Ok so is it out of the scope of an RN,nursing students to give advice to people about their health issues.Recently I detected a high blood pressure in one of my friends like 140/90,his father has hypertension so I guess the genetics play the role,also he has another risk factor since he is a male.I advised him to stop eating salty foods (he works many hours and eats convienience food like pizza,hamburgers,pork),low-fat meats (chicken breast and rice),and also to continue exercise.I'm not playing doctor,I"m just trying to put the theory into practice .Am I breaking law or am practicing outside the scope,what do you think.This is the first time I gave health advise,it felt definitely good and he was very thankful and took my advise to his heart I think,but then again I want to know if this is according to law?
The only attitude that I sense is the one coming from RedCell,I didnt ask if it was worthless to take BP,I ask was it dangerous to offer some health advice,dont you see the difference?
Lovehospital, I'm not quite sure why you post "questions" on Allnurses, just to get angry when others don't agree with you. Why do you continue to argue with people who have much more experience and credibility to their answers? We are trying to answer your questions so you can learn from us.
Lovehospital, I'm not quite sure why you post "questions" on Allnurses, just to get angry when others don't agree with you. Why do you continue to argue with people who have much more experience and credibility to their answers? We are trying to answer your questions so you can learn from us.
Just as I would not take a paralegal student into the courtroom to me to represent me as an attorney, I would not take my taxes to be prepared by a math student, and I would not have my car repaired by the kid who took an auto shop class, I would not take medical advice from a nursing student.
Paralegal student does not equal Attorney.
Math student does not equal CPA.
Kid from shop class does not equal ASE Certified Mechanic.
Student nurse does not equal Physician.
The practice of nursing and the practice of medicine, while related, are not the same. As nurses, we do not give medical advice, we do health and wellness teaching. We do not give medical diagnoses, we make nursing diagnoses.
I think it's all well and good if you want to tell people to eat a diet low in sodium and saturated fat and to exercise regularly. These are good general health tips. However, myself, when I am not working, I am not working. Unless someone is having an acute health crisis and needs to be influenced to seek medical attention (i.e. be seen by a physician), I keep my mouth (mostly) shut.
What people put into their bodies and whether they choose to move their bodies are personal choices, and my friends and family all know my feelings on those subjects. I prefer to live by example, eating a well balanced diet, drinking only in moderation, avoiding tobacco smoke, and exercising regularly. As a result, I am at a healthy weight, my blood pressure is low, my cholesterol and triglycerides are low, and soon I will be fit enough to run a 10K. If they want to know how I do it, I will gladly share that information. But no, I will not go around lecturing my friends and family like a know-it-all. That would be obnoxious.
I didnt diagnosed him,I just offered advice to help him decrease it.
What if you gave him the wrong advice? What if his blood pressure is high due to a kidney problem or some other cause unrelated to his lifestyle? You should always tell people to see their doctor.
Of course Freedom of Speech rings a bell, but what is the point of your free speech? It's comments like this from you that make you sound like the only reason you post is to start arguments.
Outside healthcare people give, take or trade health tips all the time. I guess it's different when you give advice while wearing a health care professional cap (imaginary or otherwise) though.
Absolutely, it's different. One should be able to assume that a healthcare professional knows what they're talking about and that they can take what they say seriously. Healthcare professionals are held to a higher standard than the general public and their very license can be at risk if they give out erroneous information and something happens because of it.
flightnurse2b, LPN
1 Article; 1,496 Posts
she's still a nursing student.