Being assumed to be neg

[valldelxeno]

Basically I'm going to rehab which entails tests for stuff like tuberculosis. When filling the forms out, my nurse put that I was HIV negative and then just checked with me afterwards. I find this disappointing to say the least. On the other hand I once had a hookup assume I was poz and react to me saying I was neg with total disbelief - that was much more flattering...

[BootmanLA]

19 hours ago, valldelxeno said:

Basically I'm going to rehab which entails tests for stuff like tuberculosis. When filling the forms out, my nurse put that I was HIV negative and then just checked with me afterwards. I find this disappointing to say the least. On the other hand I once had a hookup assume I was poz and react to me saying I was neg with total disbelief - that was much more flattering...

Sadly, some health care workers are still, 40+ years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, uncomfortable talking about HIV or asking questions about it. That might have been understandable (if still unacceptable) in 1993, but not in 2023.

About all you can do is point out to her that she made an assumption she shouldn't have, even if she was correct, and that she needs to ASK the questions. Might have been a learning experience for her.

[valldelxeno]

On 1/28/2023 at 12:22 AM, BootmanLA said:

Sadly, some health care workers are still, 40+ years into the HIV/AIDS epidemic, uncomfortable talking about HIV or asking questions about it. That might have been understandable (if still unacceptable) in 1993, but not in 2023.

About all you can do is point out to her that she made an assumption she shouldn't have, even if she was correct, and that she needs to ASK the questions. Might have been a learning experience for her.

I know this nurse pretty well and I'm fairly certain it wasn't a comfort issue. I am kind of wondering where the assumption came from though.