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

William2 · Apr 5, 2014

Why do people get got up in this? Isn't school busy enough? I mean if you are really reading your books to the point of making deans/president list, knowing your stuff inside and out and having a small social life when you can, is there really any room to even care if the person is or isn't who they say they are?? Certainly your priority to really find out, treat, or even care.

Those that are decent, level headed folk do show up and stand out eventually and you need not focus on the "others" as when you do it gets your but in to stuff you don't need.

DosmoRN · Apr 5, 2014

His habit of lying actually could affect a patient someday...If he makes a medication error and lies about it, if he falsifies records and someone realizes what he has done and charts the verifiable but contadictory truth, he will likely find himself in a mess. Someday a patient may want to sue over something (maybe nothing he is responsible for); he may be called into court to testify. If he lies trying to avoid possible repercussions, he could be guilty of perjury. If he advises a patient falsely in an area where he is not qualified, he could be found guilty of "practicing medicine without a license", besides possibly harming the patient.

It's NOT that this student's behavior is of no concern! Just that YOU don't want to be the one who gets him in trouble. Sounds like already other people are beginning to get wise to him. Whatever trouble he gets into, YOU do not want to be involved. Chances are he will get in trouble sooner rather than later, and there will be no one to blame but himself. If an instructor or other official person of your school or the hospital asks you about him yes, you must tell the truth. Answer their questions honestly but without elaboration.

As a student, you have enough things on your plate. Just concentrate on being the best you can be. The real responsibility for this student rests on the nurses and instructors under whom he works. Their job is to separate the wheat from the chaff. He is chaff.

DosmoRN · Apr 5, 2014

His habit of lying actually could affect a patient someday...If he makes a medication error and lies about it, if he falsifies records and someone realizes what he has done and charts the verifiable but contadictory truth, he will likely find himself in a mess. Someday a patient may want to sue over something (maybe nothing he is responsible for); he may be called into court to testify. If he lies trying to avoid possible repercussions, he could be guilty of perjury. If he advises a patient falsely in an area where he is not qualified, he could be found guilty of "practicing medicine without a license", besides possibly harming the patient.

It's NOT that this student's behavior is of no concern! Just that YOU don't want to be the one who gets him in trouble. Sounds like already other people are beginning to get wise to him. Whatever trouble he gets into, YOU do not want to be involved. Chances are he will get in trouble sooner rather than later, and there will be no one to blame but himself. If an instructor or other official person of your school or the hospital asks you about him yes, you must tell the truth. Answer their questions honestly but without elaboration.

As a student, you have enough things on your plate. Just concentrate on being the best you can be. The real responsibility for this student rests on the nurses and instructors under whom he works. Their job is to separate the wheat from the chaff. He is chaff.

Ecstatic2014 · Apr 5, 2014

@Brilton, just ignore this classmate who's lying about his flight nurse status. It will catch up to him later on, and people will find out that he's a fraud. If it doesn't affect your studies or your psycho-social well-being while in nursing school, then ignore him. However, if he's spreading lies about you and ruining your reputation, then you should see your nursing department chairperson and other administrators to have them talk to the offender. Don't let lateral violence (i.e. bullying) break your heart during nursing school. I've had several back-stabbers within my program try to ruin my reputation. Had the admin talk to her, and that kind of shut her mouth from spreading lies/false info about me.

Kipahni, RN · Apr 5, 2014

For a lie to work it takes an agreement between two people, the one who speaks it and the one who believes it.

A great author and speaker Pamela Meyer wrote a book called Liespotting.

The goal is not to play a game of "tattle tale" or "gotcha!" it is to set healthy boundaries that foster truth telling. That in your circle honesty is what is valued. If a person like your classmate feels they can not be part of that trust, you can choose not to associate with them. (I personally feel sorry for people like him for he probably doesn't have anyone in his life to teach or show him his mistakes and that he is bringing about his own alienation)

If it is a matter of being disruptive in class you can go to your teacher. If the teacher doesn't do anything about it I would approach the classmate alone and say " Hey I notice you always have a lot of input, that is great but I am really just here to listen to lecture and out of respect for time and our other classmates could you keep your sharing till after class?"

ReOxyS · Apr 6, 2014

For a lie to work it takes an agreement between two people, the one who speaks it and the one who believes it.
A great author and speaker Pamela Meyer wrote a book called Liespotting.

HA! That part about Koko the gorilla blaming her kitten for ripping a sink off the wall cracked me up!

pookyp, LPN · Apr 6, 2014

You didn't say that beforehand so I'm not sure if you're saying that to provide a better reason as to why his lies are an issue for you or you forgot to mention that his lies include you and your classmates in your OP.

Mmmhmmm. Backtracking like crazy!

Everline · Apr 6, 2014

Oh geesh, who cares. Get over it. Really. He likes to play make believe. So what! Who knows what his problem is. Don't you have a test to study for?

I've been lied to few times while still a student in clinical. Patients say things that I know aren't true. That's life. People have all kinds of reasons that they don't tell the truth, some of which are self esteem issues or psychological disorders. But speaking of that, I'd go light on using the words "pathological liar".

Get on with your own business and stop trying to investigate and/or expose this person. Bottom line is he annoys you. That's understandable. Keep your distance and go about your way.

imagenthings · Apr 6, 2014

Do not worry about this person and do not complain about him either. Yes he is dangerous, especially in the workplace, but the people that need to be aware will be more convinced when they figure him out on their own. Do not try to make it your business to convince anybody of anything.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2014

But speaking of that, I'd go light on using the words "pathological liar".

I was thinking the same thing...maybe we should go with "a classmate who lies a lot."

Brilton · Apr 7, 2014

@vanessaem

You are correct, I didn't put it in my inital post. I was mostly concerned about the illegality of him running around claiming to be a paramedic. You made a comment that unless he was lying ABOUT me to drop it. So I elaborated that he DID try to lie about me. He was probably testing the waters, seeing who he could lie to and about. When he found out he couldn't lie to my friend and I, he moved on.

PurpleLover · May 10, 2014

I like minding my own business. Nursing school has shown me how catty and juvenile grown people can be. I shake my head and move on.