🧠 Know Before You Go: Why Nurses Must Understand the Orders They Carry Out
In today’s fast-paced clinical settings, it’s easy to fall into the trap of executing orders without fully understanding them. But let’s be clear: just because something is written doesn’t mean it’s right—and just because it’s routine doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for every patient. As nurses, we are not robots. We are not order takers. We are critical thinkers, patient advocates, and the last line of defense when it comes to safety.
🚨 “Because the Doctor Said So” Is Not a Rationale
Blindly following a physician’s order without understanding the why behind it puts patients at risk. We are not expected to know everything—but we are expected to ask questions, seek clarity, and advocate when something doesn’t feel right.
If you don’t understand a medication, intervention, or plan of care—pause. Ask. Clarify. Saying, “Can you explain the rationale behind this?” is not a challenge to authority—it’s a sign of professional responsibility.
And if a provider can’t explain the rationale clearly? That’s a red flag worth exploring.
🤝 We’re Here to Inform, Not Just Perform
One of our most sacred roles as nurses is to educate and support patients and families. When someone asks, “Why are we doing this?” or “What should we expect?”—they’re placing their trust in us.
Saying, “I don’t know,” and moving on is never okay.
It’s perfectly acceptable to respond with:
👉 “That’s a great question. I don’t have that answer right now, but I’m going to find out for you.”
That one simple statement builds trust. It communicates that the patient or family’s concerns matter and that you’re not just going through the motions—you’re invested in their care.
⚖️ When Blind Obedience Isn’t a Defense
In 2022, the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned a 90-year precedent, ruling that nurses can be held liable for following a doctor’s orders if those orders result in patient harm. This has caused outrage in many nursing circles, but let’s ask the uncomfortable question:
Why do we believe we should be shielded from accountability?
Yes, the system is broken. Yes, we are overworked, underpaid, and often unsupported. But we are licensed professionals. With that license comes responsibility—to our patients and the public.
If we want the respect of physicians, the trust of the public, and the autonomy to practice at the top of our scope, then we must also carry the weight of accountability. You cannot demand to be treated as a highly skilled clinician while simultaneously claiming “I’m just a nurse” as a defense when things go wrong.
“I was just following orders” won’t hold up in a courtroom—nor should it.
🧰 We Don’t Know Everything—But We Should Know Where to Look
Nurses are knowledge seekers. We are trained to assess, to research, to follow up. Whether it's a medication you’ve never administered before, a new protocol, or a lab result that doesn’t make sense, you are responsible for understanding what you’re doing—and why.
Use your resources:
📞 Pharmacy
📚 Clinical references
🧑⚕️ Interdisciplinary team
🖥️ Evidence-based guidelines
🧭 Your own gut when something doesn’t add up
If you're too afraid to ask a question because you think it makes you look “dumb,” consider this: How much smarter does it look to carry out an order you didn’t understand—and cause harm?
🛡️ Patient Safety Starts With Us
We’re not just there to chart vitals and pass meds. We’re there to protect patients. That means slowing down long enough to verify, clarify, and advocate—especially when something feels off.
Remember: Doctors write the orders, but nurses are the ones who carry them out.
If we do so without understanding, we’ve forfeited our role as protectors of patient safety.
✨ Be the Nurse You’d Want at Your Bedside
Let this be your mantra:
👉 “I might not have all the answers, but I know how to find them.”
Lead with humility, curiosity, and courage. Ask the hard questions. Protect your patients like they’re your own family. And never forget that knowing why isn’t optional—it’s essential.
About the Author:
Kimberly Overton, BSN, RN, BC-FMP, is a Registered Nurse, entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for medical freedom and informed consent. With a background in critical care and acute patient management, she bore witness to the systemic failures of a healthcare system corrupted by profit-driven protocols—protocols that led to medical murders disguised as care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimberly made the bold decision to resign from traditional bedside nursing, standing in protest against coercive mandates, the unethical use of Remdesivir, and the rollout of dangerous, ineffective COVID “vaccines.” This defining moment propelled her to establish Nurse Freedom Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering nurses, safeguarding patient rights, and exposing corruption within the healthcare system.
Today, she continues her mission at the bedside as a Hospice nurse, where she brings dignity, presence, and compassion to the end-of-life journey—honoring the sacred transition and advocating for comfort, truth, and informed decisions. Her experience in hospice care further reinforces the importance of understanding every medical intervention and upholding the nurse’s role as a protector of patient safety and peace.
Expanding on her mission, she launched Remnant Healthcare, providing holistic, patient-centered alternatives that honor medical autonomy, informed consent, and compassionate care. As host of Nurses Out Loud, Kimberly amplifies the movement for healthcare reform, medical freedom, and the unwavering defense of human dignity.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and now residing in Hendersonville, Tennessee, her mission is to disrupt the broken system, hold the profiteers accountable, and reclaim healthcare on a foundation of truth, ethics, and respect for human life—restoring humanity to the healing profession.
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