Would you do anything about it?

Nurses General Nursing

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I met someone today at a friend's house who said, "I've gotta get back to work. I work at (name of facility). I'm a nurse." I replied with, "oh, I was told you were a nurse's aide." She said, "no, I'm a nurse." I left it at that but I know two different people have said before that this person works as an aide and tells people she's a nurse. By the way, she didn't know that I am a nurse.

When I got home, I looked her up on our State Board's site and she is not listed there and neither is any name close to hers. My state is one of the states that says it's illegal to call yourself a nurse if you do not hold a license as RN or LPN.

Another thing...this friend we were both visiting has the flu. I had gone there to pick up their child so they could rest. While we were there, she told the friend, "make sure you take that Z-Pak I brought you." The friend looked at me and said, "(name of doctor) told me not to take a Z-Pak". So I said, "that's because it's for bacterial infections and the flu is viral". This nurse imposter said, "we give it all the time where I work to our patients with the flu". The sick friend said, looking at me, "so the flu is a virus and not a bacteria". I said, "right, but if you end up with something like a sinus infection secondary to the flu, it may work for that". Sooooooooo, the other thing this woman did today is dispense prescription medication (that she probably stole from work) without a license.:nono:

Would you let these two things go or would you do something?

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Before you do anything, I would check with the facility that she works for and ask. If she's not a nurse, then speak with the manager.

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I was thinking about calling them. But I have a feeling I know what they'll say. The friend we were visiting today once told me that "she works like a nurse but not really a nurse and wants to go to school one day to become a nurse". Also, another friend of mine asked me, "is it ok to say you're a nurse if you really aren't". I told her no and she proceded to tell me about this same woman saying she is, but she's actually an aide.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, ER.

I agree. I think you should check with the facility at which she works, just to be sure that she is not a nurse. If it is true, then I would take it to a higher level. It doesn't bother me as much that she says she's a nurse when in reality she's just a CNA, but it bothers me that she is dispensing medications, that, like you said, was probably stolen. Dispensing meds without a license to dispense is not only illegal, but it could get someone killed.

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Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.

If she worked at my hospital, I might report it to the Ethics Compliance Officer. If she worked somewhere else, I don't think I would get involved. It's a good thing you were there to give your friend the correct information (and what a wonderful friend you are to give help to allow a sick friend to rest). It sounds like this person's reputation is well known in you area.

Is she from out of the country? In my hospital we have many people working as aides (Patient Care Tech) who have professional credentials from another country. One couple from Peru both worked as PCT's. She was an RN; he was as surgeon. Another PCT was an ophthalmologist in Cuba. Usuallly they are working and studying English to be able to take boards or attend classes they will need to become licensed professionals here. Also, in other countries (Mexico & Haiti that I know of) it is common to be able to buy medications without Rx. I used to get my BC pills from a friend who traveled to Haiti often. Great price too--$2.00 vs $17.00 here at the time.

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No, she's from here. 100% full-fledge redneck at that. Oh, and she already has an arrest record for having unprescribed Xanax on her when pulled a couple of years ago. Other than not being a "real nurse" as the first friend said, they also told me about that arrest.

I do understand that about foreign countries. I once worked with a tech who was from Russia. Before she moved here, she was a PA. She came here knowing no English and taught herself how to speak it fluently within 6 months. But her license from Russia is not recognized here and she's in school now to become an RN. She's very knowledgable and sometimes, I would ask HER for advice, lol.

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Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.

I don't think I would waste any time on this lady. She'll do herself in eventually. I often remind my daughter that she's not the "policeman of the world," and it's not her responsibility to turn in everyone she sees breaking rules. So what does she do? She gets a job at the airport working for TSA!

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But how many people whill she harm before she does herself in? Licensed nurse or not, she needs to be reported for dispensing meds. Calling oneself a nurse when it's not true is illegal but so is a nurse dispensing meds.

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this needs to be nipped in the bud asap.

call the bon and report it.

leslie

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But how many people whill she harm before she does herself in? Licensed nurse or not, she needs to be reported for dispensing meds. Calling oneself a nurse when it's not true is illegal but so is a nurse dispensing meds.

My main point exactly. Giving an antibiotic like Z-Pak for something viral is one clue she doesn't have an understanding of the medication she's giving out and telling someone to take. Aren't we all told in nursing school that antibiotics won't work for virus...and can actually make you feel worse sometimes? There's a reason you need a prescription to get them.

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But how many people whill she harm before she does herself in? Licensed nurse or not, she needs to be reported for dispensing meds. Calling oneself a nurse when it's not true is illegal but so is a nurse dispensing meds.

I agree, Tazzi - I'm wondering where she got the Zpak, and who DIDN'T get their's because she swiped it! Could she be a Med Aide? Otherwise I don't understand how she'd have much access to meds - the aides in our facility wouldn't even be able to get their hands on a Tylenol.

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I agree, Tazzi - I'm wondering where she got the Zpak, and who DIDN'T get their's because she swiped it! Could she be a Med Aide? Otherwise I don't understand how she'd have much access to meds - the aides in our facility wouldn't even be able to get their hands on a Tylenol.

She works in a mental health center and it was samples that the drug reps give the doctors to dispense to patients.

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