If I don't know the answer to the question, I look it up.  It gives me an opportunity to learn.  If I don't know something or I am not sure, I tell them that.  I ultimately tell them to follow up with their doctor. 

I was married to a physician for 15 years and he was always being asked that question. His immediate response was always, "Well, medical advice is worth about as much as it costs".  As a Dr/ Nurse couple we were always expected to provide answeres to the craziest questions. I mostly was very careful to refer to HCP no matter what else I said. Family members are a different story but still referral to HCP is most appropriate.

Just yesterday, about two hours after my last post my best friend called me and asked me about her meds. She has been given an anti-depressant r/t dealing with r. arthritis and fibromyalgia. She claims it's not working so I referred her back to her doctor and informed her to tell him that it doesn't seem to be helping. The only 'advice' I gave her is that medications work differently in everyone and that although a certain med may work great in one person it may not affect another and that she really needs to tell her doc everything because they may need to try something else. Hopefully, that doesn't cross lines. I'm really worried to offer any time of 'advice' now. Family members sueing family members....craziness to me. ;-)

 I try to be diplomatic and advise them if they have a genuine concern they need to contact their primary care  as that person can advise them best as they have all the needed information to give them an appropiate answer. I thank them for their confidence in me but apologize and explain as above.

Hey, this is a fun topic. I hope that no one sees me cringe when they preface a question with "You're a nurse" Uuuuggghh

In Missouri, the Good Samaritan Law states that you must remain within your scope of practice.  As an LPN, I have to be supervised by either a Dr or an RN. So, if I were to stop at an accident, I couldn't do anything to help even if I knew what I what to do.

My standard answer to the "You're a nurse..." :  The only way I could give you an informed answer would be if I had your complete medical history in front of me.  Your best bet would be to call your doctor.

That usually works, and when it doesn't, I tell them plainly:  Giving you advice would be like practicing medicine without a phycisian's license.  They would take my nursing license for that, and I've put too much time and money into my career to lose it over something like this.

I've gotten some pretty dirty looks from people that didn't care to understand, but most usually the conversation goes to..."You can really lose your license for that...?" and then the subject gets changed and we go from there.

Hi,

It's seems to me that you could still help out at an accident.  Even if you choose not too, you still should call 911, if you have a phone, or even leave the scene to get help.  I witnessed an accident once and stopped to help, no CPR needed, just to keep the pedestrian still and to talk to them untill the ambulance arrived, head to toe survey, etc. Just like Red Cross basic First Aid.  Amazingly, a physician did also stop, so naturally I deferred to him until he told me to do something, which he didn't, the ambulance came shortly there after.  But, being CPR certified, I was within my scope of practice.  Not every passer by is an RN or and MD.  If you are CPR cert.  your are with in your scope of practice.  I am an RN, but am always offended by the thought that some people have; that LPN's, can't think for themselves.  Some of the best nurses I have worked with have been LPN's, (Low Paid Nurses), please don't take offense but it irritates me at how little they are paid and I got that form an LPN.  In fact it was an LPN who taught me how to read a rhythm strip on the night shift.

its the doctors duty...say it nicely.

http://gino-memoirofaschizo.blogspot.com

I don't think any of you should worry, in my personal experience it's nearly impossible to get an attorney to take a case even if you actually have malpractice and the anecdotal proof from other doctors, (4 of them) that the work was not to standard and physical proof of same. And that's in California where they're allegedly sue happy. So don't worry too much it isn't so easy to sue for anything unless one has a lot of money to start with.

Helping someone shouldn't feel wrong and I find it hard to believe a judge would hold a nurse up to some kind of legal punishment for offering what in my experience is uaually good common sense advice.