Why do nurses feel like they are automatically qualified to answer any science/medicine question?

Question

I know that nurses must take a few courses in medically related areas, but there are a lot of different levels of nurses, some of which I don't think have earned the right to advise people on all health concerns. Personally, I have taken many medically related courses and have suffered many medical problems myself and in my family, but I can't help noticing that nurses of any level always seem to be ready to advise in any situation. I've heard incorrect advice that I've come to find out is incorrect, that's why I ask.

Answer 1

Im not sure it's specifically "nurses" that do this. However, I do understand perhaps why it may seem as though this happens more so with this profession than any others. Unlike doctors who go to school for many years, then practice specifically in a given feild of medicine, nurses tend to see a wide variety of illnesses. The doctor may know the correct medical term, mechanism of action for the disease, response within the body, method and adminstration of correct treatment. Nurses however, are the ones who are with the patients during their symptoms from beginning to end and are the ones to administer those medications. They see first and foremost the immediate results of the doctor's cause of action.

I can understand why you might feel nurses overwhelming give advice even though they are not doctors. They are however, trained medical professionals also, that care for patients directly, go through a seperate form of rigourous training, and have the same desire as doctors to help the patient achieve optimal wellness. Unlike doctors however that may specialize in a given feild or devote their careers to a particular illness, or anatomical reigion, nurses see a wider variety of symptoms and methods of treatment - but they might not always know the "why" or science behind it.

Answer 2

Most of us refrain from offering advice when we don't know, and as the other nurse poster mentioned, we often have had a great deal of experience in a wide variety of medical topics. We are often asked for advice, and I will always qualify my answer if I don't have a great deal of experience in an area (but many people don't seem to hear the qualification). In many cases, patients (especially those with chronic diseases) are quite expert in very specific conditions and how those conditions uniquely effect them and I have learned a lot from patients. But, I know I have made errors (sometimes based on having insufficient background data on a specific situation).

But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Answer 3

What makes you think they are really nurses?  This is the internet.  You can say anything and be anyone just by typing the letters out.

Actual RNs have 4 year degrees, I believe, and that 4 year degree is also considered med school.  I know several nurses who have went into med school straight from their nursing degree.

So, thats what I think happens here a lot...   people who are not but say they are because its the net and they can

Answer 4

I'm not sure but when taking advice from a nurse i alway like to double check it when i get home online.  Some nurses are very knowledgeable i know from experience, while others are dimwits...I have dealed with both

Answer 5

nurses work with doctors everyday, and they observe them and learn from them.

Answer 6

There are a lot of nurses who are more knowlegeable than some doctors. (Especially new doctors). I'd take the advice of an experienced nurse (the one who actually works one on one with the patient) than some of these resident and new grad doctors.

Nurses have done classes heavy in medical sciences and also gone through medical training. A lot of nurses now have higher degrees (bachelors or masters) which means MORE medical sciences and medical training. It takes the same amount of time to become and ARNP as it does to become a doctor.

I wouldn't discredit the nurses at all. I've seen nurses challenge the orders of a doctor and come out on top. Don't think that just because someone is a doctor means they know everything. I work with doctors every day and they arn't perfect all knowing either.

Answer 7

If they are registered nurses, they go to school for four years, at least in most of Canada and learn symptons learn what to do in emergency, go through medical, biology, and many other classes where they learn these things, and after graduating have what would be equivalent to professional development days where they learn new skills and knowledge