Legally Protect the word "Nurse?"

[applesxoranges]

Should the word "nurse" be a legally protected title? I am mixed on it. Personally, the word nurse is vague and could mean many different things. It could mean an LPN and it could mean an RN. It does not signify a credential. However, a lot of people assume nurse = RN.

It is kind of like a "doctor" in my opinion. A doctor could be a doctor of anything whereas it is illegal to say you are an MD or DO without being an MD or a DO.

My state does not currently regulate the use of the word nurse. Hence why we have graduate nurse interns or nurse techs (which are PCTs/CNAs).

So what are your thoughts on the issue?

[Gabby-RN]

I 100% agree that MA's should not call themselves nurses. My PCP only employs MA's in the office, they obtain vitals and the MD does the rest. If someone called the office and asked the receptionist to speak with the nurse, I am sure they would be transferred to the MA. Which isn't right, but I don't know that the receptionist would bother to make the correction. If I called the office and asked to speak to the RN, they would tell me there is an MA available (has happened). I am just wondering if we could help change things if we specified is there an RN or LPN available versus using the general term "nurse".

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Wet Nurse is an American thing . . . but rarely here anymore. More in the "olden days".

I remember reading the term in history books mostly associated with aristocracy when I was in elementary school (way back in the 1960's). It was "beneath" the Queen to actually nurse her children. She employed wet nurses.

But back to the question at hand - Yes, nurse is a protected title and yes, we don't do much about those who chose to call themselves nurses when they are not nurses.

The MA's who call themselves nurses drive me crazy too. They are good MA's . . .but not nurses.

The public is very misinformed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_nurse

[Asystole RN]

No, I absolutely think it's wrong!

What I'm saying it's; though it's technically "illegal", no one's really getting in trouble for this. That's why it keeps happening. Unless some of us are willing to start some kind of political campaign the only hope we have it to keep doing what Ruby has done; verbally chastise the offenders and try to get some kind of response from the physicians running offices allowing this. I would love to think this would work but I fear this will prove ineffective.

I think I remember another thread on this in the last few months where a nurse actually called their Board and made a report on such a situation (MA calling themselves a nurse in a clinic) and kept waiting for a response. . . I think she's still waiting.

Most boards do not have law enforcement authority. They can write a cease and desist letter and put out a notice of fraudulent title use but little more. If you want something done beyond that you usually have to speak to contact the AG or other enforcement agency.

Will anything happen? Probably not. Using a title inappropriately is a relatively minor infraction. If the individual was attempting to intentionally fraudulently misrepresent themselves as a licensed nurse then there would be grounds to prosecute.

An MA calling themselves a nurse due to ignorance...meh...there are bigger fish that need attention. If the MA was challenged on calling herself a nurse and responded that she was a registered nurse and also had written documents fraudulently stating she was a registered nurse...well then she might get some attention.

[All4NursingRN]

Sounds like a thread I created not long ago about a nurse assistant I work with who never corrects people about her title, got a ton of flack in that thread. ds I can not tell you the amount of patients who call her nurse and she never corrects them, I have caught her giving medical advice as well, in fact I spoke to her last week about that... sigh

there was a parallel thread almost identical to this one going on that got shut down earlier today because it got out of hand haha

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Sounds like a thread I created not long ago about a nurse assistant I work with who never corrects people about her title, got a ton of flack in that thread. ds I can not tell you the amount of patients who call her nurse and she never corrects them, I have caught her giving medical advice as well, in fact I spoke to her last week about that... sigh

The difference here is we can correct people here due to TOS; what posters stated in that thread was do you have proof of her stating she's a licensed nurse-do you yet???

I'll wait.

At least you heeded the advice and talked to her about what she is doing; you can get her written up for going outside of her scope now.

[All4NursingRN]

The difference here is we can correct people here due to TOS; what posters stated in that thread was do you have proof of her stating she's a licensed nurse-do you yet???

I'll wait.

At least you heeded the advice and talked to her about what she is doing; you can get her written up for going outside of her scope now.

You'll wait? Ok mother??? hahaha you seem alittle bothered. Are you trying to insinuate that I'm lying or overblowing the situation I posted? Perhaps the fact that ALL The other RNs I work with including our manager feels the same way about the employee I mentioned makes a difference to you. But It's ok I don't need your advice. Back away from the computer, log off and get some fresh air, maybe you need alittle break from allnurses.com.

[eagle78]

Well for sure this "irritation" with people misrepresenting themselves is NOT confined to the nursing field. When I was in radiation therapy clinical I loved to talk with the patients. So this one day, as usual I was in the treatment room talking with the patient prior to the acutal treatment. Mind you, I had my STUDENT badge sown onto my scurbs in the upper right hand corner, per the programs requirements. I never stated that I was a therapist, and the patient never per say called me one. Yet when the actual therapist came into the room, and the patient asked a question she always looked at me. This ocurred inspite of the fact that the therapist was answering, and not me. I really think the patient just felt more comfortable with me because I had been in the room conversing with her.

The therapist was furious. She assumed that I had represented myself as a therapist and she "gave me what for" as we used to say in the old days. So trust me, being protective over crendentials is not just a nursing thing.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

You'll wait? Ok mother??? hahaha you seem alittle bothered. Are you trying to insinuate that I'm lying or overblowing the situation I posted? Perhaps the fact that ALL The other RNs I work with including our manager feels the same way about the employee I mentioned makes a difference to you. But It's ok I don't need your advice. Back away from the computer, log off and get some fresh air, maybe you need alittle break from allnurses.com.

Thanks for your "concern", however, I'm not "bothered" at all. I actually wondered the answer.

Are YOU sure you need a break from allnurses.com since you felt some kind of "flack" from again, a post that, unfortunately you took issue with, but AGAIN, had no proof to go to the BON with.

Hope your not too "bothered" with MY response...

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Sounds like a thread I created not long ago about a nurse assistant I work with who never corrects people about her title, got a ton of flack in that thread. ds I can not tell you the amount of patients who call her nurse and she never corrects them, I have caught her giving medical advice as well, in fact I spoke to her last week about that... sigh

The difference is the worker you talk about never says "I am a registered nurse" she just acts like one. People can have illusions of grandeur but unless they say the word nurse there isn't much that can be done. Just because she doesn't correct people doesn't mean she is saying she is a nurse.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Wet Nurse is an American thing . . . but rarely here anymore. More in the "olden days".

Nope, definitely NOT an "American thing", lol....it's a European thing! And yes, goes WAY back....middle ages had them!

[generalRN2008]

Nope, definitely NOT an "American thing", lol....it's a European thing! And yes, goes WAY back....middle ages had them!

Wet nurse is a woman who nurses anothers baby. It has nothing to do with medical nursing. Not just American. Human milk for human babies is international for milk sharing

[sharpeimom]

Wet nurse is a woman who nurses anothers baby. It has nothing to do with medical nursing. Not just American. Human milk for human babies is international for milk sharing

Our neighbor who used the term wet nurse, is from a Muslim culture where the daughters from the wealthier families are gently reared, carefully home tutored in the "gentler, more ladylike" subjects, and expected to do no more than produce an heir or two and be decorative. These women would never be expected to care for or feed their infant or young babies. Instead, she married a much older man who taught in the states and moved her here. They admit they bought that specific house because we lived next door and they both felt comfortable with us.

I'm so proud of her! she has learned to care for her boys, keep house, cook, become involved with her kids' schools, etc. Her husband is concerned somewhat however. She has become more [/i] feminist through her association with me. Oh dear! I did introduce her to all those ****** liberated females!