Non nurses on AN

Nurses General Nursing

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I should know better but it still kinda blows me away when I catch a post from a non nurse giving nursing advice.

I'd like to think no one is making career decisions based on a post but I wonder how much we are influenced nonetheless.

Anyway, I just read one here in General Discussion this morning. It was *liked* by the non suspecting OP. (I think non suspecting). Not even a nursing student. With no disclaimer.

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

I would say it depends on the content, maybe?

If it's legitimately NURSING advice that would require at least some nursing school attendance/experience, then I would hope that the readers would only take advice from actual nurses.

If it's generalized advice that pertains to jobs or any other type of non-medical/nursing advice, I'd say it's fair game to see what others have to say.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

It used to bother me, but now I don't respond to posts/threads from people who aren't nurses. If I see something from someone that appears problematic, I report it to the moderators.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

How do you know FOR SURE whether someone on here is a nurse or not? That is the point really..anyone..ANYONE on here may or may not be an RN, LPN, CNA, nursing student, or professional boogie boarder.

I do not focus on "catching" anyone. I actually find it challenging to read posts and then think to myself in the scheme of the big picture. An example are people looking to "interview" nurses on here. Anyone with even a subpar research understanding knows how flawed that is. However there are posters who agree to "help" and answer the question. From there I go into the word "help". Is it helpful to give someone a handout or help them realize that the point of the assignment isn't necessarily the answer..the goal is learning how to complete the task as assigned and how to do research.

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It doesn't bother me unless it has to do specifically with nursing knowledge/skills. Even then, it can be a judgment call.

I miss one poster who was funny and told great stories but wasn't a nurse - he doesn't post here anymore due to some concerns about him not being a nurse. Fortunately, he's a FB friend now.

It just depends.

What thread and comment are to talking about?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
It doesn't bother me unless it has to do specifically with nursing knowledge/skills. Even then, it can be a judgment call.

I miss one poster who was funny and told great stories but wasn't a nurse - he doesn't post here anymore due to some concerns about him not being a nurse. Fortunately, he's a FB friend now.

It just depends.

What thread and comment are to talking about?

I would like to know that as well. You know, so I can not respond to it. ;)

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I would hope that most people would take anything they read on an internet forum with a grain of salt and also very the information with a credible reference. I also understand that unfortunately some will not😞

There have been some "interesting" posts that the profile tells us little about the individual...but then again, anyone can create a username, claim to have a doctorate in nursing, and be lying through their teeth. I've seen it on LinkedIn profiles of some people I recognize and they are definitely not what they are claiming to be.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

My annoyance level depends on the content. If the topic is related to that something like nursing experience or career advice & someone starts with the statement "I am still in nursing school, but I think this" or "I'm not a nurse yet, but this is how it should" then I usually don't finish reading their response. Not that their opinion isn't important, but they aren't very relevant. Personally, I stay away from actually posting on those types of threads because I am a new nurse & admit that I do not know very much yet.

But, you will always have those posters who decided to become a nurse last week, just enrolled in A & P, joined AN 2 minutes ago & therefore know everything about nursing.

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I would like to know that as well. You know, so I can not respond to it. ;)

Great minds . . . . .:)

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I'm talking about a pre nursing student giving advice to an RN trying to make a decidedly RN career specific decision.

It was not about something like what to wear to an interview.

The pre nursing status was stated in another thread, not in the thread in question.

Though I see it would seem to be a non issue.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

I am happy if they start out with "I am a nursing student" so at least then you know what information you are receiving. The ones I really question are the ones that talk and talk about all these wonderful things they have done...They have a 4.0 GPA...are "brilliant", but can't get into nursing school because the "teacher doesn't like me". Maybe because of where I came from, but I don't do well with arrogance and I don't do well with blaming others.

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Nursing comes under a very big umbrella . . . .. we could have the same complaints about a nurse whose specialty is CCU giving advise to the L&D nurse and vice versa and so on.

I dunno - truly I think it depends.

You are bringing up something that we've talked about before so it is very legitimate to ask this question. There are true concerns about non-nurses giving nursing advice. You have a good point.

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