what do u say to pts when they ask where u live?

[JadeRN722]

I actually live in the same city where I work and I almost always get asked where I live. When they realize I live in the same city as them, they want to know what street. I never give this information but does anyone have any good responses to this personal question?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I tell them what town I live in. I live in a large metropolitan area with many suburban towns and cities, and it's not big deal to me if they know the general vicinity. I've never had a patient ask the exact street.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

At hospitals I've worked at, it's hospital policy to not give our ur address or anything. Even if it isn't with you, just say it's hosp policy & u can't discuss it.

I never give out my address or suburb at all. I just tell them straight I don't ever give out personal info at work, over the phone, or at the door. They let it go then.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I worked at a large hospital once. I got to know a guy who worked down in stores, but used to know a lot of people who worked there, just chatted to everyone, u know how it is. Well I said one day (without thinking) oh yeh I live near such & such a pub (bar) on such & such a road, & cos this guy knew what car I drove (we'd discussed the cars we drove in the past), he tracked me down 2 the flat I was living in (I had a listed phone number & he knew my last name). Well it was really late at night & he was drunk as a skunk. I had to do some fast talking that night to get him out cos I was so scared he'd do something. Oh he was also in a defact relationship with 4 kids, and for some strange reason, thought I was going to have an affair with him!! I NEVER said anything like that or flirted with him, just used to be (what I thought) was friendly.

So don't give out street names or identifying landmarks. Anything could have happened to me that night, and I still sweat thinking about it.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Lol "in a van, down by the river"... Wasn't that part of a sketch once on Madtv? That's a good one.

[orthonurse55]

I tell them I have a room down the hall!

[indigonurse]

Be honest tell them that for professional reasons you cannot provide details about your personal life to anybody.

[Pappilli0n]

In this day and age, it is difficult to give our personal information and feel okay for your safety. I would think your hospital would have a policy negating that information to your patients.

I do recall one instance where after finding out my CITY, the relative of a former patient told me the street her older brother lived on. From there on, I was north, south, east or west!

Often times discussing where your patient lives is "a good thing"......I found it could give me an inside picture of

their neighborhood and the resources available for them ie groceries, pharmacy, fire and police and not to mention their local health facility.

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I usually joke...I tell them I live here in the hospital because I work so much. When I'm running low, I plug myself into that outlet over there and recharge.

Then I redirect the conversation...

[sunnycalifRN]

I will tell them what city. Remember, in this "Age of Google", if a person knows your full name (which is on my ID badge), then all bets are off.

Also, since I often will ask the patient where they live, I see nothing wrong with reciprocating.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

For me it has always depended on the person who was asking. I also lived and worked in a small town for a while and it was a common, harmless question. I would just give them a general idea. Now when I worked in a large inner city ED, I never have out that info to anyone. Just said politely that I did not give out that information, sorry. I find that most people just ask as a general way of starting a conversation.