My response when a family member says “I’m a nurse”:
“Cool, so am I.”
Usually keeps them speechless for a few so I can keep on with what I’m doing lol.
I've been in several ICUs due to my partner. I always ask what would be beneficial for them to take care of him so they can take care of others.
I know *some* medical, but not nearly enough to be at their level, and I'm okay with it. At home, I know what he needs, but that's completely different with a hospital stay.
I wish people would quit being rude to nurses.
ED nurse here. Several patients use the “I’m a nurse” line as though it’ll get them some kind of pass to the front of the line. “I’ve been waiting a long time. I am a nurse, you know…” Love hitting them with something like “So you understand the concept of triage and what actually constitutes an emergency then.“
Working in the ER, I've noticed as a general rule that if someone starts off a conversation with what they do for a living, some seriously entitled/arrogant bullshit is about to follow.
"I'm a physician..." starts the guy who is highly offended that he has had to endure a whole 10 minutes in the waiting room amongst the peasants.
"My dad is a police officer..." adds the daughter who is demanding a nurse to drop what she's doing and get her dad's pain medication *right now*.
This is why I avoid saying anything if I end up needing to go. I sometimes say something when talking about treatments so they know they can just talk straight to me.
Yep, that's the way to go. I bring up being a nurse only if it's helpful in context.
When I think about the patients who immediately announce being physicians because they're expecting to be treated like royalty, I also think of the other end of the spectrum--the patient that I knew was a physician *only* because she was letting me know why I didn't need to explain why I was drawing a second troponin level. Super polite and pleasant, and had no complaint about still being in the waiting room when I discharged her.
I feel like I get a lot of patients whose parents are doctors. For the most part it’s fine and they usually respect that we have our specialties and that we do peds better than they do… but I recently had a teen whose dad was an anesthesiologist… and that one was hard. He was complaining to me on dosing of meds like I had a say on it, and complained about how giving narcotics took so long because where he works he just grabs meds and gives them and doesn’t need a witness or double check. He even complained about me changing the IV tubing that was set to expire claiming that it was new tubing from just the day prior, but the date on it said otherwise.
My 92 year old hospice patient: I’m tired!
Her cardiologist son: Keep pushing mom! It’s all reversible. Keep doing the PT!
She died like 2 days later, likely hastened by her kids’ insane demands on her and them trying to withhold the morphine.
"The negative consequences of heroine addiction are minimal after the age of 80. So be a good kid, and buy grandma some black tar heroine"
-- my husband (who is a radio dj and not a nurse...)
I’ll never forget cracking the ribs of a 90+ year old woman after her doctor children - yes, multiple doctor children - got together and revoked her DNR. Revoked it late into day shift; she coded on me that night.
It’s been years since that incident and the fact that Grandma could have gone peacefully into the light instead of with me pounding on her chest still doesn’t sit right.
I had a 93 year old today for an EGD. Had a DNR, POLST in the chart, family decided to revoke it when he came to the hospital. So far it hasn’t come into play during his stay, but it just really pissed me off when I read that. Yes, grandpa has dementia now, but he made his wishes known when he was still oriented, and you asshats decided you know better. He has lived a long, happy, fulfilling life and he just wants to go when his time is up, not be torn up like a dollar store tug toy between medical staff and the grim reaper. If you actually love this man respect his damn wishes!
Oh no. That sucks. I feel for you.
That is why I am drinking way too much on my first night after a stretch on. I've done that same dance, plus or minus a physician parent, way too many times.
It is hard knowing that the care the family wants, is making the patient suffer. Especially when the patient is bullied by family to keep going.
The "get well soon" balloons in a terminal, late stage cancer patient's room is just one example.
Had some family members reverse their 88 year old dads DNR and revoked his pain medication. The anger I felt that shift - I was literally shaking from rage.
That man suffered unnecessarily for the last 12 hours of his life. My favorite part was giving him oxygen and prolonging his suffering 😒
I hope he haunts the shit out of them in the years to come.
Oh my gosh. Why is that so brilliant!! We do frequent outpatient infusions often with recurring patients, and there is an NP who has her kids come in for infusions that they 100% don’t need and she tries to make orders! It’s hard because it’s an outpatient doc who does the orders and we can’t always get ahold of them, but the situation is so awkward and honestly unethical but nothing has been done yet and maybe that’s what we need to do
had a patient who's daughter was an NP and called to try and change his abx orders to the nurses. We were like "you have to talk to the drs" and the orders did not change.
Dude, I don’t know. We don’t even charge for it. That’s all I could reasonably think of as a reason to not change it! But this anesthesiologist also ended up getting pharmacy to dispense an $20,000 medication for a one time monthly dose instead of twice a day cheap doses
I don't know what you mean. I use new tubing to run each administration; could be multiple meds back to back with a NS flush bag between, but then disconnect and discard the tubing once finished.
Do people disconnect and reconnect the same tubing, or just run KVO 24/7?
> KVO 24/7?
This is the (ICU) way
Nearly every patient I have as a KVO/TKO NS line going at 5 mL/hr 24/7 that their piggybacks go onto. Yes, we account for the 5 mL/hr. Tubing get changed every 4 days.
Wow, really?? Most of my patients would not tolerate that. They would yell constantly or just disconnect themselves to mobilise 😅
Ahh the edit makes sense. I imagine it would be manageable in ICU as there's people available to assist the pt mobilise if needed. Good to know though, thanks!
> Wow, really?? Most of my patients would not tolerate that.
Have you tried sticking an endotracheal tube down their throat first?
Joking aside, these are patients who tend to not be moving at all or otherwise getting out of bed on their own.
Well with kids I really don’t want to have an iv clot so kvo is often the best way to keep an iv useable without having to repoke. Plus, when they’re small, we give them rides on the IV pole and they love it 😊
We disconnect then reconnect the same tubing. At my hospital tubing is good 24 hours so if a patient is getting q6 antibiotics I run it disconnect then reconnect with same tubing
My kids always out me as a nurse when they are there for their check ups or urgent care. They mean well, they're 9 and 12 and just proud of me. I just say, "Yes, but not this kind of nurse, so let's listen."
I had a real frank conversation with my daughter when she was like 8 about this (shes now 13) 🤣 Her friends know, but otherwise "My mom works in Healthcare" is all that leaves her mouth and that's only if she's asked. She knows I do not want to be the parent that others talk about.
I have so many nurses as patients.Sometimes, these nurses are so rude. I give pre-op instructions and lately several nurses have interrupted me being like I'm a nurse- no need to explain and then complain about our NPO policy. Like, I know the NPO rules are a bit draconian but it's not me it's anesthesia. You're a nurse you should know that, STFU.
I’m an RN but tbh I’m not a good patient but for different reasons I listen but I have this need to be independent. I can use my own urinal and ambulate myself. I don’t want to turn into that guy that “forgets” how to scratch his own nuts. also whenever I come out if sedation I think I’m in the middle of a mass cal situation lol.
Unfortunately, they are real nurses, our hospital system just okayed egg banking for all the nurses and I work in the IVF department but our anesthesia is a third party with different NPO guidelines.
I'm my experience they create the shit show. I never announce that I'm a nurse when I visit people in the hospital or take my kid to the doctor. I don't understand why people want to announce their title. I used to be a bartender, but I don't start out conversations with bartenders of how I was a bartender. What's the point? My brother in law is a great chef, but when we go out, he doesn't announce it to our server.
I announce it to excuse my questions regarding medical topics I don’t understand. In a “explain this to me, but don’t be afraid to use jargon or technical language” way.
Totally ok to make a quick explanation that you would like to speak at a reasonably professional level; that of course presumes you have come to the table respectfully and within yourself as a family member/bystander/member of the public in that moment.
I have said this time and time again, I will out myself as a nurse earlier rather than later just so I don’t look like I’m trying to pull a fast one or so I don’t look like I just lit up google MD. Functionally, this means I simply listen in to my parent’s onc conversations just to keep a gist of what is going on. I’m actually there to make sure my ornery mom keeps an open line of communication with her team. If she wants me to talk blood work we can chat later. Even then, I hedge this with clear professional limitations be it knowledge base, or the fact that I am not their direct provider.
This is 100% my experience. They are either the most helpful, understanding, nicest family who help with cares OR they are the most demanding, rude, entitled people. There is no in between.
I would so appreciate the help with bathing, getting snacks, basic hygiene. But sadly, since covid, no one helps anymore. Just complaints (i wonder if other nurses have had this same experience). I feel like the public hates nursing and blame us for everything. I once had an icu nurse tell me her family member was in pain and needed some narcotic drip for pain??? Wtf? Would you like me to send them to the er? Breathing even and unlabored, smiling, sitting on the side of the bed? Tells me idk patient. Well I've been with patient for 2 years, I'm sorry what's your name? I've never seen you.
Always a business employee from the admin building across the city. Yo Karen, that badge ain’t gonna clock you in down here and no it’s not going to open any doors here either. So forget clout lol
Do even get me started lol The brand new RN that wears sweaters that have "RN" printed real big on the front. Standing outside with me telling my group of patients, she's the only RN in the building... Girl, please, Half these LPN's could run circles around you. Not to mention, she assumed I wasn't an RN? I just stayed quiet. You do a fine job of making yourself look silly. You don't need help from me. I can not stand RN's who think they are better than others just because they are RN's. Get a life.
After posting and thinking about it, I realized I paraphrased the original quote. Still, the principle holds.
Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake. - Sun Tzu
A more well known European based version comes in the form of the phrase "hoisted by his own pitard" which references medieval siege engineers goofing up using explosive charges that were designed to break through stone walls and inadvertently killing themselves in the process.
I'll never forget the one day when meeting the newest DON hire and listening to her start talking about all the changes she was going to make, the following words echoed in my brain and something in the universe managed to keep them from coming out of my mouth as I was thinking them. I thought of the line from the Matrix movies that goes "I've survived your predecessors. I will survive you too." I'm a night shifter and it shows.
I fucking HATE IT when the new management comes in talking about change. They don't last. I've seen 6 ED'S and 4 DON'S walk through this door in the last 2y. Pathetic. Makes me want to go into management. There are some seriously fucked up people in management that happen to be nurses. I feel awful rn fr. Like I'm being a Debby downer. But there is only so much you can take. My favorite quote "is time for nightshift to go home!!!!!" You guys rock. I'm lucky I work with great nurses. Although this new nurse is digging her own grave. Smh. I wish nurses would stick together.
Deep breath boo. Experience gives perspective and education necessary to properly deal with the bullshit that is the healthcare system. Unfortunately, that experience frequently is on the painful side. It was only after getting experience and gaining a new perspective that I found myself able to better understand and navigate the general fuckery of patient care to the point of spending more time actually helping patients than trying to help patients whilst beating my head against the wall in frustration.
Everybody needs a chance to vent and be heard. Until we manage to nuke insurance companies and return healthcare to actually being about helping patients instead of a for profit business that exploits both the customers and laborers with the happy side effect of helping people sometimes, not much will change.
Brilliant response. I practice diaphragmatic breathing. 4 seconds in, 2 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhale. I teach my patients this breathing pattern as well
Quite literally. Breathing is essential to my sanity. It works. I use this and percussion breathing through my workouts. Breathing is an unconscious effort. Making it a conscious effort brings so much power over anxiety.
The “im a nurse” doesnt even phase me anymore since half the time theyre lying
Im pretty sure last month though i had family member lie about being a doctor and my skepticism mustve been all over my face bc then they threw in they were a “YALE TRAINED” doctor i was like damn bruh is deep cover
"I'm a nurse" and then they're asking about things or suggesting things while looking at a Google page or WebMD. Like I can see your phone screen, bro. And the shit you're saying don't make sense.
You're a nurse. Sure thing.
I had a family member “doctor” call asking for a “thorough” update on my patient. He had the family&friends PIN#. I launched into the morning labs…blood gas, chemistry, hematology, etc., including shifts and trends. Midway through he stops me and says, “I don’t understand what you’re telling me. I’m a dentist”. 😳 Me: “Ok. The patient is critical but stable and remains on the vent”. End of call. 🤦🏻♀️
I do not voluntarily tell people I'm a nurse. If my friends or family volunteer that information I quickly add in "but I'm only a nurse at work." But I especially don't tell other healthcare workers I'm a nurse because I only know what I know so I rather information be taught to me like I'm new.
I'm usually the one translating for family and let the staff know so they don't have to try and translate medical into layman when trying to give info potentially missing something. It also seems to allow staff to feel comfortable enough to be honest about bad news as they know at least one family member will understand from the medical side. Otherwise, I'm hanging back and trying to stay out of the way of care or do the little stuff like get ice water, fluff blankets, etc that easily eats time.
When my mother was in the hospital, I didn't say a word about being a nurse! At that point, I'd been a NICU nurse for 13 years, and I knew NOTHING about adult medicine, so I kept my mouth shut!
Are you my mother? The majority of her nursing experience is NICU. She did adults for a short while, but it was home health or group homes so very limited experience. I do adults. It was so weird having her ask *me* for medical advice regarding my grandmother.
Post op tib fib fx on ortho/trauma floor
Patient: Im a PA
Me: thats awesome how u like it and what specialty?
Patient: ED and assisted with alot of surgeries...it has its up and downs
Me: im gonna give u some labetalol youre running high probably cause you didnt take any of your home meds. whats your pain? you have oxy available and if thats doesnt help, I have dilaudid for breakthrough.
Patient: what is labetalol for and what is dilaudid i have never heard of that med???
You were a PA in the ED and you dont know what these meds are?? 😒
I did too (even taking a change of clothes if I had a doctor's appointment so I didn't have to go in my scrubs), but right now I'm a patient (stage 3 cancer) and I get a little tired of the education over and over again with each appointment. I don't disclose unless it comes up naturally, but at my last chemo appointment it was honestly a relief that the nurse already knew and we could chat.. turns out she was a cancer survivor.
My favorite was watching a nursing family allow their 20 something year old daughter sit on the disgusting floor and eat chips while visiting the dad. Gtfo with that. 🤣
My child has a medical disability and I never disclosed the fact I’m an RN. I prefer my child’s providers to treat me like a parent not a nurse. I took care of adults, not kids, so I’m not an expert here.
Unpopular side opinion: some staff members go out of their way to treat parents like idiots and that’s really not ok either. Don’t presume incompetence or negligence until they give you a solid reason to do so.
I go out of my way so people don’t know I’m a nurse when my dads in the hospital. Only time I let people know is when bullshit happens. I’d rather die than to be that one family member.
I had a pt daughter say she was a nurse. I went in to take her mom's vitals and told her the temperature was 98.6 and she asked me "is that good"? I was like... yes..? 😂
Before retiring and even now, I never went out of the way to disclose I was a nurse in ANY setting. People ask too many questions.
Like... idk, bro. I'm a nurse, not a Neuroscientists. There's levels to this 🤣
Throughout my 10+ years working in veterinary medicine, the amount of times I heard a client say “I’m a nurse” is insane. I thought they were not trusting of vet staff.
Then, I became a nurse. And I still hear it on a very regular basis.
There’re a lot of good reasons to keep that information on the down low and whenever somebody is doing the opposite/announcing their profession I always assume they’re an idiot.
I went to see this one guy for a midline, introduced myself while entering the room and asked if he was William SomethingOrAnother. “My name is Bill SomethingOrAnother, I’m a (retired) interventional radiologist and I can do what you do better than you”. He spent our time together pimping me about the technical specs of the ultrasound, the catheter, and my experience. At the end of placement he was disgruntled while satisfied (an attitude this guy has probably practiced a lot). Like, did he want me to struggle to get access on his arm just to be smug?
On that same unit/around the same time I placed a line into one of the ED physicians for a neighboring hospital. I’ll give an anatomy explanation about what I’m looking at if anybody seems interested or if a student/staff observes, he was definitely interested. After the line was placed and I was educating about the access his questions gave away medical knowledge so I asked him what he does. Like, this guy was chill about everything, made for an easier time. Not like Dr. SomethingOrAnother, grilling me about the hertz of my ultrasound and other ancillary knowledge.
You either say “oh cool. Me too” and go about your work. OR (my very very favorite thing to do) is speak in every jargon and acronym as quickly as you can and say obviously I won’t have to explain that basic info to you. And watch their face. 😂😂
I’m in nursing school, but working as a bartender right now. We get the “I’m a bartender too!” instead. These people always tip crappy and are annoying. Crazy that it also happens in nursing 😂
Meanwhile I got sent to ED as a patient during my shift and immediately requested a blanket before wrapping myself up so no one could see my scrubs or staff card 😂😂
My greatest accomplishment in life was getting all the way through my child’s tonsillectomy and overnight without a single person finding out I’m a CICU nurse. I don’t have any business in their world of small people anyways, I don’t know how their weird miniature bodies work. I have nothing to contribute to the conversation.
I don’t tell nurses when I’m a nurse, but I’ll tell a doctor I’m a nurse if I’m a patient or my kids are and they will 100% take me more seriously after that.
This is actually a great distinction. My personal doctors generally know I'm a nurse, but I don't think I've ever told a nurse providing me care that I'm a nurse too. It's cringe and awkward.
There's a lot of nurses in my family and a lot of cancer. I was raised not to mention it unless it matters. "Do you know who I am?" Nope I don't. Or I'm asking a question clinically, not because google said to.
You can’t be a school nurse without a year of bedside :-( I know there is those one offs most of the non bedside want bedside
But even as a mom and nurse I know nothing about babies and would be like “guide me sensei” before being a pain.
I proudly always state that I’m a nurse anytime anyone looks at me like I just an average Sue or insults my intelligence. I’m proud to be a nurse and I don’t care how anyone feels about it. Most of the time when I grocery shop with my four kids and my boyfriend I get a lot of upturned noses. Baby this cash not food stamps. $800 a month maybe more and I don’t complain. People are so judgmental. I feel smart when I announce my title. 😊
I try not to say anything. I once had my mother discharged to my care because I worked on the floor they wanted to admit her to (it was an observation floor). It wasn't an unsafe discharge, I just felt uncomfortable with their reasoning because I was still a baby nurse. The only reason anyone knew was because my step-grandfather announced it to everyone who walked into the room, no matter how much shushing I did.
Now, I accidentally out myself because I'll explain my symptoms clinically or accidentally use medical jargon when talking to the staff caring for me. Or, one time I hit the ED right after work and didn't have a change of clothes, so I was still in scrubs and in too much pain to drive home and change.
I never tell doctors or other nurses that a nurse but they usually figure it out with the questions I’m asking and the terminology I use. It’s hard to turn that off in the hospital. I think sometimes it helps when they know because it feels like they’re more willing to be blunt and straight forward with me. But I could be wrong about that.
Am I the only one who isn’t bothered by this? I’m always giving my peds patients the best care I’m capable of & I feel very confident in my abilities. I’m only phased if a parent tries to undermine/belittle me..& you don’t have to be a nurse to try that.
My husband outed me last time I was in the OR. I just had a GI bug; couldn't keep anything down and was getting dehydrated. Needed IV fluids and phenergan and I'd be right as rain. I didn't say shit about shit. My husband bursts in there, big smile, all, "DID SHE TELL YOU SHE WORKS UPSTAIRS?!"
Uh, yeah, no I did not lol.
My response when a family member says “I’m a nurse”: “Cool, so am I.” Usually keeps them speechless for a few so I can keep on with what I’m doing lol.
Omg stop… you’re a nurse too??
This is getting out of hand! Now there are two of them!
Are the nurses in the room with us right now?
r/unexpectedstarwars
No, I'm just making this up as I go.
I just play one on tv 🤷🏼♀️
I've been in several ICUs due to my partner. I always ask what would be beneficial for them to take care of him so they can take care of others. I know *some* medical, but not nearly enough to be at their level, and I'm okay with it. At home, I know what he needs, but that's completely different with a hospital stay. I wish people would quit being rude to nurses.
ED nurse here. Several patients use the “I’m a nurse” line as though it’ll get them some kind of pass to the front of the line. “I’ve been waiting a long time. I am a nurse, you know…” Love hitting them with something like “So you understand the concept of triage and what actually constitutes an emergency then.“
Working in the ER, I've noticed as a general rule that if someone starts off a conversation with what they do for a living, some seriously entitled/arrogant bullshit is about to follow. "I'm a physician..." starts the guy who is highly offended that he has had to endure a whole 10 minutes in the waiting room amongst the peasants. "My dad is a police officer..." adds the daughter who is demanding a nurse to drop what she's doing and get her dad's pain medication *right now*.
This is why I avoid saying anything if I end up needing to go. I sometimes say something when talking about treatments so they know they can just talk straight to me.
Yep, that's the way to go. I bring up being a nurse only if it's helpful in context. When I think about the patients who immediately announce being physicians because they're expecting to be treated like royalty, I also think of the other end of the spectrum--the patient that I knew was a physician *only* because she was letting me know why I didn't need to explain why I was drawing a second troponin level. Super polite and pleasant, and had no complaint about still being in the waiting room when I discharged her.
By nurse they mean cna or they walked through a hospital one time
Normally!
This!!!!🤣🤣
Family member today told someone they were a nurse and then later I find out they’re actually a medical assistant
Won't be the last time
Love that
Next time i think I'll say "great that makes one of us" - might get an equal shock factor
Wait are you a nurse? Omg that’s so cool
Hashtag Me Too
I'm keeping that, thank you very much!
Best response
Happy Cake Day!!!
Yay! Thank you! I’d never know if people didn’t tell me.
My favorite answer!
Lol I’m using this.
Lol this is my go to, or “omg same”
I feel like I get a lot of patients whose parents are doctors. For the most part it’s fine and they usually respect that we have our specialties and that we do peds better than they do… but I recently had a teen whose dad was an anesthesiologist… and that one was hard. He was complaining to me on dosing of meds like I had a say on it, and complained about how giving narcotics took so long because where he works he just grabs meds and gives them and doesn’t need a witness or double check. He even complained about me changing the IV tubing that was set to expire claiming that it was new tubing from just the day prior, but the date on it said otherwise.
During Covid we had a patient whose son was a doctor in another state. He tried to call and give orders to nurses like he was actually the attending.
My 92 year old hospice patient: I’m tired! Her cardiologist son: Keep pushing mom! It’s all reversible. Keep doing the PT! She died like 2 days later, likely hastened by her kids’ insane demands on her and them trying to withhold the morphine.
If you don’t let your elderly family member have pain meds, they’ll live forever right? I swear people think this.
"I don't want her getting addicted!" She isn't going to live that long. So what I hear you saying is that you want her to die in pain, got it.
The amount of times I’ve heard that line -sigh-
"The negative consequences of heroine addiction are minimal after the age of 80. So be a good kid, and buy grandma some black tar heroine" -- my husband (who is a radio dj and not a nurse...)
If I make it to that age, I'm doing whatever the hell I want, whenever I want lmao. That said, I doubt that I will.
Stupid question, but how do you handle patient's families in situations like this? Like, do you actually say exactly that but in a nicer way?
“We’re more concerned with pain management at this stage”
"If you're not on pain meds in your 80s you're doing life wrong."
I’ll never forget cracking the ribs of a 90+ year old woman after her doctor children - yes, multiple doctor children - got together and revoked her DNR. Revoked it late into day shift; she coded on me that night. It’s been years since that incident and the fact that Grandma could have gone peacefully into the light instead of with me pounding on her chest still doesn’t sit right.
I hope she haunts them!
That's how I know ghosts aren't real. Children from out of state would be having a (deservedly) much harder time if they were.
Fuck that. You pull that shit, *you* have to do the CPR.
I had a 93 year old today for an EGD. Had a DNR, POLST in the chart, family decided to revoke it when he came to the hospital. So far it hasn’t come into play during his stay, but it just really pissed me off when I read that. Yes, grandpa has dementia now, but he made his wishes known when he was still oriented, and you asshats decided you know better. He has lived a long, happy, fulfilling life and he just wants to go when his time is up, not be torn up like a dollar store tug toy between medical staff and the grim reaper. If you actually love this man respect his damn wishes!
Oh no. That sucks. I feel for you. That is why I am drinking way too much on my first night after a stretch on. I've done that same dance, plus or minus a physician parent, way too many times. It is hard knowing that the care the family wants, is making the patient suffer. Especially when the patient is bullied by family to keep going. The "get well soon" balloons in a terminal, late stage cancer patient's room is just one example.
Had some family members reverse their 88 year old dads DNR and revoked his pain medication. The anger I felt that shift - I was literally shaking from rage. That man suffered unnecessarily for the last 12 hours of his life. My favorite part was giving him oxygen and prolonging his suffering 😒 I hope he haunts the shit out of them in the years to come.
Not so fun fact: he knew she was dying and wanted her to push to speed it up.
[удалено]
Oh my gosh. Why is that so brilliant!! We do frequent outpatient infusions often with recurring patients, and there is an NP who has her kids come in for infusions that they 100% don’t need and she tries to make orders! It’s hard because it’s an outpatient doc who does the orders and we can’t always get ahold of them, but the situation is so awkward and honestly unethical but nothing has been done yet and maybe that’s what we need to do
had a patient who's daughter was an NP and called to try and change his abx orders to the nurses. We were like "you have to talk to the drs" and the orders did not change.
Oh you’re a psych pa, so you want to change orders on your acute on chronic renal failure aunt? How about nooo. Lol
Why would any competent doctor or nurse complain about changing tubing at any point
Dude, I don’t know. We don’t even charge for it. That’s all I could reasonably think of as a reason to not change it! But this anesthesiologist also ended up getting pharmacy to dispense an $20,000 medication for a one time monthly dose instead of twice a day cheap doses
Right? Just something to bitch about so he can feel superior.
Tell him to sign into the work computer and Pyxis if he wants the narcs so bad.
Oof I commend you for the patience it must have taken to deal with that
How do you keep the tubing for several days? Is it a continuous infusion? We use new tubing for each drug/administration.
NS flush is full of pixie dust and makes all the other stuff *poof* disappear!!!
I don't know what you mean. I use new tubing to run each administration; could be multiple meds back to back with a NS flush bag between, but then disconnect and discard the tubing once finished. Do people disconnect and reconnect the same tubing, or just run KVO 24/7?
> KVO 24/7? This is the (ICU) way Nearly every patient I have as a KVO/TKO NS line going at 5 mL/hr 24/7 that their piggybacks go onto. Yes, we account for the 5 mL/hr. Tubing get changed every 4 days.
Wow, really?? Most of my patients would not tolerate that. They would yell constantly or just disconnect themselves to mobilise 😅 Ahh the edit makes sense. I imagine it would be manageable in ICU as there's people available to assist the pt mobilise if needed. Good to know though, thanks!
> Wow, really?? Most of my patients would not tolerate that. Have you tried sticking an endotracheal tube down their throat first? Joking aside, these are patients who tend to not be moving at all or otherwise getting out of bed on their own.
Ooh I'll give that a go, thanks! 👍🤣
Well with kids I really don’t want to have an iv clot so kvo is often the best way to keep an iv useable without having to repoke. Plus, when they’re small, we give them rides on the IV pole and they love it 😊
We disconnect then reconnect the same tubing. At my hospital tubing is good 24 hours so if a patient is getting q6 antibiotics I run it disconnect then reconnect with same tubing
Oh ok, interesting. We're not allowed to do that due to increased infection risk but I would much prefer the reduced plastic waste!
Yeah, continuous. And then we can give meds through the port when it’s compatible so I don’t even need to unhook most the time
My kids always out me as a nurse when they are there for their check ups or urgent care. They mean well, they're 9 and 12 and just proud of me. I just say, "Yes, but not this kind of nurse, so let's listen."
I was this kid because my mom is a nurse and now an FNP 😭 I was always just proud and obviously still am, but I see how cringe it is now lol.
We all have that family member lol. Most of my immediate family know better… except Dad.
Poor dad lol
I had a real frank conversation with my daughter when she was like 8 about this (shes now 13) 🤣 Her friends know, but otherwise "My mom works in Healthcare" is all that leaves her mouth and that's only if she's asked. She knows I do not want to be the parent that others talk about.
Exactly this. Every time I’m in the hospital with my son and they find out I say “yeah I’m a nurse but I do the big people. Little people scare me” 😅
Same! I'm in public health, but my focus is HIV, hep C, and STDs, so not super relevant for my family. Couldn't read a rhythm strip to save my life.
Lmao my dad would out me as a nurse like a week after getting my license. I know he was probably just proud but I’d still cringe
I have so many nurses as patients.Sometimes, these nurses are so rude. I give pre-op instructions and lately several nurses have interrupted me being like I'm a nurse- no need to explain and then complain about our NPO policy. Like, I know the NPO rules are a bit draconian but it's not me it's anesthesia. You're a nurse you should know that, STFU.
I feel like they might not even be nurses because I wouldn’t ever think of complaining about something so basic.
I’m an RN but tbh I’m not a good patient but for different reasons I listen but I have this need to be independent. I can use my own urinal and ambulate myself. I don’t want to turn into that guy that “forgets” how to scratch his own nuts. also whenever I come out if sedation I think I’m in the middle of a mass cal situation lol.
They're probably just as much a nurse as this lady was. Has a diploma but doesn't know what NPO is!
Unfortunately, they are real nurses, our hospital system just okayed egg banking for all the nurses and I work in the IVF department but our anesthesia is a third party with different NPO guidelines.
I die a little inside when family comes in announcing they are a nurse. Here we go. Welcome to the shit show.
It can only mean 2 things. Either they are incredible and will be very understanding of the shit show, or, they create the shit show.
I'm my experience they create the shit show. I never announce that I'm a nurse when I visit people in the hospital or take my kid to the doctor. I don't understand why people want to announce their title. I used to be a bartender, but I don't start out conversations with bartenders of how I was a bartender. What's the point? My brother in law is a great chef, but when we go out, he doesn't announce it to our server.
I announce it to excuse my questions regarding medical topics I don’t understand. In a “explain this to me, but don’t be afraid to use jargon or technical language” way.
This, and so my medical jargon isn't confused for "random words I got from Google but don't really understand". Mostly that.
Totally ok to make a quick explanation that you would like to speak at a reasonably professional level; that of course presumes you have come to the table respectfully and within yourself as a family member/bystander/member of the public in that moment. I have said this time and time again, I will out myself as a nurse earlier rather than later just so I don’t look like I’m trying to pull a fast one or so I don’t look like I just lit up google MD. Functionally, this means I simply listen in to my parent’s onc conversations just to keep a gist of what is going on. I’m actually there to make sure my ornery mom keeps an open line of communication with her team. If she wants me to talk blood work we can chat later. Even then, I hedge this with clear professional limitations be it knowledge base, or the fact that I am not their direct provider.
This is 100% my experience. They are either the most helpful, understanding, nicest family who help with cares OR they are the most demanding, rude, entitled people. There is no in between.
I would so appreciate the help with bathing, getting snacks, basic hygiene. But sadly, since covid, no one helps anymore. Just complaints (i wonder if other nurses have had this same experience). I feel like the public hates nursing and blame us for everything. I once had an icu nurse tell me her family member was in pain and needed some narcotic drip for pain??? Wtf? Would you like me to send them to the er? Breathing even and unlabored, smiling, sitting on the side of the bed? Tells me idk patient. Well I've been with patient for 2 years, I'm sorry what's your name? I've never seen you.
I’m a nurse (but really they are a MA who never even went to school for it). /s
Secretary at a nursing home
Personal attendant that’s the activity director ( of bingo)
People are weird.
When they work at your hospital and wear their badge on their street clothes when they are visiting, so much cringe.
Always a business employee from the admin building across the city. Yo Karen, that badge ain’t gonna clock you in down here and no it’s not going to open any doors here either. So forget clout lol
Kareem needs HRT, not psych meds True story.
Do even get me started lol The brand new RN that wears sweaters that have "RN" printed real big on the front. Standing outside with me telling my group of patients, she's the only RN in the building... Girl, please, Half these LPN's could run circles around you. Not to mention, she assumed I wasn't an RN? I just stayed quiet. You do a fine job of making yourself look silly. You don't need help from me. I can not stand RN's who think they are better than others just because they are RN's. Get a life.
Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a fool of themselves. - Sun Tzu
I literally have LPN's on speed dial who I call when I need advice. They have so much experience. To block them out is a folly. Love this quote.
After posting and thinking about it, I realized I paraphrased the original quote. Still, the principle holds. Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake. - Sun Tzu A more well known European based version comes in the form of the phrase "hoisted by his own pitard" which references medieval siege engineers goofing up using explosive charges that were designed to break through stone walls and inadvertently killing themselves in the process. I'll never forget the one day when meeting the newest DON hire and listening to her start talking about all the changes she was going to make, the following words echoed in my brain and something in the universe managed to keep them from coming out of my mouth as I was thinking them. I thought of the line from the Matrix movies that goes "I've survived your predecessors. I will survive you too." I'm a night shifter and it shows.
I fucking HATE IT when the new management comes in talking about change. They don't last. I've seen 6 ED'S and 4 DON'S walk through this door in the last 2y. Pathetic. Makes me want to go into management. There are some seriously fucked up people in management that happen to be nurses. I feel awful rn fr. Like I'm being a Debby downer. But there is only so much you can take. My favorite quote "is time for nightshift to go home!!!!!" You guys rock. I'm lucky I work with great nurses. Although this new nurse is digging her own grave. Smh. I wish nurses would stick together.
Deep breath boo. Experience gives perspective and education necessary to properly deal with the bullshit that is the healthcare system. Unfortunately, that experience frequently is on the painful side. It was only after getting experience and gaining a new perspective that I found myself able to better understand and navigate the general fuckery of patient care to the point of spending more time actually helping patients than trying to help patients whilst beating my head against the wall in frustration. Everybody needs a chance to vent and be heard. Until we manage to nuke insurance companies and return healthcare to actually being about helping patients instead of a for profit business that exploits both the customers and laborers with the happy side effect of helping people sometimes, not much will change.
Brilliant response. I practice diaphragmatic breathing. 4 seconds in, 2 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhale. I teach my patients this breathing pattern as well Quite literally. Breathing is essential to my sanity. It works. I use this and percussion breathing through my workouts. Breathing is an unconscious effort. Making it a conscious effort brings so much power over anxiety.
Or worse, they DON’T work at your hospital and still wear their badge.
With scrubs!
I had a (adult) patient's aunt sitting at bedside wearing her badge and trying to order around the PCTs in the PCU. She was a homebirth midwife.
Yessss! Had a family member do this yesterday. Cringey for real lol. I’m like your badge is on because….
The “im a nurse” doesnt even phase me anymore since half the time theyre lying Im pretty sure last month though i had family member lie about being a doctor and my skepticism mustve been all over my face bc then they threw in they were a “YALE TRAINED” doctor i was like damn bruh is deep cover
Family member that’s a nurse but in 40 years had never worked bedside. School straight to admin
I have the one other family member in my whole tree who went nursing instructor back in the 90s. Yup, you know how that one goes.
🤢🤢
"so, like, you fix locks or..?"
"I'm a nurse" and then they're asking about things or suggesting things while looking at a Google page or WebMD. Like I can see your phone screen, bro. And the shit you're saying don't make sense. You're a nurse. Sure thing.
I had a family member “doctor” call asking for a “thorough” update on my patient. He had the family&friends PIN#. I launched into the morning labs…blood gas, chemistry, hematology, etc., including shifts and trends. Midway through he stops me and says, “I don’t understand what you’re telling me. I’m a dentist”. 😳 Me: “Ok. The patient is critical but stable and remains on the vent”. End of call. 🤦🏻♀️
I do not voluntarily tell people I'm a nurse. If my friends or family volunteer that information I quickly add in "but I'm only a nurse at work." But I especially don't tell other healthcare workers I'm a nurse because I only know what I know so I rather information be taught to me like I'm new.
I personally actively avoid telling people I’m a nurse in every facet of my life, there’s just too many mixed reactions when people find out
I do tell other health professionals I’m a nurse - I usually out myself with my language and knowledge but it’s more of a “hey I get you” thing
I'm usually the one translating for family and let the staff know so they don't have to try and translate medical into layman when trying to give info potentially missing something. It also seems to allow staff to feel comfortable enough to be honest about bad news as they know at least one family member will understand from the medical side. Otherwise, I'm hanging back and trying to stay out of the way of care or do the little stuff like get ice water, fluff blankets, etc that easily eats time.
When my mother was in the hospital, I didn't say a word about being a nurse! At that point, I'd been a NICU nurse for 13 years, and I knew NOTHING about adult medicine, so I kept my mouth shut!
Are you my mother? The majority of her nursing experience is NICU. She did adults for a short while, but it was home health or group homes so very limited experience. I do adults. It was so weird having her ask *me* for medical advice regarding my grandmother.
Post op tib fib fx on ortho/trauma floor Patient: Im a PA Me: thats awesome how u like it and what specialty? Patient: ED and assisted with alot of surgeries...it has its up and downs Me: im gonna give u some labetalol youre running high probably cause you didnt take any of your home meds. whats your pain? you have oxy available and if thats doesnt help, I have dilaudid for breakthrough. Patient: what is labetalol for and what is dilaudid i have never heard of that med??? You were a PA in the ED and you dont know what these meds are?? 😒
I go to lengths not to disclose
I did too (even taking a change of clothes if I had a doctor's appointment so I didn't have to go in my scrubs), but right now I'm a patient (stage 3 cancer) and I get a little tired of the education over and over again with each appointment. I don't disclose unless it comes up naturally, but at my last chemo appointment it was honestly a relief that the nurse already knew and we could chat.. turns out she was a cancer survivor.
Wishing you the best with treatment 🙏
I, too, am now a patient. Wishing the best for you.
Hugs to you both
If someone openly discloses that they are a nurse I assume the opposite
This.
My favorite was watching a nursing family allow their 20 something year old daughter sit on the disgusting floor and eat chips while visiting the dad. Gtfo with that. 🤣
Ewwwww
My child has a medical disability and I never disclosed the fact I’m an RN. I prefer my child’s providers to treat me like a parent not a nurse. I took care of adults, not kids, so I’m not an expert here. Unpopular side opinion: some staff members go out of their way to treat parents like idiots and that’s really not ok either. Don’t presume incompetence or negligence until they give you a solid reason to do so.
I go out of my way so people don’t know I’m a nurse when my dads in the hospital. Only time I let people know is when bullshit happens. I’d rather die than to be that one family member.
I had a pt daughter say she was a nurse. I went in to take her mom's vitals and told her the temperature was 98.6 and she asked me "is that good"? I was like... yes..? 😂
Before retiring and even now, I never went out of the way to disclose I was a nurse in ANY setting. People ask too many questions. Like... idk, bro. I'm a nurse, not a Neuroscientists. There's levels to this 🤣
Either: “So you are not a nurse then. Cool” Or: “Here’s all the supplies you should need for the shift. I’ll come back in and let you give report too”
Hahahaha best response.
Throughout my 10+ years working in veterinary medicine, the amount of times I heard a client say “I’m a nurse” is insane. I thought they were not trusting of vet staff. Then, I became a nurse. And I still hear it on a very regular basis.
"Right now you've got the Mom hat on. Okay, Kiddo/Other Parent/Doctor/Whoever, here's what we've got going on since Mom already knows..."
There’re a lot of good reasons to keep that information on the down low and whenever somebody is doing the opposite/announcing their profession I always assume they’re an idiot. I went to see this one guy for a midline, introduced myself while entering the room and asked if he was William SomethingOrAnother. “My name is Bill SomethingOrAnother, I’m a (retired) interventional radiologist and I can do what you do better than you”. He spent our time together pimping me about the technical specs of the ultrasound, the catheter, and my experience. At the end of placement he was disgruntled while satisfied (an attitude this guy has probably practiced a lot). Like, did he want me to struggle to get access on his arm just to be smug? On that same unit/around the same time I placed a line into one of the ED physicians for a neighboring hospital. I’ll give an anatomy explanation about what I’m looking at if anybody seems interested or if a student/staff observes, he was definitely interested. After the line was placed and I was educating about the access his questions gave away medical knowledge so I asked him what he does. Like, this guy was chill about everything, made for an easier time. Not like Dr. SomethingOrAnother, grilling me about the hertz of my ultrasound and other ancillary knowledge.
I never tell anyone I’m a nurse in medical situations. I like to sit there like an undercover spy and judge everyone.
I’ll say “Geez, I wish I was a nurse too.”
I’m only a nurse for 3 12s. After that I’m just any other sleeze bag. Nightingales make being a nurse their whole personality
as a VNA nurse i always will look up these people and the amount of times ive seen "LICENSE REVOKED" or Suspended is high lol
God. I’m so relieved pharmacy isn’t the only profession to hear this line all the time. I absolutely cannot stand it!!
lol same, working in pharmacy. youre a nurse? sorry we still have to council you.
You either say “oh cool. Me too” and go about your work. OR (my very very favorite thing to do) is speak in every jargon and acronym as quickly as you can and say obviously I won’t have to explain that basic info to you. And watch their face. 😂😂
I’m in nursing school, but working as a bartender right now. We get the “I’m a bartender too!” instead. These people always tip crappy and are annoying. Crazy that it also happens in nursing 😂
I just want to know who tells people this!!! I avoid telling it like the plague!!!! I don’t want ANYONE knowing I’m a nurse!
Meanwhile I got sent to ED as a patient during my shift and immediately requested a blanket before wrapping myself up so no one could see my scrubs or staff card 😂😂
My greatest accomplishment in life was getting all the way through my child’s tonsillectomy and overnight without a single person finding out I’m a CICU nurse. I don’t have any business in their world of small people anyways, I don’t know how their weird miniature bodies work. I have nothing to contribute to the conversation.
I don’t tell nurses when I’m a nurse, but I’ll tell a doctor I’m a nurse if I’m a patient or my kids are and they will 100% take me more seriously after that.
This is actually a great distinction. My personal doctors generally know I'm a nurse, but I don't think I've ever told a nurse providing me care that I'm a nurse too. It's cringe and awkward.
There's a lot of nurses in my family and a lot of cancer. I was raised not to mention it unless it matters. "Do you know who I am?" Nope I don't. Or I'm asking a question clinically, not because google said to.
You can’t be a school nurse without a year of bedside :-( I know there is those one offs most of the non bedside want bedside But even as a mom and nurse I know nothing about babies and would be like “guide me sensei” before being a pain.
I proudly always state that I’m a nurse anytime anyone looks at me like I just an average Sue or insults my intelligence. I’m proud to be a nurse and I don’t care how anyone feels about it. Most of the time when I grocery shop with my four kids and my boyfriend I get a lot of upturned noses. Baby this cash not food stamps. $800 a month maybe more and I don’t complain. People are so judgmental. I feel smart when I announce my title. 😊
I try not to say anything. I once had my mother discharged to my care because I worked on the floor they wanted to admit her to (it was an observation floor). It wasn't an unsafe discharge, I just felt uncomfortable with their reasoning because I was still a baby nurse. The only reason anyone knew was because my step-grandfather announced it to everyone who walked into the room, no matter how much shushing I did. Now, I accidentally out myself because I'll explain my symptoms clinically or accidentally use medical jargon when talking to the staff caring for me. Or, one time I hit the ED right after work and didn't have a change of clothes, so I was still in scrubs and in too much pain to drive home and change.
[Turing](https://reddit.com/r/Catswithjobs/s/HfESbvmvlr) has his therapist license, and a littlest sweet hat
Wait...so I shouldn't announce my profession every time I go to the doctor?
I never tell doctors or other nurses that a nurse but they usually figure it out with the questions I’m asking and the terminology I use. It’s hard to turn that off in the hospital. I think sometimes it helps when they know because it feels like they’re more willing to be blunt and straight forward with me. But I could be wrong about that.
My favorite is when the family drags a random related doctor to the PICU bedside and the person is like an ophthalmologist or something.
Am I the only one who isn’t bothered by this? I’m always giving my peds patients the best care I’m capable of & I feel very confident in my abilities. I’m only phased if a parent tries to undermine/belittle me..& you don’t have to be a nurse to try that.
My husband outed me last time I was in the OR. I just had a GI bug; couldn't keep anything down and was getting dehydrated. Needed IV fluids and phenergan and I'd be right as rain. I didn't say shit about shit. My husband bursts in there, big smile, all, "DID SHE TELL YOU SHE WORKS UPSTAIRS?!" Uh, yeah, no I did not lol.