Practicing without a license

Yes, she should be reported...In Texas she would have had her driver's license picture posted in the BNE's circular that is sent out every 3 months with the words "Imposter Alert" above it...

They do this to try and keep them from going to another employer and pulling the same thing.

I knew a surg tech who went around posing as a surgical "nurse" all the time. She would tell doctors this. I also believe the individual should be reported. There is something fundamentally wrong with her character and if let off the hook, there is a good chance that she will be dangerous to work around in other ways. Knowing this about her, I wouldn't want to work with her in the OR, or any other department. There are too many honest people who can't get to square one and this person pulled this at a good job. I can not feel sorry for her.

Read the following clearly and without bias please! You must report to your facilities corporate compliance people/ line if you choose not to follow immediate chain of command for whatever reason.

DO THE RIGHT THING FOR all those involved! You will come out on top and more likely to be respected in the end.

Just Do The Right Thing!!!!!


It's so fundamentally basis it IS beyond the daily interpretation of the word BASIC. Adapt and move on. And keep your head down, eyes wide open. NO SURPRISES!

You said: I kind of feel like my hard work to get my BSN was not worth it since a tech with half the training can do virtually everything I can in the OR. A floor RN has many more responsibilities than a tech, but not so in the OR

Don't sell yourself - and the rest of us- short. Every day, with every patient, you make assessments and plan your care accordingly. Techs don't have the education to assess patients.

As a registered nurse, it is is your duty as a professional to report this to your state board of nursing. If she's done it once, she'll do it again, and needs to be stopped before something catastrophic happens to a patient.

Remember, the bottom line IS the patient!

My Goodness! Not only does the Tech need to be prevented from getting her License but YOUR Manager should be reported as well for doing nothing. I Will be happy to do it if you don't just give me the info. Also if you don't do it yourself it could be viewed as aiding and abeding.

I would have to agree, reporting this would be the most responsible thing you can do. If you do not feel comfortable doing this then submit the information anonymously. You did work hard for your BSN, and you need to protect it. In the BSN program we are taught ethics and morals, and those boundaries have been crossed by the management team that you put your trust into. Do what you believe is right!! Good Luck, and keep us posted.

Obviously you don't know the difference between an OR RN and a scrub tech. We tend to remind techs what they can and can't do. GOOD, Qualified techs don't need this reminding.