Why is the term client used instead of patient?

Nurses General Nursing

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This may be a silly question, but I am in my first semester of nursing school. All my professors refer to patients as clients. Is there a reason why the term client is used instead of patient? Does the word patient imply something negative that I'm not aware of? It just seems a little strange to me.

Thanks!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Originally posted by fergus51

Interesting points, some I agree with and some I don't.

There are many language issues in nursing. I know some OB nurses have a lot of issues with terms like "failure to progress" or "incompetent cervix". I tend to be more concerned with the attitude of the nurse than the semantics. I use the word patient, but I still consider them equals and partners in their care. I am the last person that someone would accuse of wanting patients to be dependent on me.

As far as whites, I actually think of them as less professional and less patient friendly. The starched whites come from a time when nurses had to give up their chairs for doctors and when patients were NOT encouraged to be partners in their care at all. They were from a time with a very strict hierarchy (doctor, nurse, patient) and can actually be intimidating as they emphasize the distinction between medical expert and lay person. I wear printed scrubs, and get more compliments on them from patient's and their families than I can count. Again, I think the attitude and behavior of the nurse is more important than if they wear white or green.

Excellent. ITA

For the record, I don't look good in white. Plus, when I wear white it seems to attract coffee. I can't remember a day when I wore white that I didn't dribble some coffee on myself. Don't do it any other time except when I wear white.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I wear HOSPITAL SCRUBS...IF I GET "DIRTY" I CHANGE THEM....we have many sets in our locker rooms.....whites cannot and will never look clean in OB ---plus we do our own csections, (that means we are in OR sometimes STAT)...... there is NO WAY I am wearing WHITES in MY SITUATION. OK? It has nothing to do with allowing myself to be dirty!!!

And I am glad we dont' wear them---- I hate them; they make us look like good humor men to me.., especially the nurses who are male....

....I hate caps,they make us look like "chamber maids". Wearing whites did NOT garner nurses much respect in the "old days" and it won't change things NOW for us. Like Fergus said, whites don't harken to days when nurses "had respect" ....we never DID, in any meaningfulway. Heck, were never seen as EQUAL or COLLABORATORS to anyone, esp docs. What do you hope to really change by having us all go back to starch white days?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by mjlrn97

. It's all semantics, anyway. You deserved better care than you received, and if you or your child had been my patient (yes, that's what I call the people I take care of), things would have been far different.

I don't think the term "patient" denotes a lack of respect for the people who come to us for health services. I think the reason the powers that be have been pushing "client" is simple political correctness.......we're supposed to be thinking in business terms, e.g."customer service", but the truth of it is, most of us are not business people---we're NURSES, and we take care of patients!:D

right on! this is an excellent post.

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Hello all,

First of all I want to say how much I appreciate the feedback. Second: to the person who wrote, "Plus, when I wear white it seems to attract coffee. I can't remember a day when I wore white that I didn't dribble some coffee on myself. Don't do it any other time except when I wear white.", I certainly understand :)

Please know that I wasn't implying that anyone not wearing whites was dirty -- just that, if your scrubs are getting so nasty during a shift, try to take a fresh look at the situation... either we should be making more use of the disposable protective gowns and such, because the fabric of your scrubs is not stopping blood from soaking your skin and/or a change is needed. Believe me, I understand how easy it is to get whites soiled....

I also want to make it clear that I am not in love with the color white -- it's just that the public identifies whites with professional nurses. My point about "uniforms" designating a profession identity still holds .... call them monkey suits if you want but folks recognize them. I disagree that the public perceives the whites as you described ... that the public expects us to give up our seat for doctors, etcetera. Repeatedly patients are allowed to remain vaguely confused about the various people who care for them, often lumping them all into the role of "nurse". I absolutely value each team member I work with HOWEVER I still hold that clients/patients are unaware how few nurses there are on duty. Maybe that's not such an important point, but my gut tells me otherwise. And in no way am I saying that it should be mandatory to wear whites --

Thanks you all!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I wear a NAMETAG that says " Debora **** , RN clearly and PROMINENTLY at ALL TIMES....

I introduce myself as their RN for the shift.

I behave as a professional RN should.

My scrubs are clean always.

My nails short and unpainted.

Makeup conservative.

Hair up and in a clean bun/twist.

No perfume.

If that is not good enough to let the "public" know who their "professional nurse" is , then I give up!!!

:rolleyes:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by 5150dx

:)

Please know that I wasn't implying that anyone not wearing whites was dirty -- just that, if your scrubs are getting so nasty during a shift, try to take a fresh look at the situation... either we should be making more use of the disposable protective gowns and such, because the fabric of your scrubs is not stopping blood from soaking your skin and/or a change is needed. Believe me, I understand how easy it is to get whites soiled....

I also want to make it clear that I am not in love with the color white -- it's just that the public identifies whites with professional nurses. My point about "uniforms" designating a profession identity still holds .... call them monkey suits if you want but folks recognize them.

The survey i had to do my first month in my first year of school was all about the "look" of a nurse". I have 2 pictures, one of a man and woman wearing strached whites, the woman with a cap, the other picture with a man and woman wearing colored scrubs.

Over 5,000 people voted (i had friends put it on their websites, it used to pop up as a search result on yahoo, and after getting permission from the supervisor, i posted vote boxes in breakrooms).

Majority associated the whites with mental hospitals, but 87% of the votes for "who" the nurses were for the colored scrubs.

Things have changed ;)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Very interesting, LPN.

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I stand firmly with Deb and Marla and Marie and all the others who think that white clothing does not necessarily denote professionalism. I have only been a nurse 5 years and I'm in my 40's and I can tell you that for me, the idea of a nurse in white conjures up the idea of sex kitten or maid or someone subservient.

Marie is right . . . .times have changed. Maybe our elderly will say that they like to see a nurse in a white uniform but that is because people don't like change. But I'd say the majority of baby boomers and under just want to see that nametag with RN/LVN on it and have their nurse introduce themselves as a nurse and then take darn good care of them.

I'm sorry that some of you have had bad experiences with nurses but I do not think that has anything to do with whether we call people patients or clients, it has to do with whether we are a good nurse. And a good nurse can use either term.

steph

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I do find the whites kind of slutty looking. I have never seen a white uniform that wasn't slightly see through....

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Just a joke. I was just forgetting what the original post was for a moment. It is interesting to see how a great thread can develop here, and with no slamming :kiss

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by fergus51

I do find the whites kind of slutty looking. I have never seen a white uniform that wasn't slightly see through....

:roll :roll

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Well LauraLou . . . welcome to the wonderful world of nursing!

As I've said before, nursing is not a monolith . . . lots and lots of diversity.

I wish I had known that while I was a student. Nursing school does not really prepare you for the politics of nursing.

If only I'd known about allnurses:) Maybe it should be required for all nursing students to spend a semester here.

steph

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