family thinks I'm MD

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Well I mentioned it before and now its happened again. My Aunt (whom I love dearly ) calls me last night at 9:20p.m. with a "medical" question. My uncle had a cortisone shot in his knee yesterday morning and they told him if his blood sugar was over 300 to call a PHYSICIAN. My aunt calls me and says "well your the closeset thing to a physician we know". Good grief. Can they not read the intitials RN?? She wanted to know what he should do because his level was 300.

Then she also mentions that they had just eaten pizza about an hour before that. He used to be on insulin but is not now, and frankly he is one of those non compliant patients we all love. HA. They also spend much of their time downing everybody who is in the medical field, finding everything they can wrong. Even with thier dear ol niece.

They are also in that group of people that can read a magazine article about something medical and suddenly know more than you or any doctor could ever know. I told her she should call the MD like she was told, and since I am just an RN, I can't really tell her more than that. She is ticked off now. oh boy another reason to down the medical field. I can just hear it..."my niece is an RN and doesn't even know what to do with a high blood sugar" THAT is what she will say. :angryfireooohhhh I am so disgusted. Sorry guys i just had to talk to someone. The non medical husband tries but doesn't get it.

Best thing is to avoid ALL in-depth medical related discussions with family and friends. Change the subject ASAP and refuse to discuss any of their conditions. Unless they are standing in front of me c/o cp with diaphoresis - they don't get my attention on their health matters. Works really well to keep you from getting agitated because they are being so stupid.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

My husband and I do that to each other. He's a PT, so I go to him with every spain and muscle ache wanting him to make it better, and in return he wants me to fix his sniffles.

If I feel kinda dumb sometimes though...He is able to answer more of my questions then I am his. Maybe he's questions are harder?

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To the one with the uncle: Find out if you're in his will and then give the "proper" advise. Heh, heh! JK.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

And I thought I was getting out of that when I left the computer field!

I think I choose the only job people ask for more free advice than computer geeks.

I had co-workers call me at home on weekends with computer questions. Now at least though it's family / real friends who call. And now I have legit reason to not spend 2 hrs on the phone with them.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Ah yes, family dinners frought with discussions about diverticulitis, diabetes and acid reflux. Lopressor and lipitor and metformin...oh my....

So to the OP, where did your uncle get his cortisone shot? Surely not from a nurse giving them out from the trunk of her car - so shouldn't they call the practioner that gave the shot?

I also give the "call your doctor" party line, early and often.

Blee

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Specializes in ER.

I guess I don't mind using my experience to help family and friends. Years ago, when my mom needed a chole, I went toe to toe with a surgeon that wasn't providing the care that I knew she needed (and wanted). Fired him at bedside when he wouldn't answer my questions, got a different surgeon who not only answered everything but agreed to respect Mom's wishes. 10 years later, and she's had no problems. There have been other issues with her, and I know exactly how far I can push her to be compliant, before she gets mad and quits. She often discounts any advice or recommendations I give her, and it's frustrating. But we both know we're on the same side.

I've also recently began helping my BF's Mom with her possible CA dx (we don't know yet). Seriously, her and my BF are helpless and clueless in the face of medicine. I obviously can't diagnose, but I can certainly prepare them for what happens next, teach her about her meds (since her doctor didn't), and translate the medical terminology for them.

I don't do anything outside of my scope. But I will take a phone call at 2:00 AM from a friend who doesn't know if she should take her croupy kid to the ER (Yes, please!), look at their stitches to see if the lac's healing right, tell a newly diagnosed COPD friend that it's not a death sentence (since doc just dropped the bomb and no other nurse followed up with her), and just generally be a resource, or send them to the doc when they need it.

I don't blame others for not liking to do it, and I can see where it would get old. It just doesn't bother me.

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if you tell them something it doesn't sink in anyway

there was a birthday party in sept and there was a man there cyanotic with labored breathing and swollen feet like you wouldn't believe, i told them to take him to the er

i got busy with helping with the little kids when i returned the poor guy was still on the sofa and everyone was outside on one of those big water slide that someone had rented

i went out and demanded that they take him or call an ambulance

when he got into the er he was admitted and he had a cabg x6 two days later

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Specializes in ICU.

That is too funny, I haven't even started nursing school and my grandma asks me what's wrong with her leg????? Why does it go numb she asks?

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Specializes in Hospice.

Very common dillema isn't it!! Here's the tried and true line I use on family, neighbors, friends, people standing in line at the grocery store...yadda yadda..

"you know,..that's not my area of specialty, you might want to consult your physician"...

works like a charm!

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