Would you work outside of your scope of practice to save a life?

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

We had a group discussion in my class today about a hypothetical scenario and I'm curious to see what some of you on here would do.

You have a patient who needs a procedure done that is outside of your scope of practice. They will for certain die if it is not done and nobody who is able to do it is available within the necessary time frame. You know, in theory, how to do the procedure, but you've never done it yourself. Your patients only chance of survival is if you do the procedure. Do you do it?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Yes, probably

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd rather regret what I did than what I didn't do. However, all things depend on the exact circumstance, situation, and context.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.

I've kind of done this before. I had a patient having a severe med reaction once. Wheezing. Hives. Very panicked. We didn't have rapid response at my hospital yet and the doctor wasn't answering his pages. I gave IV benadryl without an order.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I've kind of done this before. I had a patient having a severe med reaction once. Wheezing. Hives. Very panicked. We didn't have rapid response at my hospital yet and the doctor wasn't answering his pages. I gave IV benadryl without an order.

Something like this, I would do. But anything bigger than giving a med (like an emergency trach)...nope. Too many people are sue-happy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I've delivered babies instead of pushing their heads back in and telling the mother to cross her legs. So there's that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
We had a group discussion in my class today about a hypothetical scenario and I'm curious to see what some of you on here would do.

You have a patient who needs a procedure done that is outside of your scope of practice. They will for certain die if it is not done and nobody who is able to do it is available within the necessary time frame. You know, in theory, how to do the procedure, but you've never done it yourself. Your patients only chance of survival is if you do the procedure. Do you do it?

I've given D50 more times than I can count with no order ...but by "procedure" I am thinking something more along the lines of intubation. I would act if I knew damn sure what I was doing and there was absolutely no hope of anyone more qualified coming along.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Yes, but fortunately I'm both RN 45 years and RRT since 2005......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I believe I would give a medication that I knew plenty about,

such as IV Benadryl, then let the doc know later, what happened.

I honestly do not think I would attempt a procedure that I

knew very little to nothing about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You mean like craniotomy on a Pt with brain aneurysm or a open chest on a aortic dissection. I watched that episode on Gray's Anatomy and I am fully qualified to do it. Would like to be my patient ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved t nursing student assistance forum.....practicing outside a scope of practice and putting it out on the internet is a great way to get into more trouble...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nope. In anaphylaxis, I would call a code. In any potentially life threatening situation, I would call a code or ambulance and the supervisor. I might have the supervisor give meds the patient needs but I have a hard time thinking of a circumstance where a doc would not be present/ emergency services are not available to get direction first.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment