If someone says “I work in A&E”

[whyeyeeyeeyeeye]

Then do you presume

a) he’s a doctor and doesn’t want people to know so he doesn’t get bothered with child illness/fever questions etc

b) he does another role in A&E and wants to keep it vague for another reason

DH and I were chatting to a dad at a kids’ party at the weekend and we came away from the conversation with different views. I’m a - if I were a doctor in A&E no way would I want all my kid’s friends’ parents knowing.

As a doctor I would also be guessing A!

B

My DH always says he works for the Ambulance Service. He is a Technician and most people then assume he's repairing ambulances. People don't really know the difference between a Technician and a paramedic and he can't really be bothered getting into it some days!

A person may also say this if they were in a basic job such as admin or reception or something similar and wanted their job to sound better than what it is. Like oh I work in A&E but not disclosing it's like a cleaner or something.

Nothing wrong with those jobs I'm admin based also

He could be a doctor, nurse a mental health nurse working in the crisis team ,health care assistant, receptionist ,I wouldn't presume anything tbh

I wouldn't assume anything. They could be a nurse, a cleaner, a receptionist, a doctor, there's just not enough info in that sentence to even try to guess.

I’m a nurse and have definitely said I work in ‘customer service’ before when I’ve really not wanted to out myself as a nurse (usually when I am the patient )…not technically a lie!

He could be anything from a porter to a consultant. Keeping it vague stops people being nosy!

It could be anything in A&E I would ask what they did

I often say I work in a&e but without saying I'm a nurse

They could be in a cubicle taking bloods, or a porter transferring patients for scans and x-rays, or a nurse putting in canulas, removing body fluids, checking blood pressure, or a surgeon, anaesthetist or .... I don't know, there are dozens of things they could be doing. Why wouldn't he just say?

I was a nurse and always just said ‘I work in a hospital’. People often assume you are admin. Nothing worse than being in a social situation and being regaled with some bores medical history.

I usually just say I work in a hospital because lots of people find even the description of my job distressing.

Wouldn't assume either way, I wouldn't know.

I would assume they are more likely a medical practitioner of sorts - nurse, HCA or doctor, for example. I wouldn't know why they want to be vague - could be for a host of reasons (playing 'up' or 'down' by not specifying).

But I'd also think they could possibly be administrative / non-clerical.

I don't know why you'd say 'A&E' and not the role, it's back to front to me!

I think it’s still too specific to be A. When I don’t want people asking about my job I just say I work with children. So in the case of A here I’d probably say I worked in health care, or for the NHS.

I “presume” they need a drink and the patience of a saint, irrespective of what job in A&E it is.

Well I know 2 a and e consultants who openly tell people they are so. So I'd guess B

I would just presume they work in a&e i don't have this MN need to add back stories to what people say or not, this is not aimed at the op

But if someone told me they worked in A&e or a bank, school, supermarket, or accountants, wherever, I don't assume specific jobs they may have as I know lots of different roles exist in those places

If they seem wanting to talk i will ask further questions then

My friend tells people she's a drug dealer (she's a GP) for a laugh then continues to say 'I work for the NHS' and moves the conversation on quickly. The number of times she's had random strangers literally lifting shirts to show her their moles or asking about their children's poo is wild.

Well as a nurse I know lots of people who would say this. Some are doctors, some are nurses, some are HCAs, porters, cleaners. I wouldn’t assume any role TBH.

He could be anything from a porter, cleaner, admin up to a senior nurse or consultant.

I presume B. I am a GP and often say I work in a doctor's surgery, and the assumption is most often that I'm admin or something else non clinical. I do it so people don't start asking me medical questions and/or ranting at me about their terrible experiences of general practice.

'I work for the NHS' seems to be used exclusively by non-clinical people, I've noticed both in people I'm talking to and on TV/media etc.

I would assume that person is a pretentious wanker.

It's clearly something you tell other people in order to impress them. A&E obviously implies you're saving lives, dealing with emergencies, doing long shifts etc. It's cringy enough if that person is a doctor or a nurse, but a thousand times worse if that person isn't even directly involved with the treatment side (admin, facility management etc).

The majority of medical staff will never actually use their work location as their job description. Even if they work in A&E, they will usually state their area of specialism like orthopedist or internist. A&E is also a very transient department of the hospital so it's odd for someone to define themselves by that. A lot of doctors gain work experience there but they have their own area of specialism and will eventually move on.

I think there's nothing wrong with your kid's friends parents knowing you work in A&E but it's just a very narc-y way of describing it. Most people will simply say they're a doctor or work in a hospital.

Well, let's go for some stereotypes.

About 33, looking slightly dishevelled, knackered car out front, probably a doctor or nurse.

Floppy hair, mountain bike and trailer for kids out front, crinkles round the cheeks just below where the sunglasses go, about 39-42 - A&E Bike Bro/experienced Reg or fairly new consultant.

About 50 but unsure as he looks very young at the same time, natural tan, perfect teeth, expensive watch, shoes and gloriously impractical red Alpha out front - probably senior consultant. Confirmed once he gets onto the subject of obscure Delta Blues musicians or mentions they're driving down to a place with boats that isn't Dover over Easter.

Looks like normal person, normal car, clothes from generic stores, relaxing without a care in the world whilst the kids tear lumps out of one another under the pretext of playing Star Wars or football - more likely reception.

Built like brick shithouse, tends to automatically offer to carry things or help set the bouncy castle up with A Look that can stop squabbling children dead in their paces at 30 foot - security or nurse practitioner.

Sits at back with the unerring ability to spot who has a bad back, who has hayfever, who isn't looking right and needs to be guided into a chair/doctor called or seamlessly manoeveures the pushchairs, buggies and deliveries into impossibly small spaces without a single dink on the doorframes - Porters.

So no one starts showing you their kidney stone/strange rash/appendix scar or complaining about how long they sat in a corridor before they were triaged.

Based on an ex of mine I'd assume they were a porter trying to make their job sound more exciting!

That's my bad experience shining through though!