Are nurses allowed to recommend doctors??

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I've had a lot of friends on facebook saying things like "does anyone know a good pediatrician?" or "i need to have surgery, anyone have any recommendations?" now facebook is a public website so anything anyone says can be seen by a whole lot of people. my question is, with me being a nurse i have a good idea of a lot of doctors that are good and others that arent so good.....so am i allowed to recommend doctors or tell someone what doctors NOT to go to?? I had a friend post a status asking for a good pediatrician and someone respond to it naming a certain doctor who i would not recommend to my worst enemy and i pretty much wrote that but deleted it before i sent it because im not sure whether or not it is something that could get me into trouble...

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would not want to put anything on the internet period.

Personally talking to close friends in person is different. Again, I wouldn't express my personal opinion but just say something general like "I've heard that Dr XYZ has a great bedside manner."

I would not verbalize ever anything negative - just too easy to have it taken the wrong way.

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Specializes in Adult Stem Cell/Oncology.

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to recommend a doctor. I know I would, but I would be very discrete about it. Just make sure you give your feedback verbally, via a phone call or in person. Never post anything on Facebook or any other social networking site. Posting "Dr. James Doe is horrible and you should not take your child to him" could get you in hot water, especially if said doctor happens to see your post!

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If you feel that strongly about the pediatrician and have reasons to back it up, you could always private message or email your friend and not post it on their facebook wall. I'm not sure I would recommend a doctor to a complete stranger but I would certainly recommend a good doctor to my family and friends... and I would absolutely want to protect my family and friends from a doctor I know not to trust. I personally would avoid doing any of this on a public website though.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

There are some sites online where people can rate doctors anonomously. When I feel strongly enough about the situation I've always found ways to aim patients where I beleive their best interest is served. The trap in all this is that you can never predict how a given patient, family, and doctor will interact. Day after day patients come to the ER with post op infections, but the patients love the single surgeon they have in common, but they love the doc. There are several better choices IMHO.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I recommend our GI specialist to friends when they ask and it seems to fit. I have never posted anything on FB though, just through friendly conversation. I have also gotten recommendations from ortho nurses on whom to see for my back. I would much rather get an opinion from someone who has had to work with them, especially on nights ;)

Tait

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I always give the name of more than one Dr. with the one I favor being the first name out of my mouth. If there are any problems or negativity you can say you recommended 2 or 3 Drs. and patient made final choice. Also, I would not post anything along those lines on FB.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I work in a hospital, so when inpatient families want a referral... obviously I never say.."not this doc". But I do say, ask around to your friends and family and see if they have any experiences.... look the doc's up on line if you have internet... and if I have a personal exp....I've said... for ortho... I've had my knee done by so and so and I've been pleased, but my case is different than yours... so keep your options open.

I've also advised asking around in the waiting room to see what other family says about our docs, so I'm not the one put on the spot.

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I would NEVER put anything like that on the internet. Even if I was answering a frined I would phone them, not put it on the net. To a friend or family member I would be more candid, but the traditional rule is offer 2 or 3 names so you are not directly to blame if they are dissatisfied.

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Unless you work for one! :D

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Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
I would not want to put anything on the internet period.

Personally talking to close friends in person is different. Again, I wouldn't express my personal opinion but just say something general like "I've heard that Dr XYZ has a great bedside manner."

I would not verbalize ever anything negative - just too easy to have it taken the wrong way.

X2!

Never put anything online unless it's a secure site, or it will (may) come back to bite you!

Just ask anyone on the nursing staff-we know who the best are and who we go too!

Just my $.02.

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I have recommended (to friends/family) docs that I know to be good but unless it was someone very close to me I would never suggest they avoid a particular doctor. I never make recommendations to patients. When pressed I always suggest they try to make appointments with several and then decide who they like best.

Really, I think it's tough to make recommendations because people value things differently. I have had plenty of patients switch to what I would consider "lesser" doctors due to poor bedside manner but they felt their care really improved. I've also known more than a few who have switched from excellent foreign docs because they had trouble understanding them.

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