So I am a new LPN only 8 months post NCLEX. I work as an LPN on call at Chem health facilty (avg about 3days a month) and during the week I work full time at an office job, its a small office with like 10 people. Occasionally my coworkers at my office job ask me for medical advice and what do I think this growth is. I try to tell them I cant give medical advice and go see your Dr. or call the nurse line, yada yada. Now I did get prefessional liability ins because of this job, just in case something like and emergency happened. So I would be covered because of course my other job does not cover me there. And actually that came in handy not too long ago, a different coworker silp and fell. I did what I could for her you know ice, stabalize it, and so on and had her go to ER-she later found out it was a broken elbow. They just dont get it, so last week a coworker cut her finger and yesterday she had the nerve to ask me to take out her stitches because she didnt want to pay her copay to have it done and "since Im an LPN I can just do it!" Her words. I said no way, I have not been trained to do that for one- I will not do anything that I was not trained in or feel comfortable, we dont have the right equipment and point blank -NO. She was like your just scared arent you? Im like no I dont want to get sued! How can I tell them one last time I am not the office nurse?? have others had these experiences and what is the best way to handle it.
Even my closest friends, when asking what they should do, because they are feeling bad, or their children are. My automatic response is, I'd go to the Dr. I've done it so much, some of them say it along with me when I answer. They are used to it by now. But it gets easier everytime you say it. As far as your co-workers, sometimes I've used the line"you couldn't afford what I charge". Or, wow, you better call the Dr. right now...lol. Never take out their stitches, tell them all you have is your dirty scissors, they'll run...lol
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Boy could I have fun with your coworkers. Show me a growth and I'd take a step back, "oh my, how long have you had that? ...oh I don't think it's anything serious..just don't touch anything around here, ok?" ; "I'd love to take your sutures out... these look like they will really hurt too. I just don't wanna void the warranty, cause you're gonna need it." I suppose there is a kinder approach such as," It looks like you're really concerned about this so showing it to your Dr. would be time and money well spent", but where's the fun in that?
I find that mentioning a diagnosis caused by parasites is a particularly effective tool. It's also versatile! A friend recently asked me what that funky looking area of skin on the bottom of his (icky-ewie :barf01:) foot was. I told him "no need to worry, it's just a common sign of pinworm infestation." Well, let me tell you the look on his face was priceless!" Whoa boy!
Or (and I learned this on the Discovery Health Channel's Monsters Inside Me) get up real close and scrutinize the sclera of their eye, look concerned, and tell them that you aren't sure, but there probably is a little threadlike worm wiggling around in the white of his eye. (this actually happened! ) Add that they appear to be normal capillaries, but they could be worms taking a nap. Probably won't really deter people, but at least we're in a better mood about it. :)
Ed. to add above is SNARK-CON level 9, so please no flames about how I'm scaring people and burnt out and should consider another line of work! Thanks in advance!
Now I did get prefessional liability ins because of this job, just in case something like and emergency happened. So I would be covered because of course my other job does not cover me there.
I'd check into that insurance policy carefully. I know that my policy wouldn't cover me for a lawsuit arising out of a non-nursing job. And when I'm at the hospital, the hospital's legal protection is designed to cover the hospital, not me as an individual nurse.
In other words, malpractice insurance coverage is still probably a good idea for you, but I doubt that it covers what you think it does.
Her words. I said no way, I have not been trained to do that for one- I will not do anything that I was not trained in or feel comfortable, we dont have the right equipment and point blank -NO. She was like your just scared arent you? Im like no I dont want to get sued! How can I tell them one last time I am not the office nurse?? have others had these experiences and what is the best way to handle it.
I find that mentioning a diagnosis caused by parasites is a particularly effective tool. It's also versatile! A friend recently asked me what that funky looking area of skin on the bottom of his (icky-ewie :barf01:) foot was. I told him "no need to worry, it's just a common sign of pinworm infestation." Well, let me tell you the look on his face was priceless!" Whoa boy!
realnursealso/LPN, LPN
783 Posts
Even my closest friends, when asking what they should do, because they are feeling bad, or their children are. My automatic response is, I'd go to the Dr. I've done it so much, some of them say it along with me when I answer. They are used to it by now. But it gets easier everytime you say it. As far as your co-workers, sometimes I've used the line"you couldn't afford what I charge". Or, wow, you better call the Dr. right now...lol. Never take out their stitches, tell them all you have is your dirty scissors, they'll run...lol