When A Nurse Needs A Doctor.....

[nurse2211]

Never gave this any substantive thought until recently because I'm nearly due for my annual physical and ob/gyn check ups. Is it "advisable" (for lack of a better word) to see a doctor who knows you professionally as a nurse or not? Seems to me it may be a bit awkward if/when you work with him professionally in the future

Although one of the senior nurses here had the ob/gyn for whom she worked, deliver her twins about 10 years ago.

Personally, I have no problem with it but I wonder if I'll find a little strange afterward.

[Aurora77]

It really depends. Would I get a routine colonoscopy from one of the general surgeons I see daily? No. Not because they aren't good, but I don't want my coworkers seeing that part of my anatomy. Of course if it were an emergent situation, I don't care who does what.

[beckyboo1, BSN, RN]

My OB when I had my kids was someone I knew from work and it absolutely didn't bother me at all. He was a great guy and I felt very comfortable under his care. He was always the professional, it never seemed awkward.

[klone, MSN, RN]

If you work in OB and are of childbearing age, you are bound to end up using one of your professional colleagues as a care provider (especially if you live in a smaller community). No big deal.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

My former PCP was the medical director at the LTC where I used to work. There was never any awkwardness between us, and in fact he gave me free medical advice at times when I needed it. He came to respect me professionally and ever after, he treated me with more consideration than he had before. He told me once that he admired me because I was one of the only patients he had who said they were going to do something (in my case, going to college and becoming a nurse) and then did it successfully. I miss him.....lost him last summer when he left his clinic practice to take over the directorship of the new hospice house in town.

[firstinfamily, RN]

I have always kept my personal and professional services separate. Therefore, the MDs I worked with in the facilities were not my personal MDs. I just felt it was better that way, and I didn't want my personal health being discussed with co-workers or records available for prying eyes. I confirmed this when I witnessed a shift supervisor looking at a co-workers chart when she was hospitalized.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I've always chosen to use co-worker surgeons/anesthesiologists for myself and my family. Knowing so much about who's good and who's not is one of the perks of my job. I also like knowing that they'll be particularly "on" during my case. I've never had reason to regret those choices.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I used to see one of the physicians that I worked with regularly. However, we lived in a small town, and the other option was not to my liking. For the private consultations, I'd see the NP. I did not want the physician examining any part of my anatomy.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I've always had a strict policy against being naked where I work. But when I got breast cancer two years ago, I wanted to be treated at the local cancer center, and that meant my hospital. My surgeon was a former resident in our SICU, the NP was a former RN colleague. I found I was so scared it was wonderful to see the familiar faces. But for routine care, I'd look for the smaller community hospital and a physician I don't know personally.

Once upon a time I used NPs as much as possible, but these days I'm finding that the NPs have no prior RN experience . . . and it shows.

[suanna]

I'm in the minority, but I couldn't care less about a colleague seeing me naked. I'm pretty sure there isn't anything different about my anatomy that would be shocking or even comment worthy. As I have told those that walk in on me in our "co-ed" locker room- If you see something on me that you haven't seen on a hundred other people, please let me know so I can get it cut off! If I know a doctor I feel is skilled, and I need thier professional services for a health concern, I have no qualms about what bits they see if that is what is needed to get me healthy. In fact- if anybody wants to look just for curiosity,- what-the-heck,-feel free- I'm not shy.

[loriangel14, RN]

My GP is someone I work closely with at work. it really doesn't matter to me. Plus if I need a script renewal I can just get it from her at work.

[jrbl77, RN]

With health insurance as it is today, often you need to have care at the hospital that you work at. If you go outside your faciltiy, you will need to pay more. If I need to have surgery, I would want to have a surgeon that I know does a good job and that I have seen how his cases turn out. Often nurses are very aware of who they would allow to care for them or thier families and who they would keep away.