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."
!!!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?
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
She definately needs to be reported. I'm a student and there's one like this in every class it seems. But until there are some consequences they don't understand why it's not okay to say things like this to patients. I"m sorry for that man and his family.
I work in a clinic as primary nurse for a general surgeon. We routinely order scans and have the patient come back to the office for the results. I would lose my job making any of those statements to a patient and I have been a nurse for almost 18 years.
If the student is not kicked out of the program straight out; they need to go back to square one with her.
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
Awww come on, leave Dick out of this. But in all seriousness, this student needs to be reprimanded or expelled from his/her program. It's unacceptable to make assumptions about any patient based on one diagnostic test and it's furthermore unacceptable to tell the patient and family member the results of the CT scan. The student was completely out of bounds.
The comment of 'you must be an alcoholic' sends up a very red flag. At the very least this gal/guy should be looked at long and hard for their communication skills and also for confidentiality ability.
There are things you say in your head and things you say out loud-VERY different.
Believe me, over the years I have wanted to say things to patients or family members but knew that it would be wrong and possibly offensive AND I could lose my job.....
I'm so sorry your friend's father had to experience that. I would get booted from my nursing program if I did that, and I'd get fired from my PCT job as well. Some people just have NO common sense.
No she had no business discussing the MRI results with the pt. This is MDs job. Her doing so is definately not good, but as has been said she is still learning. To come right out and directly acuse the pt of being an alcoholic.... well unless he has this diagnosis she should have never said this at all. I find this to be most offensive. Lots of people who have never taken a single drink their whole lives get liver and pancreatic disease. WTH was she thinking???
But I must agree with Steph and some others, she is a student and she is there to learn. You point out mistakes, explain why it was a mistake, explain what would have been a better way to approach the situation, and then allow her other opportunities to do the right thing. Reporting to her instructor obviously is a must, and I would report it to my supervisor as well. I would ask my supervisor to then notify the MD.
And then stop, look back over the years at the stupid stuff I did as a student, at things I did or said early in my nursing career, and then think about how after 13 years I can still say, do, think, or assume stupid things today. Hmmmm dang guess what I am human.
Why would a student think it is alright to say that (the judgement that the pt is an alcoholic, without knowing what the actual diagnosis is)? I look at scans all the time at work. I can identify some problems, but never tell the family what I am seeing. I ask the doc to come speak with them. I can tell you what is wrong with a CT of the brain and can recognize a PE, but not anything else. It isn't my responsibility to diagnose. That student was way out of line and needs to be reprimanded.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
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 agree. She was wrong on so many levels. Where I work we are never the ones to discuss test results with the pt for the first time. BTW She is also wrong about the alcoholism. My Mom died of liver ca and never drank in her life.
The poor pt who now has serious health issues, also has to worry about being judged. Such a shame. Hopefully the girl just had a momentary lapse in judgement and will use more discretion in the future.
nursel56
7,122 Posts
Hopefully it was just a :brnfrt: First offense, we've all blurted out amazingly dumb things. If it's a pattern, then no. Fatal lack of judgement.