Lancing for family-

xxMichelleJxx · Jun 30, 2014

Well IMO bandaging up someones wound at home isn't illegal. Its similar to a mom cleaning and putting a bandaid on a kids scrape. Unless I'm reading your post wrong. No idea what you mean by lance. And doing surgery without a license? O.o Er.. Are you serious? Obviously as a RN you cannot be performing surgery. RNs do play a vital role in the OR but performing the surgery? No.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

Could nurse get in trouble for doing nursey stuff w/o orders or for doing surgery w/o license, etc?

I seriously doubt your father would ever refer your license number to your state board of nursing or file a formal complaint for lancing his boil.

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

Take out his appendix, yes you would get in trouble. Lance a boil, no you would not. On second thought in certain circum stances, taking out his appendix would not even get you in trouble...but never would you get in trouble for lancing a boil at home ona family member.

Jorica · Jun 30, 2014

Thanks. I hadn't given it a second thought, but Dad thought it might get me in trouble if he told anyone. I told him I didn't care if he mentioned it. Then I started to wonder. Feeling better now, and a little silly for asking. :)

K+MgSO4, BSN · Jun 30, 2014

As opposed from Dad doing it to you when you were young? Who was going to find out? How were they going to find out? I drop NG tubes on new born non feeding lambs better than dad because I've had more practice.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 30, 2014

I would be a little more cautious and urge him to see his physician. How would you feel if what you thought was a regular boil turned out to be something else? What if it became infected? caused a significant scar? etc.

It's hard to know where to draw the line when dealing with family. It's one thing to help change a dressing or deliver some other treatment that has been ordered by the person's physician. But it's another to make a medical diagnosis and cut into to somebody. Don't let them get you involved in doing things (and making diagnoses) that are not normally done by other family members.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

I would refer him to see his PCP in case an oral atb is needed, but that's just me. I doubt you would get into trouble, unless of course you send him a bill

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

The only thing I'd be hesitant about is MRSA. Did you have gloves on you?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

How, exactly, would you "get in trouble", and from whom?

Is your Dad likely to contact the SBON and say you were popping his booboo without an order....?

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2014

I'm sorry, but the title of this thread makes me laugh every time I scroll across it - it runs thru my head to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda.":yes:

OP, I would not have chosen to lance anything on anyone. It's not a matter of liability at all. You just never know what lies beneath, as in MRSA, etc., as previously mentioned. Not only might you have exposed yourself but possibly exposed others around your dad who might come in contact with the drainage during dressing changes, etc.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2014

I suppose there could be trouble if it was a nursing student and the person was a friend or acquaintance, rather than a family member. The school could get upset that a student represented her/himself as a nurse.