Frustrated Patient

[jojomarie26]

There is a patient fairly new to our clinic who has been struggling to find a dx and subsequent treatment for her symptoms for almost 2 years. She has had recent labs done that came back almost all within normal range except for a few minor ones like cholesterol that was slightly elevated, but nothing that would sick right out and explain her symptoms. But she does have a lot of lab values that are just barely within normal range. So my question is, could she possibly benefot from further testing? Has anyone else seen a pt like this?

[Orion81RN]

She may very well do all the work she claims, but does not have the education required to INTERPRET the results.

That, OP, is outside of your scope of practice.

That was my point. I was being sarcastic. She seems to believe she knows more than she has previously spouted.

[Orion81RN]

Ouch!!! Orion81, I think you misinterpreted OP's response.

I went back to the thread you mentioned, and I didn't notice any claims from OP that she believes she has "much of the knowledge a nurse does". I only saw a clarification that MAs do more than "take vitals"; they also have BACKGROUND knowledge in some of the subjects taught in Nursing School. Also, I believe she was referencing MA skills when she said that the only one skill she didn't deal with is venipuncture...

And in support of MAs, I have one in my class and she definitely knows her stuff! Perhaps she doesn't have the same skill level in terms of acute care, but she seems to know more than some of the LPNs!

As for OP's question, as Roser13, ASN mentioned above, I do not think you provided enough information to answer the question, nor do I believe would it be wise to do so.

Without more specific information, these questions came to mind:

- What is the severity of her symptoms? What is the potential gain of a dx, in her case?

- Would a dx enable tx? How effective is that tx? What is the quality of life for a pt undergoing these txs?

- Some diagnostic tests and procedures carry risks or inordinate expense; are these justified in the case of this patient?

Depending on the answers to the above questions, further testing might be a question for the patient's MD/NP or an ethics committee.

You're right. It's possible.

[Dranger]

lol wut.