You must be an alcoholic

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

This is what a nursing student told my friend's dad after she was allowed to see his CT scan of his liver. Friend's dad has been in the hospital for the last few days. After c/o backache and SOB, he was found to have a PE. Additional tests revealed "spots" on his liver. More than likely, mets to the liver, origin yet to be determined.

Yet this nursing student found it acceptable--without having any additional information--to say to the pt. "you must be an alcoholic. I saw your CT scan, I think I even saw something on your pancreas." :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

!!!The father was very upset, as was his wife and my friend (who is also a nurse)!!!

Friend told her parents to make sure this student is reported.

Why on earth would anyone think this was okay to tell a pt before results were back, before an MD had time to review the CT?

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Wow! Sounds like tact and keeping her mouth closed have not been learned. How horrible!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

What on earth........that is so wrong on SO many levels.

On one of the lesser ones, I would like to know how this student "thinks she saw something on his pancreas." I've been a nurse for several years and still have no idea what I am looking at on scans, lol. Give me a break.

I hope her nursing program kicks her out. Seriously.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Sounds like this student nurse is taking night classes at the Dick Cheney school of diplomacy. :icon_roll Where on earth did she get the idea that it was OK to say such a thing?!

I hope that she is reported and dismissed from her nursing program........not only were her remarks completely out of line, but in essence she is practicing medicine without a license by 'diagnosing' patients. Phooey on her.:stone

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I don't think she should be kicked out but a private conversation with her instructor and an apology to the family is in order.

Taking students under our wing and helping them out by teaching them is a better idea.

I've been known to stick my own foot in my own mouth many times. I am shocked sometimes in looking back how much I did not know.

She is a student - let's teach her.

steph

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Ordinarily I'd agree, Steph, but you know what they say: "You can't fix stupid!":lol2:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I don't think she should be kicked out but a private conversation with her instructor and an apology to the family is in order.

Taking students under our wing and helping them out by teaching them is a better idea.

I've been known to stick my own foot in my own mouth many times. I am shocked sometimes in looking back how much I did not know.

She is a student - let's teach her.

steph

Maybe I'm just harsh, but to me, this isn't just "putting your foot in your mouth." I lean towards kicking out due to the number of infractions in this one incident.....the "diagnosing," the telling the family ANYTHING, the judgement ("You must be an alcoholic."). NObody should have to be *taught* not to speak to a patient like that, in her role especially. That is just plain unacceptable, period.

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Maybe I'm just harsh, but to me, this isn't just "putting your foot in your mouth." I lean towards kicking out due to the number of infractions in this one incident.....the "diagnosing," the telling the family ANYTHING, the judgement ("You must be an alcoholic."). NObody should have to be *taught* not to speak to a patient like that, in her role especially. That is just plain unacceptable, period.

I disagree - she is a student. She needs to be taught. And maybe some repercussions. But not kicked out.

I've experienced this myself - an MRI tech telling me info that was not true, merely his interpretation. I spoke with my doc, who spoke with him, and he apologized. Kept his job. I was fine with that.

I'm only giving my own perspective - everyone else comes from a different place. That is ok.

steph

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Specializes in med surg ltc psych.

I'd like to know why ANYone other than a doctor or radiologist's interpretation could utter the words "more than likely mets to the liver, origin yet to be determined." Is this what his doctor and the radiologist reading his CT had said or the nursing students words regarding your friends dad. Did she actually say mets to the liver? OMG. There were "spots" found on my original CT exactly one year ago and it looked bad. I have several hemangiomas and one focal nodular hyperplasia (most likely from 20 yrs long term oral contraceptive use) that upon biopsy tissue of lesion and liver tissue is benign. I was treated with RF ablation. I do not have cancer, am not an alcoholic/substance abuser. There are a whole lot of people who have "spots" on their liver that is not primary or mets from cancer. Obviously I jumped on this because that is out of line for a nursing student to make statements like that to someone who has just been hospitalized and diagnostic tests pending! We can not diagnose, and there is only one way to get a definitive diagnosis, as ALL nursing students should know the answer to that one.

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People that blurt out things like that should not be nurses! Yikes.

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I agree that she shouldn't be kicked out of the program but this person needs to be disciplined. Not only is she unqualified to make a diagnosis but her comments to the patient were grossly insensitive.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

Sorry: Clarification: An oncologist and radiologist delivered the news about the CT in conjuction with his other test results.

The student shot off her mouth after getting to see the scan. When I was a student, I was able to sit in on a pt's MRI, and got to see the scans. I'm assuming that this is what happened with the student/how she had access to it in the first place.

She then accompanied him back to his room, where she shot off her mouth. Prior to any MD having had the time to review the scan.

I'd like to know why ANYone other than a doctor or radiologist's interpretation could utter the words "more than likely mets to the liver, origin yet to be determined." Is this what his doctor and the radiologist reading his CT had said or the nursing students words regarding your friends dad. Did she actually say mets to the liver? OMG. There were "spots" found on my original CT exactly one year ago and it looked bad. I have several hemangiomas and one focal nodular hyperplasia (most likely from 20 yrs long term oral contraceptive use) that upon biopsy tissue of lesion and liver tissue is benign. I was treated with RF ablation. I do not have cancer, am not an alcoholic/substance abuser. There are a whole lot of people who have "spots" on their liver that is not primary or mets from cancer. Obviously I jumped on this because that is out of line for a nursing student to make statements like that to someone who has just been hospitalized and diagnostic tests pending! We can not diagnose, and there is only one way to get a definitive diagnosis, as ALL nursing students should know the answer to that one.
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