address them...I check back with them after a while, they are calmer (and I am less frazzled) and we can come up with a plan of what resources are needed and who to go to about what. I will address minor issues that I am able to, and refer other concerns to MD, CM or PT/OT.

Has worked every time.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
Hate that! Guess what? Had a RIGHT HIP FRACTURE...now must have surgery. No one until Sunday had the painful hip written in the chart correctly. No one was looking for the outstanding CT results. It took PT, to figure it out.

I think in your case it must have taken all your strength not to say something.

I had a situation where my husband had gone in to have an eye op. They gave him g. adrenaline. I warned them that he had extreme sensitivity to it. Needless to say, he did become extremely hypertensive. Weird I know. It was a bit difficult to hide the fact I was a nurse, as they knew me...

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

My parents do the "my daughter the nurse" thing too. I too want to crawl into a hole. Once my dad was in the hospital for a procedure and the nurse came in to start his IV. She was having a little trouble and he kept looking over at me. I said "don't look at me, I don't work here!"

I did play the nurse card, once, a number of years ago. My husband was in the hospital for orthopedic surgery. He had just been started on a medication by his neurologist. The ortho surgeon, who did not know I was a nurse, ordered something different, even though I'd told him exactly what my husband was to take. The nurse came in to give it and I stopped her. I told her that he's not supposed to be on X, he's supposed to take Y, please call the surgeon and get it changed. She told me she couldn't, I told her I was a nurse and knew very well she could. She did.

I wasn't about to let an orthopedic surgeon change a neuro med.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

thank you all for your wonderful comments.. i love to hear how you all handled this situation. i don't ever pull out my RN comment inless i really need to . you guys are awesome and thank you all for making me feel better .. i love you all

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
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:

hahahah! that's fantastic.

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