Forced to wear nurses' hat

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Every Sunday when we serve we have to wear all white with the nurses' cap. Everyone on the nurses ministry hate wearing the hat for obvious reasons( falls off, gets dirty, ugly). I liked the hate during pinning but now I despise it. Another, issue some of us have is that not everyone on the nursing ministry are nurses. Some people are techs, respiratory therapists and secretaries. I feel they are misreprensented when wearing the nurses hats as everyone assume we are all nurses. We have voiced our concerns to the lead nurse in charge but she will not budge and forces us to wear the hats.

We wanted to make our case more prominant but couldn't find anything evidenced based or strong to make our case.

I'm happy to be serving and I mainly do this for my love for God. I know this is what He wants me to do.

Have any of you ever been forced to wear these hats? If so, how did you handle it?

Columnist

tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

83 Articles; 5,923 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

People who are not nurses should not be referred to as nurses. Many states have laws against people who are not licensed as nurses representing themselves as nurses.

Also.......what is the function of the "nursing ministry"?

Back to the hat question........ I haven't had to wear a hat in years.

Cathy4836

71 Posts

Specializes in Orthopedics; Oncology.

Have not warn a hat since 1980 in the Stone Age.....?

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

elkpark

14,633 Posts

(Oooops, posted in error.)

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

So the nurses ministry at my church consist of anyone who works in the health care field or have the desire.

3 of us serve on Sunday, we sit on the pulpit at church. If there is an emergency we respond, or if someone have any minor compliant or issues we tend to their needs. If we have a member in distress we take vital signs and allow them to rest in the health suite, we have sent several members out to the hospital via EMS as well. One person c/o CP, another person had a B/P that was 190/110, another was a seizure.

Once a month we do B/P screenings. We also check BGL as needed for diabetics and have snacks if they need it.

We faciliate health fairs and blood drives. We educate members about various common illnesses. We also faclilate visits to those who are ill or in the hosptial. We also document on all members we see. Ofcourse, more importantly we offer prayer.

That is basically it in a nutshell.

Columnist

tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

83 Articles; 5,923 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Since there are others besides nurses who participate in this ministry, perhaps you should think about changing the name. You could call it the health ministry team. If you want a visible and identifying sign for members to wear during Sunday services or other events, badges or vests should suffice.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

The ministry leader- AND the church staff - need to be made aware that having non-nurses wear a nurse's cap (it's not a 'hat') is misrepresenting their role and COULD open them up to legal difficulties.

If you don't personally like wearing a cap, and it's that big a deal to you, no one is forcing you to serve.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

I'm not being forced to serve but I am being forced to wear the cap. Not serving is not an option for me at this time as I know this is what God wants me to do ( even though, my flesh doesnt want to at times).

I just needed to vent. I'll always wear the cap but I will vent about it from time to time.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

Great idea! Although, I doubt the director will go for that.

Columnist

tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

83 Articles; 5,923 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
I feel they are misreprensented when wearing the nurses hats as everyone assume we are all nurses. We have voiced our concerns to the lead nurse in charge but she will not budge and forces us to wear the hats.

We wanted to make our case more prominant but couldn't find anything evidenced based or strong to make our case.

You might want to pass this compelling information on to the lead nurse in charge.

Per the American Nurses Association:

Restricting use of the title "nurse" to only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements for licensure as outlined in each state's nurse practice act is a protection for the public against unethical, unscrupulous, and incompetent practitioners. Nurse practice acts describe entry level qualifications such as education, practice standards and code of conduct for continued privilege to practice nursing. Limiting use of the title "nurse" to only those who have satisfied the licensure requirements ensures the protection the public deserves.

At least 37 states are known to have language in their Nurse Practice Act; either explicit in restricting use of the title "nurse" to only those who are licensed or implicit language restricting use of any words implying the individual is a licensed nurse.....

Maryland is one of the 37 states that has language which restricts the use of the title "nurse".

Here is what the Maryland Nurse Practice Acts states:

Maryland

(2005) Repealing and Reenacting, with amendments; Article - Health Occupations Section 8-710 (a)(6)

(b) unless authorized to practice registered nursing or licensed practical

nursing under this title, a person may not use the word" nurse" to describe the profession of the person.

© unless authorized to practice registered nursing under this title, a

person may not use the words or terms" registered nurse", the abbreviation" RN", or any other title, symbol, abbreviation, sign, card, device, or other representation with the intent to represent that the person practices registered nursing.

(d) unless authorized to practice licensed practical nursing under this title,

a person may not use the words or terms "licensed practical nurse", the abbreviation "LPN", or any other title, symbol, abbreviation, sign, card, device, or other representation with the intent to represent that the person practices licensed practical nursing.

The use of a nursing cap would be considered a "device, or other representation with the intent to represent that the person practices registered nursing."

What your lead nurse is advocating is not a legal practice and could get your church in trouble.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN

1,939 Posts

TNbutterfly, You rock!!! that is all....

Columnist

tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

83 Articles; 5,923 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
TNbutterfly, You rock!!! that is all....

Well thank you! :)

How are things going?

I thought about you last night when my Health and Wellness Committee was helping with a ministry activity at church last night. I could just picture me telling them they all had to wear caps. HAHAHA

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