Nursing advice in social situations, HELP!?

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Family & friends approach me for medical advice in social situations, now that they know I am a nursing student. How do you handle these awkward situations? Do you ever get backlash or defensive reactions if you simply ask if someone is "all right?" Do your friends/family ever accuse you of "trying to diagnose them?" I have not even entered my BSN program at NSC yet and I already foresee the need for me to come to a peace within myself by not interjecting health advice that has not been solicited. But what should I do when it is? ...

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

I wouldn't even think about opening that can of worms. It's the most frustrating undertaking -- you're going to have tons of pts ignore your teaching and instructions on how to not have complications from their conditions and continue to get worse. No need to take that on with people close to you. Besides, you're not going to know that much off the bat to be telling anyone anything. Leave that to their primary care physicians and specialists. You're just a student.

My problem is people asking me when I do not wish to discuss it with them (i.e. drug interactions, should they take a medication, etc. etc.). It drives me bonkers. I'm only done with year 1 out of 3. I am definitely not in the way of being able to give competent teaching (teaching NOT advice). So, it's definitely annoying.

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My favorite is when people tell you really gross things that you don't want to know about your family/friends bodies but preface it with "Well, you're a nurse so..."

Hahahahaha! :lol2: Exactly, BeetleBug. TMI right? :nono: Just TMI. lol

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My all time favorite "it hurts when I do this", favorite answer "then don't do that", followed with maybe you should see the doc about that.

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... Guy wearing his scrubs in front of me in line today was "trapped" listening to the cashier telling him all about his complex heart condition. I noticed the scrubs said "Blood donation center" of some sort, and I was laughing to myself like the cashier thought the guy was a cardiologist or something. Lol. He was very patient to the cashier & listened intently to the details of the heart surgery. Anyway, made me think of this post, lol. I cant wait to work in healthcare, so exciting :nurse:

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