My neighbor just called while I was napping.. so I will be calling her back. Her grandma is in from another state and needs her B-12 shot. They want to know if I will come over and give it.
I do not feel comfortable doing invasive proceedures out side of my work facility, nor without a physcians' order. For one thing, if something goes wrong (the minute chance of an abcess, etc...) I could be held responsible.
I am not comfortable with this, but my husband thinks I am over concerned. "It's just a B-12 shot, afterall!"
I can't believe that after 24 years of nursing, this is the first time I have had to deal with being asked to give a shot outside of my work facility!
Personal friends can and do get sued if something goes wrong. When you are faced with a lawsuit, the "personal friendship" disappears and fast. I definitely wouldn't do it.
Understood. I would take the chance, you wouldn't.
I wouldn't give it either. I gave my daughter sq injections, but no way would I give it to the neighbour's grandma. You don't even know her personally. I'd just say I am not comfortable doing that out of my work setting. If she has a script, then they can take her to a walk in clinic. If you were a plumber , would they ask you to just quick unclog their toilet or an accountant to just quick do the 1040 EZ for their college student. I don't think so.
I would not do this. If something goes wrong then they are going to hold you responsible and the friendship will quickly desolve. If they respected you they would have simply asked you how they could go about getting Grandma her shot, ie walk in clinics etc instead of expecting you to do it. The chance of losing your license and your livelihood is not worth saving someone a couple of bucks. Besides if Grandma is gonna be around for a while they need to help her establish a relationship with a local md.
I'd tell them that, I'm sorry, but my license and insurance prevents me from performing nursing duties outside of the hospital.
Someone has to have been giving this shot all the while - why can't they do it? Or if that person is not with the woman at this time, maybe they should take her to their own doctor's office and have a nurse there give the injection...
Can you teach your neighbor how? Use an orange or whatever. Let her give the shot after a few practice sticks. She must have an order since she HAS the B12 there available.
Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.
I would -- however it does not make a difference who would and who would not whad does make a difference is your professional uncomfortablity of which you are entitled to. As well your entitled to act on that feeling.
The only thing I would suggest to do is question why your uncomfortable ?
Is it your not familiar with the medication and side effects ?
Is it you want to know there is a Physician order ?
Is it that you dont want to violate or put in risk your license ?
Is it that you want to be paid for your services?
or is it that you just do not want to get this intimate with a neighbor ?
All of these reason are totally valid -- the first 4 can have answers or you can do something to find out
The 5th is as well real and should be respected with no reqrets or second questioning of yourself or reasons why YOU CHOOSE !
One of the shortest verses I know of is "know thy self "
and I think it is a wonderful guilt reliever and one that if we follow gives us the strengh to follow our convictions.
I would not do it either, unless it were an emergency situation and someone's life depended on the shot. But a B-12 shot?? That is non-emergent and she has plenty of time to make a doctor's appt and have it done in a professional setting with appropriate documentation.
Can you teach your neighbor how? Use an orange or whatever. Let her give the shot after a few practice sticks. She must have an order since she HAS the B12 there available.
I wouldn't give the shot to the neighbors grandma and I wouldn't do this either as it has the possibility to get just as ugly. If anything happens: "well my neighbor is a nurse and she taught me how to do this. Of course, I did exactly what she said but..."
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
If your gut is saying no, then don't do it.
As other posters have said, emergencies are different. You are generally covered by Good Samaritan laws in emergencies. But B12? A few days one way or the other are not critical.
Grandma should've made other arrangements prior to her trip. I have just a little suspicion that she might have been told that "My neighbor is a nurse, I'm sure she can give it" without your being asked first. I'm sure there are local clinics which would be happy to oblige her, though to be honest if I were the clinic, I'd get an order from a local doc or call Granny's doc at home.
Your neighbor may be miffed, but it's your life and your license.
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SharonH, RN
2,144 Posts
Understood. I would take the chance, you wouldn't.