When you’re an experienced nurse, you know that friends and family are going to be coming to you with their questions and concerns related to their health.

However, is it really a good idea to share medical advice with them? Some professionals view it as unethical, and even risky, to do so. In many cases, it’s perfectly fine to share basic medical knowledge related to common questions.

Using your skills and knowledge in the real world is one of the great things about being a caregiver. As a professional nurse, you need to use your best judgement to determine when to direct friends and family to their own physician’s office for more specific information and diagnoses.