A nurse advice line is like having your own nurse at home. Registered nurses help you understand health issues and treatment options, review specific questions to ask your providers, offer insights into current research on treatments and diagnostic procedures, and explain the risks and benefits of various options. While a nurse advisor usually cannot diagnose, prescribe or give medical advice, they do empower you to make informed decisions and give you the support and information you need to maximize your care.
If you believe your situation requires urgent care, do not delay—go to the emergency room. But, if you are not experiencing a medical emergency, it may give you peace of mind to call your plan's nurse advice line and learn if there are simple treatments you can apply at home. Nurses can answer your questions and discuss how to administer home treatments that may save you an unnecessary trip to the doctor's office. If the problem is an emergency, a nurse can tell you locate an emergency room.
Nurse line nurses can help you:
-
Learn self-care for minor illnesses and injuries
-
Understand diagnosed conditions
-
Manage chronic diseases
-
Discover and evaluate possible benefits and risks of various treatment options
-
Get general information about specific medications
-
Prepare questions for doctor visits
-
Develop and maintain healthful living habits
-
Locate emergency facilities
-
Connect with community support groups
-
Know how to choose the right care at the right time