Representing yourself to the public as a nurse when you are not a nurse

Nurses Relations

Published

A family member was recently seen in an ER. One of her care providers introduced himself as a "med tech" and the family member asked "What does that mean?" and the response was " it is the same thing as a nurse". My family member went on to watch everything this person did while she was there, and saw vital signs, linen changes, positioning changes, paperwork, and things in the scope of a nurse assistant. This family member happened to know the difference, and we talked about this when she came home from the ER.

Is there a way to handle this, as I know this post is not the first one to discuss unlicensed assistive personnel representing themselves as nurses. The family member asked a nurse about it, and she just smiled and said that there was a difference and they did really need the help of med techs. (Which is nice, but doesn't solve the issue of representing oneself as a nurse when in fact they are not.) Should she mention this in the patient comment survey that she will most likely receive or not? Thoughts?

This reminds me of a situation that happened just after nursing school. I was at dinner with a group of friends and the waiter came up and asked if we all worked together. One person said; "No, but we're all nurses!" I was the only RN at the table, the remaining three people were all Vet Techs. And yes, they still refer to themselves as Pet Nurses. It's amazing how the word "nurse" is thrown around, so now when I'm asked I say; "RN".

But this guy never said he was a nurse. He just said a med tech does the same thing a nurse does. Presumptutous and annoying? Yes. Misrepresentation? No.

I think the real frustrating fact here is that companies (such as hospitals, LTC, ALFs, etc.) are finding ways to circumvent their way around employing the properly licensed staff. Sometimes, it is nurses who encourage this behavior - because the nurse has allowed more and more of their responsibilities to be delegated to subordinate staff. I'm not complaining though, it is this behavior that contributed to my position as an LPN.

Maybe the man in the ER did not do a good job of explaining his title, but I don't think he misrepresented himself. Furthermore, it is evenly likely that many of these "med techs" are expected to function in a manner that is more in line with a nurse's responsibility than what is actually advertised.

I would encourage all nurse's to take ownership of all the duties and responsibilities of what is expected of a nurse. This is one of our best defenses for maintaining the integrity of being a nurse. Nurses should also encourage their nursing organizations to fight for legislation that would limit and better define these types of positions. This action should help to educate the public and help them to make more informed about the practices of their health care providers.

I resent a medical assistant, with a minimal post HS education, telling patients, that he/she, is the, "same as a nurse". Excuse me???

And we wonder why the general public, thinks that we are overpaid babysitters who wipe buts, and pass out ice water.

He was completely out of line to tell a patient that his job is the same as a nurse. I don't expect a nurses aide, to go into a detailed account of the difference between their educational background, and an RN, but I do expect them to be truthful about what their job is.

That is why you have patients and family members, complaining to management, about, "the nurse came in and did not fix my IV that was beeping, or give me pain medication". And all along, it was the housekeeper who came in to the room. But the patient's nurse gets yelled at, and chastized for not providing, "good customer service".

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I worked with an RN once who continually introduced himself as a 'colleague of Dr. So and So', and kept his name badge turned backwards. Most family members took that to mean he was a physician. When he eventually got fired, that played a HUGE part in the decision.

Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
How did they represent themselves as a nurse? When asked the person stated they were a Med Tech.

This^

I worked with an RN once who continually introduced himself as a 'colleague of Dr. So and So', and kept his name badge turned backwards. Most family members took that to mean he was a physician. When he eventually got fired, that played a HUGE part in the decision.

And well he should. The word "colleague" implies equality. In your example the equality would have been professional. Nurses and physicians are not professionally equal. It seems the intent of your coworker was deception.

I detected no intent of deception on the part of the OP's MedTech. It sounds like he was just another harried and overworked employee who was just trying to deflect a protracted explanation of the myriad of hospital employee job titles.

But he described his job title, and therefore, and misrepresented, his skill level, and education, to be the same as an RN or LPN. When he stated that it was, "the same as a nurse", he was misrepresented himself. Go to a doctors' office, and see if the PA or NP, tells the patient that they are the, " same as a doctor". Or go to a law office, and see what happens if the Paralegal tells potential clients, that he/she, is, "just like a lawyer". Your head would roll. The fact that so many individuals don't care what this jerk calls himself, is what is wrong with nursing. We do not respect ourselves enough to get angry at a person who represents themselves as a nurse. And we wonder why the public doesn't care.

Big difference in skill level and education.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

somewhere in the PACNW

I resent a medical assistant, with a minimal post HS education, telling patients, that he/she, is the, "same as a nurse". Excuse me???

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

I recently had a MA tell me that at my last appointment with my PCP. Even though she was an MA she basically did all the things a nurse did. Of course I now she was full of it. Funny part was she said that when she went to MA school she was told that after a certain amount of time on the job she could challenge the nursing board to take the test to become a LPN. When she tried to they laughed at her and said she had been lied to.

Next time someone tells me that who is not actually a nurse I am going to tell them, no they aren't. Like someone said, if you went to a doctors office the PA or NP would not tell you they are the same as a doctor(even though I've encountered one or two that have been better than a lot of doctors I've seen) Not to diss the professions, but in most cases most of the PA's and NP's I've come across have been incompetent. The exception is my neurosurgeons PA.

Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

This brings to mind a situation that occurred this weekend at work. I'm a CNA in an acute care hospital. I introduced myself as a CNA to the confused (demented) patient and his family. When the (adorable) confused pt asked his family who I was (not 1 minute after I introduced myself) they said, "she is your nurse." I never correct that kind of thing although I would NEVER say I'm a nurse or even "like a nurse". In a one on one situation, I'd just reiterate I'm your nursing assistant, but if they keep calling me a nurse, as often happens, I do not continually correct them. For the record though, I think it's innappropriate and wrong to say "I'm like a nurse". I want to be a nurse and respect the profession to much to demean it that way.

Yup fill out the form so the person can lose their job hopefully youll sleep better at night

I think it should be addressed and mentioned since it is not a good thing to misrepresent yourself. Nurses have a reputation to protect so it is best that your family member should really talk about this. It can help improve how personnel is being handled. If the position needs a nurse, then one should hire a nurse instead of other medical courses. Each medical care personnel has a responsibility, so it is best that job duties and responsibilities should be clearly defined.

+ Add a Comment