I am beginning to see that this is not always wise to do. I hear from some of my nurse friends that neighbors will knock on your door in the middle of the night to come and help their sick relatives, then possibly blame you later if things go south, even with your intervention. One friend in particular told me that her husband witnessed an accident on the highway around the corner from her home. He tells one of the motorists to come with him, because his wife is a nurse and will 'fix him up'. She was outraged. Another friend of mine told me that she gets approached when going to her gym when people do not feel well. Basically, she feels that it is an invasion of her private time.
I travel by public transportation to work, and because I do not have a locker, I wear my uniform. I have my MP3 player on and trying to relax to the music before I get bombarded at the job. People will sit next to me, tap me and ask me a slew of health related questions. I feel that I have no chart before me, no labs, no history,so I tell them that legally, I am not comfortable answering their questions. Then, they get rude; saying that nurses are supposed to care. Hey, I do! This is why I refuse to answer questions inaccurately. At times, patients are not the right source of information, it is fragmented, or they tell you what they wish for you to know. Why give wrong information? I have had people invite me to places "...because so and so will be there, she/he is sick, and it would be a comfort to know that a nurse is around..." therefore, I have refused these invitations. I am not experienced, and while I know that it is true, we are nurses 24/7, we need a break as well. I've had close friends call me and ask me to come 'check out my grandmother...etc'.
I love being a nurse (most days, when I am not burned out). But, I don't want to be taxed of my time, or face a lawsuit. The same person you help may be the person who wants to sue you later for damages. Better safe than sorry, I say.
Heck as soon as someone hears you are going to or headed for nursing school this starts.
I remember being in the Post Office. A lady in a very LOUD voice started asking me for advice concerning her husband's bowel habits. EVERYONE was staring at me.
I quietly told her that this was not the place. And that I did not have enough information to advice her. If she needed to discuss this more I would be happy to come by and see her.
It seems to give people permission to talk about body functions anyplace and time including at dinner. THEY are generally offended when you ask them not to. As if because I am a nurse I am perfectly ok listening to talk about vomiting or such while I am eating.
(but then I have had patients get upset because I was not eager to minutely examine their snot or sputum etc.)
Generally people know I am a nurse. And quite honestly I do not get a lot of request anymore for free advice. Maybe it is the community where I live. (not the same one with the Post office lady) Maybe because I don't offer it. Maybe it is because generally my friends can afford to and do go to their own doctors.
I only tell people my profession if they ask. I do not wear it on my sleeve. I had someone ask about what to put in a first aid kit reciently but that is about the extent of things. Except for my daughter now she is always asking for advice. Most of the time I tell her to go to her doctor. But on she will call me just to ask if she should. shees.
My DH who doesn't even live in the same state sends me his lab work to interpet. After the doctor has told him it is normal. Then he ask me what does normal mean. Double shees.
Specializes in aged, palliative care, cardiac, agency,.
Most of my friends are nurses so its not an issue with them. And of course my family all know but they dont ask me for advice or information. In fact I havent found being known as a nurse to be a problem.
Agnus
2,719 Posts
Heck as soon as someone hears you are going to or headed for nursing school this starts.
I remember being in the Post Office. A lady in a very LOUD voice started asking me for advice concerning her husband's bowel habits. EVERYONE was staring at me.
I quietly told her that this was not the place. And that I did not have enough information to advice her. If she needed to discuss this more I would be happy to come by and see her.
It seems to give people permission to talk about body functions anyplace and time including at dinner. THEY are generally offended when you ask them not to. As if because I am a nurse I am perfectly ok listening to talk about vomiting or such while I am eating.
(but then I have had patients get upset because I was not eager to minutely examine their snot or sputum etc.)
Generally people know I am a nurse. And quite honestly I do not get a lot of request anymore for free advice. Maybe it is the community where I live. (not the same one with the Post office lady) Maybe because I don't offer it. Maybe it is because generally my friends can afford to and do go to their own doctors.
I only tell people my profession if they ask. I do not wear it on my sleeve. I had someone ask about what to put in a first aid kit reciently but that is about the extent of things. Except for my daughter now she is always asking for advice. Most of the time I tell her to go to her doctor. But on she will call me just to ask if she should. shees.
My DH who doesn't even live in the same state sends me his lab work to interpet. After the doctor has told him it is normal. Then he ask me what does normal mean. Double shees.