General Forums >> NursingLink Anonymous Zone >> nurse-do you tell people?
nurse-do you tell people?
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Anonymous back to top |
Posted about 3 years ago So you are waiting in the ER, or your family member is in the hospital. Do you tell people that you are a nurse? Why and what do you think of people that do? |
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| Posted about 3 years ago You suggest that you are idle, not tending to your friend or relative's needs. If that's the case, yes, you do announce yourself to people who need help, and you help with what you can. Maybe that's very little. Maybe all you can do is help soothe someone who's in pain or afraid; maybe all you can do is keep someone company who is alone. If that's all you can do, then that's what you do: you do what you can. Yes, people are likely to want medical diagnoses, and they may have expectations of you that exceed your scope of practice. Do what you can. Worrying about other people's disapproval is a foregone luxury for a nurse; it ended when you received your license. We've all heard that we don't get to pick our patients. I want to amend that to the following: we don't get to choose the people who need help, and we don't get to choose the time we help them. I think all that's needed here is some encouragement. Misery welcomes help, anonymous. Also, chances are that you won't even think about it when you see someone who needs help; you'll automatically do what you can. You're efforts have a lot of potential. Your word of encourgement or your slapping someone on the back will probably make someone who needs help feel less sick. How many people do you know that have that kind of influence?
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| Posted about 3 years ago " To tell people that you are a nurse,( ER, if you are the patient in the hospital room ), can have its drawbacks. " Being a seasoned nurse", one would indeed know how / what to expect of the allied staff assigned to care for you.The rule of thumb is to be grateful for the help given to you,(** answered,call bells,pain med given,etc.), offered with ," a nice smile and thank you", makes you likeable by the staff. Yet,you can encounter the negative side of the hospital stay,when waiting for help is prolonged,answers to questions are left with," I don't know", and **THE ULTIMATE >" percieved to be able to care for yourself, just because you are a nurse".( It happens! ). |
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| Posted about 3 years ago hmmmmm, I assumed the original poster meant do you tell the STAFF that you are a nurse? Maybe I'm wrong... but if that was the question, yes I do. I'm treated a bit differently, because they know that I understand the procedures and meds, and I'm "one of them." Of course I'm also very understanding and empathetic with what they go through, and they appreciate that. |
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| Posted about 3 years ago to the previuos poster-you are right that is what i meant |
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| Posted about 3 years ago I would mention it, don't believe there's any reason not to. |
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| Posted about 3 years ago One of your questions seems to encapsulate all of your questions; I'll paraphrase it as "what do you think of people who do [announce themselves as nurses to staff]?" The I'm-a-nurse invocation will probably work to a patient's advantage. Everyone seems to be more mindful of their work with patients who have guardian nurses. I find that anyone who tries to assure good care for their friend or relative gains my esteem. I even encourage the effort: I usually learn some valuable information from friends or relatives. But I also recall that some nurses and aides I've worked with regard mention of "I'm a nurse" as a warning, and they may bring resentment to subsequent interactions with guardian nurses.
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| Posted about 3 years ago You know, after a while you seem to just have the presence of a nurse and it seems to be obvious. |
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| Posted about 3 years ago if i have to go to the ER i will say that i am a nurse in hopes to get thru faster, and usually it has worked. and i do the same for pts of mine that are nurses, i will do whatever i can to help/speed up the process. because we know what a tough job this is that that we have lives to get back to. |
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| Posted about 3 years ago As a patient, I've told the staff that I'm an RN and they always try to treat me better. They try to get me a private room whenever possible and are more mindful of telling me what's going on. I see it as a plus. I also find the explanations I get are more detailed. |
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| Posted about 3 years ago Yes, I would definitely mention I am a nurse. The staff will give you more explanations about what is going on, and treat you as one of them, not just a stranger who has to get treatment. They let you feel much more comfortable. When my grandmother went into an operation a few years back, she made sure everyone around will know I am an RN, and it did make a difference: They let me stay with her longer, and explained the situation to me in much more detail than they would to a regular patients' family member. |
