final evaluation

[pedspnp]

ok, I had my final faculty evalutioan I passed, I was happy but I was exhausted, the night before the eval my sisters friend called me at 1130 pm asking me about her knee problems, she has had 2 knee replacements and a revision, and still having problems, she wanted to know what was wrong, and what should the docters do. I am getting my cert in PNP, I deal very little with knee replacements actually none, I asked her what did your docter say she was like oh I did not ask him I thought I would call you. For one she is 250 lbs over wieght, a diabetic, need I say more, any way I was nice and said I have a early clincial can i call you tomorrow and she got upset. Any way my eval went well i passed, I was happy, but so stressed, I missed a key part on pyloric stenosis with the history, but it was ok I got the rest of it, I dont know if it was because of lack of sleep, or nerves. Any suggestions. I was out of town when my cell rang did not have my glasses on, and thought it was my daugter calling, and she only calls in an emergency, like no food, car broke down. I really need some advice to handle it when people call , all of a sudden it is like I am folks persoanal provider, and i have not even taken boards. My husband said put a message on the answering machine to the effect take 2 aspirin and call your family np in the mornig, I guess I am sounding a little bit....but it had been a long week in clinical and the stress of the evaluation the night before she called. thanks

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

First of all - congrats on passing! What a wonderful accomplishment.

As to how to handle calls/questions for medical advice: I just say, "gee whiz, I'm sure your own provider knows you much better than me, you need to ask them." I also encourage people to get an official second opinion (and no, I don't count). I absolutely refuse to give medical advice.

[sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN]

Congrats on your final.

As far as giving advice "out of the office," I have learned from my never ending 2nd opinion mother-in-law, that less IS better. Leave out the differentials, listen more than talk (they just really want you to listen anyway!), and smile with a statement like, "that sounds about right" or "why don't you call them back and ask?"

Remember, their PCP is getting >$100 and has a significant amount of information, you are getting zip (actually, getting a hard time and asked to pull out your crystal ball). Take my advice...RUN forrest!!!

[pedspnp]

Thanks, it happened again last night, my husbands cousin who is much older than the pt population I deal with had a whole list of problems for me, my husband finally said, you know we came home so she could have a break after her evaluation, and she really is not supposed to give a diagnosis unless she has cleared it through her preceptor, lets call her but she would have to bill you as a after hours call whats your insurance company and policy number, that shut her up and I almost spit my beer out.