Is this a crime?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in NICU.

So I wanted to get some of your thoughts on this situation I see daily.

On facebook, I am "friends" with a person I have known since kindergarten, and we went to school together all they way until graduation. We don't know each other basically at all except for that fact above but remain Facebook friends. (I never really delete anybody unless their posting get too out of hand and annoying.)

Anyways, she hangs out with a peculiar crowd, which I don't care, not my place to judge, however she is in this strange type of show that is suppose to be a spoof sort of show, kind of halloween-ish. So it is usually this time of year the posts of the manner I will talk about start popping up more frequently.

In this show she plays in, which is televised once a week on one of our local channels, she is suppose to be a nurse (by the way, she is not a nurse in real life or works in any type of medical or nursing realm). It is a gruesome show so she is usually bloodied up with fake injuries and the like. Her name in the show is just Nurse *blank*, we will call her Lucy. So Nurse Lucy is ONE of the nurses, there are maybe 2 or 3 other "nurses".

Well that is fine, it is a show, it's fake. But what I am wondering is when does the acting the part go too far in saying you are a nurse?

I see the show bits but then when she goes to her regular job, which is a very laid back type of job, or going out with friends, or doing anything that is not related to the show what-so-ever, she will post wearing the same nurse costume, and say Nurse Lucy this or that. Then comments are about "Oh Nurse Lucy, blah blah blah".

And this goes on all year long, not just October, just more prevalent this year since the show is on.

I get the show and premise, although I never have watched it, and there is nothing wrong with playing the part of a nurse on a show that is suppose to be humorous, but at what point is it wrong to still be promoting the idea that you are a nurse and not just an actor?

Am I being over sensitive or is she going a little over board, nearing law breaking?

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Specializes in ICU.

Do you think everybody on Grey's Anatomy are doctors and nurses in real life? It's the same thing. It's TV. It's fake.

Its not the same thing as a person doing it in real life. You are blurring the lines of fiction and reality. I will say again, TV is fake.

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Specializes in ICU.

I will also add, she is probably promoting her show by posting it on Facebook. She obviously wants to be an actress. They often submerge themselves in their roles. I highly doubt she is running into hospitals trying to impersonate a nurse.

This is different than a MA who calls themselves a nurse. Which by the way, I happened to stumble across an MA website where they do indeed think they do the same thing as a nurse. But that's a whole other ball of wax.

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Am I being over sensitive...?

Yes, you are.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

From what you're saying, I don't think most people will miss the idea that this is a spoof, or a parody.

I'm not as familiar with Facebook terms of service as I am with Twitter, but the basic rule is you can't impersonate, which generally involves the intention to deceive. To me, it sounds obvious she is not trying to do that.

I can't help but add this-- we've had so many posts from people describing hellish scenarios resulting from innocent Facebook activities I don't mention my profession there at all.

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Specializes in NICU.

Cased closed then! I guess I forgot about the "intent" part of the law... But I truly didn't really think it was that serious, the other thread about nursing being sexualized sparked my memory of this. I just maybe think she's putting nurses in a negative light, not law breaking but off putting a bit maybe.

The costume is a bit junky and the show depicts the nurses being naive and stupid. But then when the show is over, the same trashy nurse is still show casing as a nurse.

But I guess I'll just keep scrolling past like always...:sarcastic:

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Specializes in NICU.
Do you think everybody on Grey's Anatomy are doctors and nurses in real life? It's the same thing. It's TV. It's fake.

Its not the same thing as a person doing it in real life. You are blurring the lines of fiction and reality. I will say again, TV is fake.

Well yes, I understand that. But I'm willing to bet the cast of Grey's Anatomy also don't strut around at Starbucks or a bar in their stage outfits, stethoscopes and all, calling themselves Doctors and nurses.

What I was really going for is the protected title of nurse. If one person came here calling themselves a nurse when they were a CNA, you know there would be 50 posts all saying the protected title line.

The person I am mentioning is doing that and dressing up as one... But if the common vote is that it is probably promotional for the show, I can't argue with that and would also have to agree, giving her the benefit of the doubt.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Well yes, I understand that. But I'm willing to bet the cast of Grey's Anatomy also don't strut around at Starbucks or a bar in their stage outfits, stethoscopes and all, calling themselves Doctors and nurses.

I thought you did really know her. (?) These actors are probably just doing this to promote their silly show.

As for a negative light....nurses on House ranged from glorified secretaries to flighty airheads who contributed nothing to the care of patients. Yet it was an incredibly popular show. But, in the end, it was just a fictional TV show.

My advice: quit worrying about this, or, if you are unable to stop obsessing about this, unfriend her.

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Specializes in ICU.
I thought you did really know her. (?) These actors are probably just doing this to promote their silly show.

As for a negative light....nurses on House ranged from glorified secretaries to flighty airheads who contributed nothing to the care of patients. Yet it was an incredibly popular show. But, in the end, it was just a fictional TV show.

My advice: quit worrying about this, or, if you are unable to stop obsessing about this, unfriend her.

This. I used to love House. Until I started nursing school and realized how he treated nurses. But, it's a fake tv show.

Shes strutting around Starbucks so people can ask and she can say she's an actress. That's all. She wants to be the next Angelina Jolie, not one of us. She wants the fame and money, not the respect of being a nurse. I promise.

You don't have to unfriend her, just unfollow her and you will stop seeing her posts.

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Specializes in Critical care.

So, does this mean that Dr. Dre might not actually be a licensed physician?

THAT'S why his lawyers reacted that way when I sent a few pictures of my mole 'down there' for him to assess.

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I think OP is being sensitive, but the responses so far. I mean, really? I'm pretty sure OP knows Dr. Pepper isn't an actual doctor. her friend was acting weird. I personally wouldn't be so invested in it, but nonetheless, she was acting weird and OP was just looking for an opinion.

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Is it poor taste? Probably.

However there is no law against poor taste. As long as she is not turning in job applications as an RN, signing her actual name as an RN, or giving out medical advice. I'd say she is fine. Previous poster is right. Intent is a portion of the law.

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