Could I get into trouble for this?

[SentinelTruth]

I've been a RN for around 8 years now. Unrelated to my job, got into an argument with someone on Facebook on a religious group... the guy was acting like a psycho (he says Calvinists are of Satan) and I told him "As a Registered Nurse I believe you need antipsychotic medication". Now, he figured out the state I live in and says he is going to contact the State Board and file a complaint by stating I was trying to diagnose him and tell him to take a specific medication type. He also said that he is going to search the internet and see if I posted anything to anyone else like this to show them. I told him I'm not a Doctor and can't prescribe it, that he would have to ask His Doctor about it.

Now, I work as a homecare nurse and talk to patients all of the time about medications, and suggest to them medications they could try but that they would need to obviously talk to their Doctor or NP or PA first to have them prescribe it.... do you guys think I would get into trouble for the above crazy person?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I guess it just depends on how the board sees it. I would certainly make all of your social media private. 

[HiddenAngels]

Yikes! IDK, hopefully he's bluffing.  Just make sure you say it was not intended to diagnose this person.

As a nurse I don't usually go around in my regular life talking about medications or diagnoses to people for just this reason.  We live in a malpractice-driven society.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I doubt very much you would be disciplined by the board for this. But it's better not to engage with people online in this way.

[Patricia Ordnung]

I'd like to think the Board has way more important things to worry about.  I deleted my FB account a few years ago when politics and mask mandates turned into social media wars.  

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Yikes, you gotta be careful what you say on the internet.  When I had Facebook I didn't use my real name, or even my real location, and most definitely don't put your school or employment information!  

[LaZarca, BSN, RN]

Could you get in trouble for this? Potentially, depending on other things you may have posted, but I'm doubtful. That said, based on the information you've shared, I'm going to be a bit blunt. Engaging in arguments online with people acting irrational is never a winning battle. Just keep on scrolling. Be extremely careful with announcing your profession because it will often put a target on your back. And please, be very careful with the comments you make and the things you share, because a lot of nurses have been fired and/or disciplined for sharing things in bad taste. Even if you're not violating HIPAA or doing anything illegal, the comments you make leave an impression of you, your workplace, and your whole profession, which is why seemingly harmless comments/posts can have bigger consequences. As I said, I'm doubtful the BON will discipline you, but they will probably reiterate the things I just said. I don't mean to sound harsh, just please protect yourself ❤️ people being wild online are not worth your safety, your job, or your license. 

[AllNursesAcct, BSN, CNA, RN]

Nah don't sweat it. They get so many crazy complaints all the time. They only care about infractions that lead to or could lead to patient harm, like stealing and using controlled substances from work, sexually abusing patients, illegally and improperly restraining patients, etc. 

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

AllNursesAcct said:

Nah don't sweat it. They get so many crazy complaints all the time. They only care about infractions that lead to or could lead to patient harm, like stealing and using controlled substances from work, sexually abusing patients, illegally and improperly restraining patients, etc. 

While that is usually true, I agree with the others not to tell people that I'm a nurse or suggest meds they should take, especially strangers on the internet.  To think he needs antipsychotic meds because he thinks calvinists are satanic is unwise, most likely wrong and not nursing scope.  People have lots of "crazy" ideas about religion and politics, but to label them as mentally ill for that and then say I'm a nurse and you need meds is very stupid and leaving yourself open for a slap from the BON if he does find her and file a complaint.

I agree to make her facebook private now.  Or have one with a pseudo pen name, but I heard they are making you prove you are who you say you are now.  Don't know if that is true though.  Either way I would advise not to volunteer that you are a nurse and not to recommend med treatments to strangers on the internet.

[WhortonOKC]

I have to laugh. . .not at the comment which user SentinelTruth posted, but the very fact that such a facile and casual comment could even potentially be twisted into a valid complaint against ANY registered nurse.

It illustrates the nursing boards in general, tend to be overly strict at times in how they interpret nursing law.  Such a case should recall that, yes, even registered nurses have free speech.  This case exemplifies the possibility.  SentinelTruth apparently NEVER had any sort of professional relationship with the individual.  There should be no concern about a casual comment in a social media forum.

Granted, I would have phrased the comment as "As a medical professional," it seems this person could benefit greatly from psych drugs."  

HOWEVER, The fact that any nurse should ever even have to consider such ramifications for public commentary unrelated to their actual job, is chilling of that person's free speech.  

 

[ppfd, BSN, EMT-P]

LOL, stay off Facebook or any of those sites. Or don't comment to strangers.

Girl I work with had a false claim filed on her via a comment like this. Now shes looking for a lawyer to sue the person who filed the false claim. 🤣

[EdieBrous, BSN, MSN]

Nurses ARE disciplined for social media posts - free speech or not.  I suggest that you get a consultation with an attorney who does licensure defense work in your state so you are prepared if it does happen.  And if you are worried about getting into trouble for what you post on line, maybe stop posting on line and get actual legal advice.