Nurse Livestreams Med Pass on TikTok, Uses Teeth to Open Meds, Sparks Ethics Debate
In May 2025, a Florida nurse named Yazz Scott went viral for all the wrong reasons after livestreaming herself administering medications during her shift at a nursing home. The TikTok broadcast, recorded in real time, quickly raised alarms across the nursing community due to potential HIPAA violations, unprofessional conduct, and a documented medication error.
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Scott, who has been licensed as a nurse since August 2024, repeatedly told viewers during the livestream to “relax,” even after using a patient’s name aloud and filming through multiple care-related conversations. She reassured commenters that there was no patient information being shown and dismissed warnings that she could lose her license. “If you see some patient information, just holla,” she said, laughing off the concerns and continuing to engage with her audience instead of focusing on her med pass.
The livestream took a more serious turn when Scott realized she had administered a lidocaine patch at the incorrect time. Despite the clear error, she argued on camera, “It wasn’t the wrong medication-it was just a lidocaine patch.” Viewers were further disturbed when she was seen opening the patch with her teeth, failing to use gloves or proper clean technique.
Throughout the video, Scott cursed, mocked her viewers, blocked commenters mid-shift, and eventually paused her med pass altogether to engage with the livestream. What unfolded wasn’t just unprofessional-it was a case study in what not to do as a nurse.
When Social Media Crosses the Line
Nurses are no strangers to social media-platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram have become part of daily life, both on and off the clock. The American Nurses Association encourages nurses to use these platforms for education and advocacy, but also reminds us how important it is to stay professional and protect patient privacy. Still, it’s easy to see how the lines can get blurry. Research shows that even small distractions, like checking your phone or responding to a message, can make medication errors more likely. That’s why experts urge nurses to keep their full attention on patient care when it really counts because even one moment of distraction can have serious consequences.
HIPAA Isn’t Optional
As nurses, we know how important it is to protect our patients’ privacy—not just because it’s the law, but because it’s part of the trust we build every day. Live Streaming or sharing any patient information, even unintentionally, can lead to serious HIPAA violations. Depending on the circumstances, fines can range from $100 to over $68,000 per violation, with annual caps that can reach more than $2 million for the most serious cases. Even a single slip-up can have big consequences for you and your facility.
But the risks go beyond legal trouble.
Medication errors are a real and persistent threat in healthcare. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), medication errors harm over 7 million patients in the U.S. each year and contribute to around 7,000 deaths. That’s why our focus at the bedside matters-because every distraction, whether it’s a phone or a camera, can put our patients at risk. Our commitment to privacy and safety isn’t just about policy; it’s about protecting the people who count on us most.
The 5 Rights Still Matter
The “five rights” of medication administration—right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time—are essential principles designed to keep patients safe and reduce the risk of medication errors.
Research shows that distractions and interruptions, such as multitasking or engaging with social media during med passes, significantly increase the likelihood of errors; for example, each interruption raises the risk of a medication error by 12.7%, and multiple interruptions can double or triple the risk of harm. Experts and safety organizations emphasize that minimizing distractions during medication administration is critical, as even brief lapses in focus can have serious consequences for patient safety.
A Wake-Up Call for the Profession
From one nurse to another, we know the landscape is shifting and fast. These days, nearly 92% of employers ban taking photos or videos of patients on the clock, and 78% have official social media policies to back that up. Why? Because trust, privacy, and professionalism still matter. The tech may be new, but our responsibility to protect our patients isn’t.
The truth is, a lot of us never got clear guidance on these boundaries before stepping into the profession. A 2024 Journal of Nursing Education study found that only 62% of nursing programs fully cover social media boundaries. That means plenty of new nurses are entering the field unsure of what’s okay-and what could seriously risk their license or a patient’s privacy.
That’s why it’s on us to lead by example. Know your workplace policies, ask questions when you’re unsure, and above all, protect patient dignity and confidentiality like it’s your own. Because once trust is broken, it’s hard to earn back.
Many of the top voices in the nursing community didn’t hold back-calling out Yazz Scott and the incident as reckless, unprofessional, and a serious lapse in judgment. The consensus? Patient care is never the place for clout-chasing.
@the.nurse.erica #nurse #nursingstudent #pov #thenurseerica ♬ original sound - TheNurseErica
@nurseblake Going LIVE during Med Pass 😭🫠 (NURSES: NEVER DO THIS!!!!!)
♬ original sound - NurseBlake
The Bottom Line
This incident is a powerful wake-up call: being fully present and professional at the bedside is non-negotiable. Livestreaming during patient care doesn’t just cross a line-it risks patient safety, privacy, and your nursing license.
Social media absolutely has a place in our profession-to advocate, educate, and inspire. But let’s be clear: when you’re in the med room, your focus should be on the patient, not the platform. Some moments are meant to be sacred, not streamed.
