Non nurses on AN

I would say it depends on the content, maybe?

If it's legitimately NURSING advice that would require at least some nursing school attendance/experience, then I would hope that the readers would only take advice from actual nurses.

If it's generalized advice that pertains to jobs or any other type of non-medical/nursing advice, I'd say it's fair game to see what others have to say.

How do you know FOR SURE whether someone on here is a nurse or not? That is the point really..anyone..ANYONE on here may or may not be an RN, LPN, CNA, nursing student, or professional boogie boarder.

I do not focus on "catching" anyone. I actually find it challenging to read posts and then think to myself in the scheme of the big picture. An example are people looking to "interview" nurses on here. Anyone with even a subpar research understanding knows how flawed that is. However there are posters who agree to "help" and answer the question. From there I go into the word "help". Is it helpful to give someone a handout or help them realize that the point of the assignment isn't necessarily the answer..the goal is learning how to complete the task as assigned and how to do research.

I would hope that most people would take anything they read on an internet forum with a grain of salt and also very the information with a credible reference. I also understand that unfortunately some will not😞

There have been some "interesting" posts that the profile tells us little about the individual...but then again, anyone can create a username, claim to have a doctorate in nursing, and be lying through their teeth. I've seen it on LinkedIn profiles of some people I recognize and they are definitely not what they are claiming to be.

My annoyance level depends on the content. If the topic is related to that something like nursing experience or career advice & someone starts with the statement "I am still in nursing school, but I think this" or "I'm not a nurse yet, but this is how it should" then I usually don't finish reading their response. Not that their opinion isn't important, but they aren't very relevant. Personally, I stay away from actually posting on those types of threads because I am a new nurse & admit that I do not know very much yet.

But, you will always have those posters who decided to become a nurse last week, just enrolled in A & P, joined AN 2 minutes ago & therefore know everything about nursing.

I'm talking about a pre nursing student giving advice to an RN trying to make a decidedly RN career specific decision.

It was not about something like what to wear to an interview.

The pre nursing status was stated in another thread, not in the thread in question.

Though I see it would seem to be a non issue.

I am happy if they start out with "I am a nursing student" so at least then you know what information you are receiving. The ones I really question are the ones that talk and talk about all these wonderful things they have done...They have a 4.0 GPA...are "brilliant", but can't get into nursing school because the "teacher doesn't like me". Maybe because of where I came from, but I don't do well with arrogance and I don't do well with blaming others.

Maybe I should clarify, when I say non nurses, I don't mean allied healthcare professionals or even those with relevant background that have something invaluable to offer.

I'm talking about someone who is blatantly inexperienced to be giving particular advice.

I know it happens, but I saw it this morning.