For those of you that are a nurse and those of you who call yourself a nurse!!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

OH MY GOSH!!!!

I JUST GOT HOME A LITTLE WHILE AGO, WHEN I LOGGED IN TO FIND OUT THAT THE POST I POSTED ON SATURDAY HAS BECOME QUITE ENGAGING!!!!

I HAVE JUST GOT DONE WITH A 20 HOUR SHIFT!!!

I AM QUITE TIRED, BUT I HAVE TO REPLY!!!!

I WORKED A 20 HOUR SHIFT, ALL OF WHICH IS OVERTIME DUE TO CALL OFFS AND POOR STAFFING!!!

DURING THE PAST 20 HOURS I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING THINGS AS A RN:

--ASSESSING PATIENTS

--EDUCATING PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

--CRITICAL THINKING

--DELEGATING TASKS to unlcensed

--ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS-IV, IM, PO, VIA TUBE, ETC

--STARTING IV'S

--MONITORING LAB VALUES AND REPORTING THEM TO MD'S

--ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, ON THE PHONE OR IN THE HOSPITAL

--ASSESSING

--TALKING TO OTHER ANCILARY DEPT: LIKE SPEECH, OCCUP, PHYSICAL THERAPIES, NUCLEAR MED, ECHO, MRI, LAB, PHARMACY, X RAY, ETC

--GATHERING SPECIMENS, BLOOD, URINE, STOOL, SPUTUM, WOUND DRAINAGE, ETC.

--CHECKING THE CHART FOR NEW ORDERS, AND ENTERING THEM INTO THE COMPUTER. CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNIT CLERKS ORDERS ARE ACCURATE AND CORREST, AND FIXXING THEM IF THEY ARE NOT

--REPORTING TO DOCTORS, ANSWERING DOCTORS, ETC

--EKG's

--BLOOD DRAWS

--SUPERVISING UNLICENSED

--"HELPING" A INTERN

--ASSESSING

--ASSISTING WITH A BLUE CODE (CPR, AIRWAY, MEDS, ETC)

--DETERMING WHAT TYPE OF HEART RHYTHM MY PATIENTS HAVE AND MAKE THE RIGHT CALL TO FIX THE ARRYTHMIA

--DOCUMENTING WITHIN LEGAL TIMES ON IV SITES, RESTRAINTS, VENT SETTINGS AND PATIENT STATUS, I&O, MEDICATIONS GIVEN, SCHEDULED AND PRN, ETC

--DRESSING CHANGES WITH MEDICATIONS

--TRACH CARE ON VENT PATIENTS

--SUCTIONING TRACH Q 2 HOUR/ PRN

--ASSESSING

--PERICARE Q SHIFT/ CATH CARE Q SHIFT/PRN ORAL CARE PRN/ QSHIFT, ETC

--ASSIST WITH BATHS, (YES I GET MY HANDS DIRTY!! THAT IS NOT BENEATH ANY US!!!)

--CHECKING PLACEMENT OF DUO TUBES, NG TUBES, PEG TUBES, ETC

--ANSWERING CALL LIGHTS

--OBTAINING BLOOD SPEC. FROM CENTRAL LINES

--ASSESSING IV SITES Q 2 HOUR

--EDUCATING STAFF

--FIXING STAFFING PROBLEMSAFTER A CALL OFF (SOMETIMES IMPACTING ON THE LENGTH OF WORK)

--COMMUNICATING WITH THE NURSE SUPERVISOR

--COMPLETING PAPERWORK RELATED TO ANNUAL REVIEW (PATIENT CARE CONFERENCES, REEASRCH AN JOURANL ARTICLE AND EDUCATE THE STAFF, ETC)

--BEING A PRECEPTOR FOR NEW NURSES TO OUR FLOOR

--IS THERE A NEED TO GO ON AND ON AND ON??????????

I NEVER INTENDED MY POST TO CREATE SUCH RAGE .

BUT AFTER I STARTED TO READ ABOUT HOW NA's believe that they are "nurses" since the term nurse is used in their job title, I WAS EVEN MORE MAD THAN WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS STORY THAT STARTED THIS HOT TOPIC!!!!!

HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A NURSE~!!!!!

CAN YOU STATE THAT YOU HAVE DONE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING THAT I HAVE JUST GOT DONE STATING FOR THE MOST PART!!!!

HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY NURSING EDUCATION? THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE FIELD OF NURSING GETS NO RESPECT AND WHY WE ARE AT WIT ENDS TO GET MORE NURSES AND KEEP THEM IN NURSING!!!!!

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE CARRIED OUT BY UNLICENSED BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU DOING THESE TASKS!!!

IT IS MY LICENSE AND UNTIL YOU HAVE ONE, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBLITY THAT WE AS NURSES HAVE!!! WE WILL BE THE ONES THAT GO TO COURT AND GET SUED!! YOU WILL ONLY LOOSE A JOB AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT IF THAT HAPPENS AT ALL!!! WE WILL LOSE OUR CAREEER, THAT WE WORKED SO HARD FOR!!!

I ALSO THINK THAT THOSE OF YOU ARE REFERRING YOURSELF AS NURSES, MAY SUGGEST THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE BENEATH CALLING YOURSELF A NURSES ASSISTANT OR A NURSES AIDE!!!

IT IS YOUR JOB TITLE!! ARE YOU NOT PROUD TO BE ASSISTING THE NURSE AS WELL AS THE DOCTOR!!!

I TREAT EVERYONE I WORK WITH THE MOST RESPECT. THIS INCLUDES ALL NURSES AND ALL UNLICENSED.

I WOULD RECCOMEND THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY HURT FEELINGS OVER THIS, THEN GO TO SCHOOL AND BECOME A NURSE IF YOU WANT TO BE CALLED A NURSE!!!

IF NOT GET OVER IT AS THE SONG SAYS!!!

ALSO, IT WAS NOT INTENDEd in my first posting TO SAY THAT NURSES WOULD NOT MOLEST OR RAPE A PATIENT!!! We are all human!!!

I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE MEDIA DID IT AGAIN!!!! A NURSE???? A NURSE IS NOT A PERSONAL CARE AIDE!!!

IF YOU DO NOT GET IT NOW, PLEASE GET a "CLUE"

AND BEFORE ANY UNLICENSED WORKERS GET ANY RESPECT, NURSES WILL NEED TO GET SOME FIRST!!!

I DO NOT PRESENT MY SELF AS A 'GLORIFIED' (BECAUSE I HAVE A "LICENSE") "ASS WIPER" AS SOME OF YOU HAVE CALLED YOURSELF!!!

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU DO NOT EVEN RESPECT THE JOB THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS????

MAYBE YOU COULD START GAINING MORE RESPECT WHEN YOU STOP CALLING YOURSELF------------

AN "ASS-WIPER"

PLEASE REPLY IF YOU DISAGREE!!!

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND DEBATE THE ISSUE~~~!!!!

FOR ALL NURSES OUT THERE, I WOULD URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION WHEN ANY ONE TAKES OUR CAREER FOR ADVANTAGE!!

WE NEED TO SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT WE REALLY DO IN OUR CAREER!!! THIS WILL EVENTUALLY HELP THE NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!

:)

[ May 21, 2001: Message edited by: StaceRacer1 ]

Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.

As if the profession doesn't have enough problems without us all bickering amongst ourselves.

Not having a completely rounded education with background understanding of patient problems and issues does not make a person "just" anything.

UAP's have their place and fulfill a vital role in health care today. What people are really grouching about is that NURSES don't get their horn tooted more. Lets not all take it out on each other.

Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

135Ctv, do not ever refer to your self as "just a CNA", like it is a nothing job! CNA's are very important. :)

As far as a CNA having "Nurse" on their badge I think that is wrong, it is misrepresenting. I have no problem when patients say nurse to them, usually if it is a need for an actual nurse the CNA's I work with usually say "i'm not the nurse, I'm an aide, but I will let your nurse know". Also in no way should a CNA walk around telling people they are a nurse, same as I cannot and wouldn't walk around stating I am a doctor. Anyhow just had to throw my 2 cents in. :)

Well I am "just a CNA". I don't think that what I do is insignificant or unimportant. I just don't define my importance by a job title so it doesn't matter to me if I'm called a CNA or NA or aide or PCA or UAP. Just don't call me anything with profanity in it, I find that offensive. I don't want to be called "nurse" because I'm not a nurse. I do know UAP's who do refer to themselves as nurses, but it is illegal.

If you feel that someone does not fully understand the scope of your responsibility, then take that as an opportunity to educate them. When someone asks me why I would ever want to be an aide, I explain to them that I gave up a career to do this and I explain why being a CNA is important to me. You will never begin to get respect from others if you don't respect yourself first.

If you want to be treated as a professional, be sure that you behave in a professional manner. And understand that, no matter how professionally you conduct yourself, there will always be people who will discount you or look down upon you. This does not just happen in nursing, it is part of life. If you are looking to others to define your importance, you will be disappointed regardless of the profession you choose.

Why do some nurses put all their degrees after their names? I can understand BSN as it relates to nursing, but I have also seen BA, MA, MS, MBA etc. Wouldn't LPN or RN or BSN be sufficient?

I am not an RN but I plan on it someday but I am a little concerned now.

I do alot of the things on the list of daily duties at my job as an M.A. with the exception of trach checks/suctioning and I.V's just to name a FEW and I DO really get called NURSE all the time. I dont ask to be called a nurse but it happens. I understand that I am not a nurse and I should not be called one.

I am a little concerned though cause when I get called a nurse it does not bother me. I have thought about this topic when it first "broke" and I think to myself when I am a REAL RN I still would not give a crap if someone who was not an RN was being called one. Maybe its just me..........I dont really worry about stuff like that. If the person is really impersonating a nurse and wanting to be called nurse then I would be upset but if they dont correct the patient then it is their problem, not mine so I dont mind.

I guess I am in the minority of not really caring about what one is called. I really do see that it can make some RN's upset to hear others get called nurses when they are MA's or CNA's but to let it consume ones life is just crazy to me. Maybe I should re-think this career choice to upgrade to an RN degree, I dont want to be the only one in the field who can give a rats a** about someone being called something they are not. I get called Doctor all the time I guess cause I am male (weird, huh) and look a little older than some of our residents and I just correct em and move on.

I am not posting in here to offend anyone, just as all the posts I have read have not offended me. I believe we all are entitled to our opinions and we are human so we will disagree. I just wanted to make sure that I will not be making a mistake if I dont join the "group" of nurse impersonator haters/dislikers (hmmm)

I am Rob, I will always be Rob no matter what and that is really all I care to be called, not Nurse Rob or MA Rob.

Sorry in advance to those who take offense.......I am sure to get a lashin but hey life is like that sometimes.

Night to all PEOPLE (yes RN's, CNA's, Techs) alike.

Rob

In British Columbia, Canada, there are only three licensed bodies allowed to LEGALLY call themselves nurses. Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Psychiatric nurses. Care aides do not belong to a licensed governing body, and though are part of the nursing team in some hospitals and facilities, they cannot legally call themselves nurses. They usually call themselves caregivers.This is the law here.

Every once in awhile a pt will think I'm an MD. I correct them of course. What is the big freaking deal for CNA's to do the same? I used to be a CNA and corrected folks frequently. No rampage here....impersonating an MD, RN, lawyer, whatever, is illegal. period.

Specializes in SICU.

I don't think the issue here is a patient/family member mistakenly referring to a CNA/UAP/NA/whatever as "nurse", but more that sometimes these mistakes are not corrected and information that the nurse should have received is given to someone who doesn't have the knowledge base to deal with it.

I've worked with many excellent CNA's over the years and they're worth their weight in gold. As a matter of fact, when I used to work the floor, we'd fight for an extra CNA over another nurse because of the support they provided and how much difference they meant in the patients' daily care.

I DO have a problem when a patient tells me that he told the "other nurse" 30 minutes ago that his "heartburn" was acting up really bad... on a cardiac floor, that's a big no-no, and that's happened to me... just one example.

I think, though, that if you can round on your patients at the beginning of the shift, introduce yourself as their nurse, tell them their CNA's name also, and let them know that they need to let YOU the nurse know of any problems, it's beneficial for all involved.

And there's no such thing as "just a CNA". We're all vitally important to the care and satisfaction of every patient.

"I get called Doctor all the time I guess cause I am male (weird, huh) and look a little older than some of our residents and I just correct em and move on. " Rob_Fl

I'm sure if the patient mistook you for a priest and called you Father you would correct them. Or if they thought you were a police officer or an airline pilot, you would correct them as well. Then you should do the same if the patient mistakes you for a nurse.

The point is not only one of pride in our EARNED title. It is also one of patient safety & comfort. The patient has the RIGHT to know to whom they are speaking. Maybe they are wasting valuable time going thru a list of problems with a person who needs to defer to a nurse who then has to make the patient repeat the problems. Maybe the patient mistakenly thinks he has already told a nurse of a symptom & since the "nurse" doesn't seem impressed, it is really nothing to mention to the doctor when s/he comes-when in reality the nurse would have CALLED the doc when the pt first reported the symptom.

I could give many other scenarios, but I'm sure I've made my point. It is illegal, unethical, and often dangerous to allow a patient to carry on the misconception that UAPs are nurses-and that includes MAs as well.

Specializes in ED, House Supervisor, IT.

It's nice to see people working 20 hour shifts, doing there part, taking one for the team, yada yada yada. But guess what... that's your job and you choose to do it. If you don't like what you do.. Taco Bell is hiring:)

As for the CNA/RN relationship... we need to treat everyone equally and with respect. There are too many nurses who crap on techs. RN's don't forget where you came from.

There are people who were kick A$$ techs and go on to be RN's and think their you know what don't stink. You've seen em.. maybe your one of them.

Quit asking people to respect nurses and start respecting yourself and others. Good things will come to you in return.

Originally posted by RNPD

"I get called Doctor all the time I guess cause I am male (weird, huh) and look a little older than some of our residents and I just correct em and move on. " Rob_Fl

You might want to re-read what I wrote. I CORRECT THEM AND THEN MOVE ON.

I am not on a crusade to stop all the impersonators is all I am saying. If they want to do it then go for it. There are alot of people who do things that are either wrong or illegal and that is the choice they make and they must live with the consequences.

I dont impersonate nurses, doctors, lawyers or pilots. I also dont worry about people who do. I have much more important things to do in life than to go around pissed off about nurse impersonators. It must be a huge problem though in the nursing field although I have not seen it YET!!! I have been in the medical field for over 10 years and worked side by side 100's of nurses and I have never heard one of em talk about this topic. Maybe if I get my RN I may see it more? I dunno. I am sure it has the potential to be a real problem and I do see the point of some posts.

Lastly I think that the majority of the people who read/post here understand that it is illegal to impersonate a Doc, RN, pilot etc I just think that it is fair to say that some may not be so worried about people who do but I could be wrong......Seems like I am in the minority but that is why these forums are here......to discuss, educate and have fun.

Cya

Rob

At least 2 people have said that if they get called doctor they always correct the person referring to them as that--nuf said!

All my point was is that if you are mistaken for a nurse, you "JUST CORRECT EM AND MOVE ON." No one is asking for a personal crusade. I explained why it is always in a patient's best interest to know who they are dealing with. It is also a matter of professional pride that only a licensed nurse has the title of "nurse". Maybe you're right- you need to be one to understand.

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