WIBU to introduce myself when the doctors I'm working with don't bother?

[Sallystyle]

Not a huge deal, just a bit annoying.

I am a nurse assistant in hospital but often do clinics where I'm working with doctors. Some doctors also have colleagues with them, usually those still training who are observing.

My job is to assist the doctors such as cleaning the bed, helping the patients undress if needed, cleaning the equipment after use, reassuring the patient if anxious, filling in some paperwork and I chaperone so I'm with the patients throughout.

The doctors always introduce themselves and their colleagues. They never introduce me. It makes me quite uncomfortable. My job is clearly not skilled but is it ok to treat me as I'm not there at all?

Strangely enough, if I'm assisting doctors in emergency medicine they do make a point of finding out my name and introducing me as well.

You must introduce yourself to the patients.

It depends on where I am.

Often I see them first so then of course I introduce myself.

Sometimes the doctors might call them in because the receptionist has sat them outside the door so they call them in on their way back from dictating or whatever. It's then when they introduce themselves and don't mention me that I feel shitty.

I always introduce my HCAs. Do you collect the patient from the waiting area? Are the doctors assuming you've already introduced yourself on the way down to the clinic room?

God how rude and not nice for the patient either

I'd introduce myself as soon as possible without talking over the doctor

Sorry, cross post. Do the doctors actually know your name? Sounds silly, but it might be as simple as them not wanting to admit they don't know it!

Introduce yourself after the doctor has done her introductions, should get the point across. Like you say, you're an important part of the process, not a bit of furniture

What wankers. You should introduce yourself. Particularly if, helping the patients undress if needed...reassuring the patient if anxious.

cream we cross posted.

Often I do call them in, but there is one clinic that works very differently to any other clinic I've worked in and the receptions often sit the patient outside the room when they have come back from one of the other procedure rooms and it can be more or the doctor who calls them in.

cross posted again

You should always use the "Hello, my name is" phrase, too. If the doctors get stroppy, ask them if they remember Dr Kate Granger.

They should know my name, they take it at the start to write down my name in the chaperoning part they fill out themselves.

It's also on my badge.

I have thought about saying 'and I'm U2' but stupidly I worry that it would come across as rude

Hiya, ignorant buggers! I'm a nurse and would just introduce myself as soon as I could get a word in. Remember you are just as important to the team as they are - they couldn't do their job without you doing yours!

You'd probably only have to do it once and then the Drs would start doing it. I don't think it's rude as long advance you aren't talking over them x

I always introduce myself to patients, it's a bonus if someone else does it for me. Even if I can't do it immediately I will wait for a more appropriate moment. I want them to be reassured of who I am.

'As long as' stupid autocorrect

Is this a misunderstanding between being introduced and introducing yourself perhaps? DD is a student HCP, she has ben taught to introduce herself.

I am always at the hospital in various clinics with the elderlies, I often see members of staff collecting patients from the waiting rooms and hear them say "hello my name is xxx and I am the xxx, if you come with me ....." on the way to wherever they are going.

Yeah, it does feel wrong not introducing myself. When I'm on a ward it is the first thing I do at the start of every shift.

I just wonder why they don't even think to introduce me when they know I haven't had a chance. If they remember to introduce their other colleague they should remember me.

I just sometimes feel invisible, but I know I'm not to the people who matter.

I recently had eye surgery. A nurse sat with me throughout the process to hold my hand and keep me calm. However no-one bothered to introduce her and it felt unpleasant and intrusive to have a stranger touching me. I think normally I would have asked her name but I was so keyed up about the surgery I wasn't thinking straight. I would have very much appreciated her introducing herself.

I might be coming from a different angle but....

I'm apparently rather ill and in hospital a lot. With the consultants/doctors I'll have a business like conversation about the nuts and bolts of my condition.

Once they go, I might fall apart and then you are vital to me. It might be sexist, but I'm not going to cry in front of another bloke and I'd rather know your name than the consultants. You'll put me back together, whereas the consultants won't ever cure me.

ask them if they remember Dr Kate Granger.

I don't remember Dr. Kate Granger! Who is she?

I would also introduce myself, as much to make a point, as to introduce myself, iyswim. Really rude of them not to.

What do the nurses do? Are you a healthcare assistant?

It's not right, but if it's not the same doctor doing it every time I can only assume they think you've already introduced yourself.

Do you not get training on this? Perhaps the doctors think it is you who is rude for not introducing yourself? Are you a nurse or a HCA? If you are a HCA you are not a 'nurse assistant'. Only a nurse can use the title of nurse.

Lovely Kate Grainger #hello my name is. Recently died from cancer but championed a campaign for NHS staff to introduce themselves to patients.

Ah, thanks Sidney. Sorry, I hadn't heard of her.

The only person who introduced herself by name while my dad lay dying in hospital was a cleaner hoovering the corridors. She made me a cup of tea and sat with me for ages. Can't remember the names of a single one of the consultants who breezed in and out to give me updates on my father's impending death. Couldn't give a shit, either. Joanne was the only one who held my hand. Wish she was reading this! (Cornwall, 2009)

Pseudonym some trusts still call them nursing health care assistants. And my old position (which I left 5 years ago and was then called a "health assistant") was recently readvertised as a "nurse assistant".

OP, definitely make a point of introducing yourself after the doctors have done their bit. They'll either pick up on the hint and introduce you in future or will continue to give you time to introduce yourself. If anyone says anything just say you're very supportive of the #hellomynameis campaign, particularly as you help the patients in quite intimate ways.

If I have to go into patient areas and speak to patients (usually doing surveys about our texting and automated check-in booths) I always introduce myself (and Wear my badge) and I'm corporate staff. When I worked with kids as an assistant school nurse we always introduced ourselves to the children. "I'm Nurse Sue and this is my assistant Rhoda." etc. It doesn't matter who the patient is or who is in charge - always introduce yourself!