Non nurses on AN

Libby1987 · Jul 8, 2015

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.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 8, 2015

I'm on another specialty nursing forum that requires the assigned membership number from the specialty's association. I don't understand I am NOT allowed to say what this association is. Anyway, I would LOVE to have a general nursing site which vetted all members as RN's.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 8, 2015

I should know better but it still kinda blows me away when I catch a post from a non nurse giving nursing advice.

Some of the advice I see being given by actual nurses blows me away too, lol.

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 8, 2015

I treat such things with bemused tolerance. Kind of like hearing statements that begin with "when I am a parent..."

Nod, smile and carry on.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 8, 2015

Nursing comes under a very big umbrella . . . .. we could have the same complaints about a nurse whose specialty is CCU giving advise to the L&D nurse and vice versa and so on.
I dunno - truly I think it depends.
You are bringing up something that we've talked about before so it is very legitimate to ask this question. There are true concerns about non-nurses giving nursing advice. You have a good point.

There are plenty of things a CCU nurse could advise an L&D nurse about . . . probably not anything to do with titrating terbutaline or staging labor. But CCU nurses are valuable resources re: how to start an IV, how to talk to family members, getting along with your colleagues and whether or not to come to work when it snows. Among other things.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 8, 2015

I thought this site was for nursing students also. If someone was asking for career advice and not a specific nursing question, what is the big deal. I'm 39 and have had many different careers in my lifetime, so I often will give advice about careers. That doesn't fall under any specific actual nursing thing does it? Now am I going to go and offer advice to someone on how to do ivs, or how to do a specific procedure or anything? No. But very few people come in here asking about technical issues with their job. Which is probably a good thing because yes, many people have the letters behind their name but how do we know that's who they really are. They probably shouldn't be coming to an anonymous website asking those kind of questions. I know I never would.

If this bothers people, I will stick to my forum, which is general nursing student. But I always like to think that sometimes an outside view can be very beneficial for some people. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes from someone else is what we need to accurately see what is actually happening. I have no idea what thread you are talking about. I know sometimes I wander over to the nursing forum because there is only so many times I can answer the same question, or they post a thread with their school initials that I have no idea what they are talking about. There are many different areas that I read about and may chime in with my opinion. I feel as long as I am not misrepresenting who I am or giving out technical advice that I am not qualified to answer, I am good.

Farawyn · Jul 8, 2015

I thought this site was for nursing students also. If someone was asking for career advice and not a specific nursing question, what is the big deal. I'm 39 and have had many different careers in my lifetime, so I often will give advice about careers. That doesn't fall under any specific actual nursing thing does it? Now am I going to go and offer advice to someone on how to do ivs, or how to do a specific procedure or anything? No. But very few people come in here asking about technical issues with their job. Which is probably a good thing because yes, many people have the letters behind their name but how do we know that's who they really are. They probably shouldn't be coming to an anonymous website asking those kind of questions. I know I never would.
If this bothers people, I will stick to my forum, which is general nursing student. But I always like to think that sometimes an outside view can be very beneficial for some people. Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes from someone else is what we need to accurately see what is actually happening. I have no idea what thread you are talking about. I know sometimes I wander over to the nursing forum because there is only so many times I can answer the same question, or they post a thread with their school initials that I have no idea what they are talking about. There are many different areas that I read about and may chime in with my opinion. I feel as long as I am not misrepresenting who I am or giving out technical advice that I am not qualified to answer, I am good.

You go wherever you want. It's a public forum. If people don't like you because of your "creds" that's silly. You conduct yourself really nicely.

Some of my best friends here are students. I was a student once. Actually, I am still a student, because I am doing the bridge program AND in orientation for a new job.

I think Libby meant the "OMG YOU ARE SO RUDE, Help!!! NETY!!!" type students.

Yes?

Libby1987 · Jul 9, 2015

No Farawyn, not a nursing student. A new poster getting scolded pretty well, along the lines of you don't know what you're talking about. Then said new poster went and gave career advice to an already RN without mentioning not even being in nursing school. (You've *liked* some of the scoldings by the way.)

I wouldn't criticize students for participating in a thread.

allnurses Guide · Jul 9, 2015

There are plenty of things a CCU nurse could advise an L&D nurse about . . . probably not anything to do with titrating terbutaline or staging labor. But CCU nurses are valuable resources re: how to start an IV, how to talk to family members, getting along with your colleagues and whether or not to come to work when it snows. Among other things.

No no I agree with you. :up: Just saying that we can't restrict folks from giving advice because they don't fit in a specific mold.

Libby1987 · Jul 9, 2015

Well, I was referring to no mold.

Farawyn · Jul 9, 2015

No Farawyn, not a nursing student. A new poster getting scolded pretty well, along the lines of you don't know what you're talking about. Then said new poster went and gave career advice to an already RN without mentioning not even being in nursing school. (You've *liked* some of the scoldings by the way.)
I wouldn't criticize students for participating in a thread.

Oh, I did? *runs back to look*

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 9, 2015

What thread are we all talking about??

My thoughts are...I don't care who posts here. I think it enriches the website to have a variety of perspectives and outlooks, and I think it's beneficial to sometimes see a situation or viewpoint from the angle of the patient.

If a non-nurse starts giving advice about nursing situations, then I may or may not mock them.