Is this unethical/illegal? (Mentioning LVN title in an ad for another job)

Nurses General Nursing

Published

As a recently-licensed LVN in the state of California, I'm having difficulty finding my first job. My "back-up" plan in terms of employment is to start a small (unlicensed) home daycare business, since I am already a stay-at-home mother.

I will soon be publishing advertisements of my childcare services, and I am wondering if it is considered appropriate to mention in my list of qualifications that I am a "licensed nurse with current CPR certification." Most daycare providers do mention their CPR certification (if they have it) in the ads they publish.

My concern in mentioning that I am specifically a "licensed nurse with CPR training" is that I could be accused of advertising my nursing services or attempting to practice medicine. Am I being overly-cautious? :confused:

Thank you so much for your opinions!

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Do NOT mention that you are an LVN. It's not necessary to in the first place. Just mention that you are CPR certified. You're putting your license at risk by telling people that you are a nurse so if something happens to their child while in your care, your license would be on the chopping block.

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Thanks for replying!

I know I don't have to mention it, but I would like to mention it.

I think that it's a noteworthy qualification for a childcare provider to have simply because so much of a nurse's training is in promoting safety and health (e.g., infants should be placed on their backs to sleep, toddlers shouldn't eat raw carrots, wipe front to back during diaper changes, etc.) Since not all childcare providers have this training, I feel it is worth mentioning.

What I am wondering, specifically, is if mentioning that you're a nurse in ad for a non-nursing job could be considered unethical on the grounds that you are somehow "advertising" your nursing services. That's all.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

In my opinion, saying the you are an LVN in your ad is offering your nursing services. Plus, you are not practicing as a nurse while watching those kids. You are making your future clients think they are getting something i.e. nursing care that they are not getting.

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Thanks! If that's how you see it, then I'm sure there are others who will, too. I guess I'm not being overly-cautious, after all! ;)

In my opinion, saying the you are an LVN in your ad is offering your nursing services. Plus, you are not practicing as a nurse while watching those kids. You are making your future clients think they are getting something i.e. nursing care that they are not getting.
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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I think saying that you are CPR certified is sufficient. Anywho, good luck with the childcare business.

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Thanks for adding the specifics! This is exactly what I was wondering. You're right, it's definitely not worth mentioning.

Do NOT mention that you are an LVN. It's not necessary to in the first place. Just mention that you are CPR certified. You're putting your license at risk by telling people that you are a nurse so if something happens to their child while in your care, your license would be on the chopping block.
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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I think I would become a certified child center even though it is in your home. I had a neighbor up north who had a day care in her home. She was certified. It gave her many tax breaks that could not have been gotten otherwise. Also in the state of Wi I believe over a certain number of children there was no choice in becoming state certified. Yes , that meant being inspected etc. See what the state laws are in California regarding this.

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