This is really getting under my skin

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My sister has a friend who told me "I am a nurse". I replied "Oh really, where did you go to nursing school then." Her reply, "Oh i didn't go to nursing school. My boss did on the job training, so now I'm a nurse." fast forward a couple of months. My sister fell down on New Year's Eve and had a black and blue leg. Last night she tells me that the bruise is spreading and that her foot is starting to feel funny.I tried to get her to go to the ER last night, but she wouldn't.

Today my sister calls her friend and tells her what is happening (it got even worse over night) with her foot to get an appointment with the doctor. I told my sister that if she can't get in to see the doctor in the next couple of hours that she may need to go to the ER. Well her friend says "I'm sure your sister THINKS she knows what she is talking about, but I'm his nurse and the ER won't do a thing for you." I was sooooo furios that A) this girl actually believes that she is a nurse and B) i work in the ER from time to time and if someone with that story came in they would definately be going something to figure out why this is happening (Xray, Doppler studies, SOMETHING). Well thanks for letting me vent.

Wow! Guess sis will learn!

I remember when my son told his friend to talk to me because "My mom is a nurse..." I *IMMEDIATELY* corrected my loving son (in front of said friend) and told him that I am NOT a nurse, I am only a pre-nursing student and that he should listen to the MD....... blah blah.

Even as a nurse, I don't think I would dispense any advice w/o telling them to f/u with a MD ASAP.....

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

I am glad your sister went to the ER.I agree with you,report to the BON.

The "friends" Doctor becomes liable because she is his employee and dispensing medical advice.

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Specializes in NICU/PICU.

WOW! Is that even legal? How do you just get an in service and become a nurse??? I would definitely be investigating.... thank God your sister went to the ER! She should confront her friend and tell her to never give medical advice again!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
"Wondering why some posters think the MD is at fault?? He *can* train personnel in his office, and may not even be aware that the friend is passing herself off as a nurse. Just wondering??"

Exactly what I was thinking.

I just got a call from my sister and she said that the ER doctor thinks she has a DVT and they will probably be admitting her for for anticoagulation. She is just waiting for doppler confirmation of the clot.

ouch! this is one more reason why such people should NOT be giving any medical advice.

I was about to say this will end badly and then finished readin the thread. I agree she has been misrepresenting herself. Let us know how this one turns out. I curious as to what the bon will do

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

I'd report her ASAP. She needs to be knocked down a few notches - I can't imagine what other sage advice she's handing-out to other patients.

Glad to hear your sister went for medical tx. It sounded more like a hematoma to me than a DVT, but who knows from my 3rd hand perspective! :) Hope she heals-up well.

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I'd report her ASAP. She needs to be knocked down a few notches - I can't imagine what other sage advice she's handing-out to other patients.

Glad to hear your sister went for medical tx. It sounded more like a hematoma to me than a DVT, but who knows from my 3rd hand perspective! :) Hope she heals-up well.

Just to point out that the title nurse is not protected in all states. The title RN and the use of registered nurse is protected in pretty much every state. A quick perusal of the Alabama practice act appears to show that this is the case here. RN is protected, nurse is not.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

So how is your sister doing? Did she have a DVT?

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I imagine the doctor who is employing this marvelous well of medical information might be interested in what she 'advised' and the outcome of same.

And then he might start to wonder what else she's told people---namely, HIS patients.

Can you say lawsuit potential, boys and girls? :D

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I think contacting the BON is the right thing to do. This person equates her limited training to that of a licensed nurse,has too high of an elevated opinion of her medical knowledge and "nurse" training and enough cockey confidence in that elevated disortion that she thinks nothing about dispensing inappropriate medical advice and dismissing legitimate, sound advice from an educated licensed professional. This is exactly what makes her a dangerous menace.

I think you should also have a conversation with the MD that employs this persons. God only knows what she may be saying/advising his own patients about.

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Specializes in SICU, CCU, MCU, peds, physician's office.

Here is an update for everyone. The most important thing is that my sister is doing fine. She does have a small bllod clot in the ankle area, I'm guessing from the trauma and then she told me that she didn't get out of bed except to go to the bathroom for 3 or 4 days, so there you have it...a lovely blood clot. She is in the hospital right now and is actually a part of a study re: Coumadin and Lovenox or Lovenox only in DVTs.

The BON did give me a phone call yesterday and I told them exactly what was going on. They took the "nurse's" name and her place of employment and said that they would conduct an investigation. I'm am just really glad everything has turned out fine. This could have been REALLY, REALLY bad, especially considering the diagnosis that my sister ended up with. I just want to say thank you to all of you for your advice and concern.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Working in a medical office and under a doctor does NOT make one a nurse. I'm glad the BON returned your call and you gave them the info they needed. Like another poster said "she needs to be taken down a notch". And she will be. I do not believe that the doctor is at fault.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Glad to hear that your sister's o.k. and the BON is investigating.

It's bad enough to pass yourself as a nurse when you're not, but to give dangerous advice is scarey.

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