Survey:When you are the patient or family member, do you identify yourself as a nurse

[Brian, ASN, RN]

Here are the results of last months survey question

When you are the patient or family member, do you identify yourself as a nurse? :

Please feel free to read and post any comments that you have right here in this discussion thread by clicking the "Post Reply" button.

Thanks

[Stargazer]

Well, I answered "no" to the question, because I don't identify myself as a nurse--but several weeks ago, when my dad was in the hospital for surgery--he told practically everyone who walked in the room that his daughter was a nurse!

It would've come up anyway, after I started asking questions about specific drugs and the surgical options and so forth, it's not like I'm trying to hide it--but I tend not to say I'm a nurse right off the bat, because it seems to me there's a sort of implied "...and I've got my eye on you" that can put the caregiver on the defensive.

[l.rae]

l try not to unless it is in self defense of stupid residents...really, almost never...............LR

[Ted]

Yep! Especially to physicians!

My wife recently had abdominal surgery. They nicked her liver which resulted in a liter's blood loss. Two days later (two days too late, in my opinion) she received two units of PRBC's . . . only after having chest pain, SOB and O2 sats in the low 80's!! I was singing that I was a nurse . . . and she needed the patient advocacy too.

Ted

[Love-A-Nurse]

no, i don't.

[kids]

I don't tell but everyone knows...

I live in a fair size city...with only 1 hospital (400+/- beds). It is impossible for me or mine to get admitted to a unit where there isn't someone I haven't worked or gone to school with.

[mark_LD_RN]

I usually do,but by now just about every nurse and doctor in the area knows me. but if they did not know i would tell them. after some of the stuff i have seen i think its a good idea

[nakitamoon]

Like Stargazer,,,,, I don't identify myself as a nurse,,,,, Family members are telling them in the first sentence, ,,,,,, "this is my daughter/ niece/ cousin/sister,,, she is a nurse!"

As patient,,,, & when something is definitly wrong ,,,,, I do speak up,,,, guestion,,,, and do not stop till it's under control,,,,,

Lol,,,,,, I do have control issues at times,,,,, ~Moon

[micro, RN]

yes, I usually do.....

it just makes the conversations simpler.....

and they are usually more straight with you.....

Ted,

sorry to hear about your wife....

tell her hey.....and feeling better.....

patient advocacy.....all the way.....

cool question.....Brian

so you are not linus after all

micro

[melissa24]

I usually don't at first, but it usually comes up, after I start asking questions. Family members are another story. My husband, my father...they are too proud not to tell everyone that I am a nurse!

[psychonurse]

I usually tell them that I am a nurse cause when you start asking questions, they are more inclined to tell you more if you are a nurse than normally. It is just how you ask them things I guess. When I had my knee replaced, they treated me so much better. We shall see when I have my hyst & BSO if it is true. My parents use to tell them before I ever stepped into the room, especially the doctors......:)

[adrienurse, LPN]

I try not to, but usually can't help myself. I have had negative experiences in the past where the physician took the fact that I was a nurse too much for granted, and I missed out on a lot of good care.