Lying about licensure on social networking sites

Nurses Relations

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A nursing school friend is listing his job on social networking sites as "registered nurse" at a very popular hospital in area in which I live.

This man has failed the NCLEX-RN twice and has since signed on as a CNA at the popular hospital with intentions of moving into an RN position as soon as he passes the NCLEX-RN.

This popular hospital will traditionally hire new RN graduates who have been working there while enrolled in nursing school programs.

My dilemma: how do I tell this man gently that if someone finds out that he is misrepresenting himself as a licensed registered nurse, he could get in big trouble?

I had asked this man about misrepresenting himself and he said that he is "embarrassed" that he hasn't yet passed and doesn't want to tell his friends.

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He probably already knows, but you could maybe direct him to a website that states it's a protected title.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Doesn't appear to be your concern.

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Why would you care if this is your biggest worry you are very lucky !

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This is his issue, not yours. However, should you want to get involved in this man's personal life, I would remind him that often employers can and will look at social media websites, especially those that involve the name of the facility. Further, it is never a great idea to put the place you work in any social media, nurse or not. If he is using company computers to check his social media, this is also an issue, as the IT people can and will look at what the employees surf the net for. Which is a whole nuther thread.

We all need to think about why it is that we would like to get involved. What is your goal in this? If he is your friend and your intentions are good ones, then just say to him that you don't want him to get into trouble for something on the internet. The best course of action would be just to delete work stuff entirely (and that goes for all of us--it is a work getting into personal life thing best left alone).

If it is because you are angry, upset, want to start drama stuff, then you need to think about why it is that you would want to do that to anyone. Yes, it is a protected title. Yes, if he is telling patients that he is an RN, that is an issue that needs to be adressed. On social media, however, one could say that they are queen of the world or married to Brad Pitt....they can write anything. It is when they write that they are queen of Popular Hospital that Popular Hospital tends to frown on that.

While we are on the subject--be mindful of your own social media. If you are writing that you are a nurse at Popular Hospital and then one of your friends posts a meant to be funny little ditty about "all psych patients need to be medicated into a coma" stuff that can get YOU in trouble. Doubly so if on your lunch you check your social media on the hospital's computer.

I do hope you have the best of intentions, and want your friend to succeed with Popular Hospital.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

If you are truly concerned...remind your friend that if the BON finds out he may never become licensed. Many states have passed laws about using the title nurse and makes it illegal to represent oneself unless licensed. Title "Nurse" Protection: Summary of Language by State

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Thank you for your assistance. Yes I understand this is not my concern, but this happens to be my best friend from nursing school who may be hurting himself by calling himself "registered nurse" on linkedin. I have another friend who was asked to interview for a job in a hospital after a recruiter viewed her information on the same website. I just wanted to help, not hurt.

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