What to do about a classmate that is a pathological liar?

FlyingScot, RN · Apr 3, 2014

Thanks, I was really just looking for your answer. I'm not going so far to spend time reading any state EMS regulations, my nursing textbooks are boring enough:) I was honestly thinking that if I could easily find out whether it was illegal, I'd give him a heads up and a chance to stop before he DID get in trouble. Even though I'm a "busybody" according to some, I'm not a jerk! Thank you for your advice and for answering my question!

That is not at all what you said in your original post hence the replies you received.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Apr 3, 2014

Thanks, I was really just looking for your answer. I'm not going so far to spend time reading any state EMS regulations, my nursing textbooks are boring enough:) I was honestly thinking that if I could easily find out whether it was illegal, I'd give him a heads up and a chance to stop before he DID get in trouble. Even though I'm a "busybody" according to some, I'm not a jerk!
Thank you for your advice and for answering my question!

Chances are quite good that he actually knows that he could get into trouble if he gets caught. He'll go to great lengths to not get caught actually functioning as a Paramedic when he's not supposed to. He wants the attention and since he's "outed himself" as a Paramedic, he can't exactly pull back from that ruse, so he has to keep it going until he crashes and burns, and he knows it. I, on the other hand, don't have that problem because I actually am a Paramedic and can prove it. At some point, his character is going to bite him in his posterior and when it happens, you don't want to be anywhere near when it does because you don't want anything to spill over on to you.

Brilton · Apr 3, 2014

That is not at all what you said in your original post hence the replies you received.

That's correct and I tried to clarify later on in a later post. I wasn't sure how to edit my original post :) Thank you for your help.

Brilton · Apr 3, 2014

Chances are quite good that he actually knows that he could get into trouble if he gets caught. He'll go to great lengths to not get caught actually functioning as a Paramedic when he's not supposed to. He wants the attention and since he's "outed himself" as a Paramedic, he can't exactly pull back from that ruse, so he has to keep it going until he crashes and burns, and he knows it. I, on the other hand, don't have that problem because I actually am a Paramedic and can prove it. At some point, his character is going to bite him in his posterior and when it happens, you don't want to be anywhere near when it does because you don't want anything to spill over on to you.

We have another paramedic in my class, too. It was actually that classmates comments that made me even check the registry. I do feel bad that he feels the need to lie but I can't say I understand it. He has already alienated himself from most of the class and only has about 2 or 3 people left that will speak to him. I tried being his friend when we started the program but I'm old enough to know better than to keep a friend like him. I don't see a reason to say anything to professors as they likely already know he's a liar...it's just a frustrating to constantly be lied to, have my friends lied to and have our class time interrupted because he needs attention. C'est la vie!

mommycruz3 · Apr 3, 2014

Ugh, I can spot a liar from a mile away. Just laugh and keep it moving. You will look like a snitch and the bad one if in fact he is telling the truth. Just let it go and don't become friends with him. Not your business. I feel your pain though. Hearing someone lie all day is so annoying! :no:

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 3, 2014

he obviously has some sort of mental health issue and this make surface at some point, but for now, just try to ignore him. Sounds like very low self-esteem.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2014

I'm looking for some feedback on what I should do about my pathologically lying classmate. The things my classmate lies about range from slightly annoying to potentally illegal. He has been claiming to be a paramedic and holding a position as a flight paramedic at a local hospital. I have looked him up on the state regisitry and the employers website (I work at the same hospital and they are very good about updating quickly and being accurate) and they contradict what he says. I feel like something needs to be done, he lies to everyone including our professors!
Thank you for your help.

I don't know if it is illegal to pretend to be a paramedic or not in my state. I think it is as if you're advertising yourself as a health professional, you could potentially get in trouble for not helping. Hence why I will never have an EMS or EMT related thing on my car. Fire department shirts are different since technically fire fighters are not automatically EMTs even though most departments require them to be one.

I would also make sure you have proper spelling and be 100% accurate before making lofty accusations. If you were to say something to him and you be wrong, it would attack your credibility. If I were you, I would start him talking about the flight paramedic bit and how he can manage to work as a flight medic while going to nursing school. Then get him talking about how he was hired into the department, what he thinks of the CEs, what he thinks of x, y, z. If you know of anything about the people there, ask about it. Our helicopter service provides classes so ask about ACLS and PALS. Oh, I think most states require all medics to keep up ACLS in order to be licensed. PALS is not required though.

Also, you want to be 100% certain. It is a bit weird that you asked but I did the same thing before when we had this guy claim to work in the same ER that I had been working for about 6 months on average 48-60 hours a week. In my defense, no one else knew who he was and had never heard of him. I still remember him saying "Hospital name" and then I asked "where" and he repeated the "hospital name." That was the first clue as 99% of people will follow up the "where" part with a department name.

mushyrn, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2014

Stay out of it. Seriously. Nobody likes classmates who research them behind their backs, and nobody likes obnoxious liars. I had a similar classmate in nursing school and he eventually got the axe.

Nolli · Apr 3, 2014

Oh, I think most states require all medics to keep up ACLS in order to be licensed. PALS is not required though.

Odd we were required to have either PALS or PEPP, ACLS, and BTLS. Honestly though OP I wouldn't waste your time with him. If he keeps interrupting class and it really bothers you you can talk to the professor about your concerns in that regard. I wouldn't mention the other stuff as it can make you seem obsessive and out to get him, especially looking up his status online. You don't want anything to come back and bite you so be the epitome of professionalism.

The fact that he's already been alienated by the vast majority of the students means he's annoying, but otherwise harmless as far as misinformation goes. Who would actually trust him? He may in fact be his own worst enemy at this point. If he thinks he knows everything he may spend more time saying so than learning anything and it will show. Instructors can pick up on things and in the future if he asks for a recommendation letter they may even mention his medic stuff in the letter. Then he can't use it without outing himself as a fraud. Just leave him be, he has enough rope and from what it sounds like is doing a wonderful job of hanging himself without any help.

BusiestBSN · Apr 3, 2014

Even though I'm a "busybody" according to some, I'm not a jerk!

You do sound like a busybody.

He has lied about me (not a big lie) to my best nursing school friend (she did not believe him) and I was easily able to disprove him. It just bothers me because he lies to my classmates, most of whom I consider friends.

I saw your post about wanting to give him a heads up, but this sounds like the real reason that you are concerning yourself. Your friends are their own person, they do not have to believe him or trust him. You are in nursing school, focus on nursing.

Eventually karma will come & get him. If he is interrupting lectures, ask your instructor if she can not answer questions/concerns until after class. That way, he can't constantly interrupt. Otherwise you are stuck with his interruptions. Everyone has "one of those" in their nursing class.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2014

You may not like the term busybody but you know what comes to mind when you describe what is going on? The neighbor lady on the show Bewitched who was always sticking her nose in where it didn't belong and she always ended up looking like an idiot in the end even though she knew what was going on. If you get a reputation as a busybody, nobody is going to listen to you and your credibility is gone. It also looks stalkerish that you actually looked this guy up on the internet. What if there is some kind of issue and he truly is a paramedic but for some odd reason is not on the website? Or maybe he doesn't even need to be there. Why would you set yourself up to look like a fool? This is the kind of drama I hate going on in school. I have a couple of close friends and mostly keep to myself because the last thing I want caught up with is drama. I pay money to learn. That is the sole purpose of being there.

That being said, if it were me, I would actually try to befriend this person. There is something going on there and he probably needs a friend. I know people who feel they have to lie to make themselves feel better and it makes me sad that they have to do that. Maybe they had problems in high school or just socially inept. Everyone wants a friend. That's a basic human need.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2014

If you're gonna be a nurse, you need to get used to being lied to. Patients lie all the time. Right to your face. It's not personal.

Child has a non-detectable anti-epileptic drug level. Mom "he never misses ANY doses, I give it to him twice a day like I'm supposed to." Doctor "ok, we will repeat the level next week, maybe it was a fluke or maybe he's metabolizing it too fast." Visiting nurse (me) goes to the house. It is April. Ask Mom to show me the bottle. It was last filled in February and is full. Next drug level is non-detectable and Mom continues to insist (despite the objective evidence to the contrary) that she is compliant with the child's drug regimen.

Child is taking extremely teratogenic medication. Mother discloses that she believes she might be pregnant. Spend several days educating her on the handling precautions necessary given her statement. Go back and ask "are you wearing the gloves when you give him his medication?" Mom "yes, of course." Child "Mommy you never wear gloves when giving me my medicine."

Adult patients are worse. When I was a teenager, I vaguely remember that my father was diagnosed with type II diabetes. He was a wuss so he would check his blood sugar once/day rather than the 4x/day he was supposed to. He would check before dinner, get a value of 250, write down 120 in his log. Work in an outpatient diabetes center and see how many liars you can catch when they come in for their HgbA1C checks.

Seriously, this guy is lying about being a paramedic. So what. Unless he's lying about you, stay out of it. Don't you have better things to do?