things friends/neighbors have asked you "because you are a nurse"

crunchymomx3 · Jul 27, 2008

I've had friends and neighbors ask all kinds of things from info about a drug they are taking to looking at rashes and cuts.

Last week a friend of mine asked me to suture his hand (I happen to have a few emergency suture kits at home. Long story). I told him I don't do sutures. He stitched it himself. :bugeyes:

ocean_dreams24 · Jul 27, 2008

"I finally had to put a sign on my door that said, "I don't assess anything that resides between your knees and belly button."

LOL!!!! :yeah:

aloevera · Jul 28, 2008

friend just called and told me her husband has pain "right next to his belly button"."he won't let me see or touch it"...has he had a BM, she says oh, he said not in 4 days!!! duh!!! oh, my....

you people have me laughing my head off....I knew this would be a dynamite thread!!! thanks!!!!!

Lunaticus, LPN · Jul 30, 2008

I haven't even made it out of nursing school yet, and already, the questions have come. Most of the time, I can get away with the "I'm still a student" excuse, but not with my sister-in-law. Oh no!! I've been asked everything from "should I take the kids in to the doc" to "what's this med/herbal supplement I'm taking." I do have two, fairly memorable queries, from said sister-in-law. One involved a series of blurry pictures, taken on her camera phone, with the caption "what is this, and how do I treat it." And the second, a text message asking me whether or not, in my "expert, nursing opinion," she should introduce the kids to their large dog, assuming she kept the dog on a leash and muzzled. I tried telling her that I have yet to take the Dog Whispering for Nurses class. Not sure if she actually realized I was joking or not. :icon_roll

lpnflorida · Sep 6, 2008

I have been the so called support person for family members when they have been hospitilized. To me that has meant, doing alot of reassuring them by telephone I might add. They live across country.

If they ask me what something means that a nurse or doctor has told them that they did not understand. I try to explain in terms they will understand of what was said. I never contradict what their doctor or a hospital nurse has told them. If they still seem confused , or what a type of diagnosis I refer them back to their doctors.

My mom is the worst for " What do you think it is?"( I always want to say mom I think your nuts, and as a second thought you see you darn doctor entirely too much and badger them antibiotics for every tom, dick and harry thing)I think it. I don't say it.

bagladyrn, RN · Sep 7, 2008

I get way too many questions from the residents of my mom's retirement community usually involving either bowel function (Lord, don't ever let me become one of those "bowel obsessed" old folks!) or the husband's prostate problems! I keep reminding them that I'm an OB nurse - I don't do old man plumbing! I finally got my dad to stop asking those questions when I described his upcoming TURP as "Think of Roto-Rooter"!

twistedpupchaser · Sep 7, 2008

My family, as extended as it is, has there own action plan, forget DRABCD as taught in First Aid.

Family Action Plan:

1/ Call Twisted,

2/ If agree with Twisted, (Yes you need to see a Dr.) Do as advised.

3/ If Pediatric in nature and you disagree with Twisted, get second opinion from Mrs Twisted, (Not a Nurse!)

Mrs Twisted rang once when our three year old had a GCS of 12 after a hit to the head playing football, "Do I call an Ambulance?" Lucky I was only 2 minutes away from home....that time.

mskate · Sep 7, 2008

i moved into a new apartment complex and the super had spread word in this mostly geriatric complex that the new girl was a nurse - GAH!

i had people knocking on my door at all hours with rx questions, symptoms, things they didnt want to ask their doctor, wounds, insulin usage, colostomy problems - you name it!

-- i MOVED!

aloevera · Sep 7, 2008

i moved into a new apartment complex and the super had spread word in this mostly geriatric complex that the new girl was a nurse - GAH!
i had people knocking on my door at all hours with rx questions, symptoms, things they didnt want to ask their doctor, wounds, insulin usage, colostomy problems - you name it!
-- i MOVED!

OMG !!!! that is too funny....I know, it wasn't at the time..having to move and all....but now, :chuckle :chuckle I can just see all those folks knocking at your door :chuckle Free medical advice !!!!

I know, I have instructed my Husband and son NOT to tell anyone I am a nurse any more...through the years it has caused so many problems...if I want to deal with something I see, fine, I will....but when I am off I would rather "just be Mom"....

rph3664 · Sep 7, 2008

Whenever a new health problem pops up for my dad, he always asks me what the doctor should prescribe for him. I always tell him that's his doctor's call, not mine.

He's had problems with low sodium, as did my grandmother, and after she had yet another hospital admission, he told me, "Next time I see her at the nursing home, I'm going to give her nurse a bottle of salt tablets and tell her to make sure my mother takes them!" I told him nice try, but she can't have anything like that unless it's ordered by the doctor. He didn't know that since he didn't realize that dietary supplements need a doctor's order too.

And I appear to have inherited the chronically low sodium levels, so I can have all the salt I want!

Pester1 · Oct 3, 2008

OMG, my mother and her friends are always asking me questions. When I reply that I dont know or that they need to call their primary I always hear...."But your a nurse, why dont you know that?"

lainith · Oct 3, 2008

I work with the public (customer service) while I am a first year nursing student. I work in a very small town so everyone knows that I'm going to Nursing school. I get everything from "is it bad that I haven't pooped in a week?" to "I found a lump in my armpit, do you think it's cancer?" etc. Unless it's something I am obviously okay to do (give bandages to little kids who come in with skinned knees or telling people that green snot is not typically a good thing) I just tell people, "In my pre-professional opinion, I think you should see your physician!"