Nursing Imposters

Nurses Relations

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I was browsing the Texas Board of Nursing site today out of curiosity. Well, somehow in all of my reading, I came across the imposter alert section for the last ten years. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely scary that these people were able to get away with what they did for quite some time but some of the scenarios were downright horrifying. One woman managed to work as a school nurse for TEN YEARS posing as a registered nurse. How does one manage to slip through the cracks like that? How does an otherwise respectable school district, hospital, nursing home, staffing agency or institution let something like this occur? Call me naive but I just never imagined people doing such a thing. You could KILL someone because you don't have the education, knowledge, and licensing to back you up. How absolutely terrifying.

Do any of you have any stories similar to the one I mentioned? Have you worked with someone who was an imposter or know of someone who did this?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I think an aide would have to be doing something that is an LPN procedure with no nursing order and when it is not legal in their state to get in real trouble. Laws vary from state to state. I worked in a nursing home where charge nurses called the aides nurses if they were talking to a patient. Confused patients might call an aide a nurse and if you correct them they will just forget.

Wrong simply referring to yourself as a nurse or making no effort to correct others (dementia patients not withstanding) is illegal in more than 35 states if you are not presently licensed as a nurse. It's inferring or using the title not just performing skills. The titles of nurse, registered nurse, registered professional nurse and licensed practical/vocational nurse that are legally protected.

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Well,here I go again,but this particular case is a gray area.There are some nurses I know who were nurses in Asia,but haven't got their licenses yet. Some haven't passed the Nclex just yet,but are working as nurse aides. Can't they still be called nurses?I mean,I do feel it would be disrespectful to correct them,because they really are nurses,just not in the Usa yet. They have been nurses for 20+ years at that. I love them and they are great,and they have helped me out at one time or another(even though they weren't licensed yet)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Wellhere I go again,but this particular case is a gray area.There are some nurses I know who were nurses in Asia,but haven't got their licenses yet. Some haven't passed the Nclex just yet,but are working as nurse aides?Can't they still be called nurses?I mean,I do feel it would be disrespectful to correct them,because they really are nurses,just not in the Usa yet. They have been nurses for 20+ years at that. I love them and they are great,and they have helped me out at one time or another(even though they weren't licensed yet)[/quote']

How is this a gray area? You are either licensed as a nurse or not. Most charged in these cases are not as you describe, nurses in other jurisdictions they are individuals with fully fraudulent documentation, no graduation from any school of nursing, no passing of licensing exam, not legally a nurse in any state or country. This is not referring to IENs unless the IEN presented fraudulent licensing documents claiming to be currently licensed in TX when in fact they were not a licensed TX nurse and thus not entitled to use the title or work in a job as a licensed nurse. Due to training and licensing differences there is no reciprocity of nursing licenses between countries. Legally they are an IEN or a Filipino nurse but not a US or TX nurse.

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I understand.I want to use an example.Can't I legally present myself as an Rn if I went to Texas,even though I'm not licensed in that state?My state also isn't one of the Compact states,but I do realize Texas is.

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

Jeez I would never even wear white when I was a CNA because I thought it was disrespectful...I wasn't a nurse! When I worked in EMS (I was an EMT-Intermediate) people would say "oh, you are a paramedic"? and I was quick to correct them. People work hard for their license and title and people shouldn't disrespect that by claiming to be something they aren't.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

The last few facilities I've worked at, the RNs have a specific colored scrub top, and "RN" is embroidered on the breast, along with the hospital name/logo. Of course, I also work in OB, where everyone has the option of wearing the hospital scrubs, including CNAs, techs, etc. So again, the lines still do get blurred.

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Btw,I know the wuestions I am asking have nothing to do with the opening post.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
I understand.I want to use an example.Can't I legally present myself as an Rn if I went to Texas,even though I'm not licensed in that state?My state also isn't one of the Compact states,but I do realize Texas is.

How are you able to work in one state if you're not licensed in that state and you're not part of the Compact?

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There was a thread way back,some 8 yrs ago,where Veterinary Techs were calling themselves "animal nurses".I saw nothing wrong with that.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
There was a thread way backsome 8 yrs ago,where Veterinary Techs were calling themselves "animal nurses".I saw nothing wrong with that.[/quote']

You are splitting hairs here. If an "animal nurse" skipped the "animal" part of heir self appointed title they would be breaking the law in the majority of US states.

This has nothing to do with the original post of those prosecuted or issued cease & desist notices by TX BoN for practicing nursing without a valid license or presenting that they are a licensed nurse when they are not.

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How are you able to work in one state if you're not licensed in that state and you're not part of the Compact?
I'm not talking about to work,but in conversations with new friends(if I were to move to Texas).I know most "laypeople" won't bother to look up my name in the Nj website.Some states make it hard to look up a nurse by name alone.I did notice while working in NC employers didn't require us to show our licenses.Most just said they would look it up online,as if that's foolproof.I think its better to present an ACTUAL license,and then the employer would still have to look it up.That's how employers in my home state would do it.You had better have that license the day you fill out the application or come in for an interview.
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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Not all states issue paper licenses (which can be falsified ). Many states offer online verification of active licensing.

NJ BoN requires employers to use the online or call in/faxed back for employers to verify active licenses. As do many other states

Nursys has a specific service for employers to verify licenses in participating states for employers to use.

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