This is a subject I'm still confused about. Let's say you have patient that has gone for diagnostic tests. The results are available, and you know what it says. The patient or family asks about the results.
I've had some nurses say to tell the patient, and I've had others say that's the doctor's job and out of our scope to interpret diagnostics for the patient or family.
This is what I do, and I hope you can give me feedback on whether it's right or wrong. If the official diagnosis has been made, I'll tell them that's what the diagnosis is. "You have pneumonia, and the doctor has ordered antibiotics that I will be giving as scheduled." If the doctor has not yet made a diagnosis, I'll explain that the results of the diagnostics will be interpreted by the doctor and that the doctor will talk to them about the results. "The lab test is usually done to determine if you have a respiratory infection, given your history and your symptoms. The doctor will be able to explain the results to you on his rounds."
