Aide/Tech calls herself nurse

[MrsMommaRN]

Before we go on, I know this topic has been:deadhorsebut we have been dealing with this at work and it is infuriating.

We have a nursing assistant that tells her patients that she is their nurse, but she can't pass their pills or draw blood.

This person complains to staff and patients often how the nurses do nothing and the only thing separating her from nurses is the fact she does not draw blood. We have a large floor that is heavy on call lights. We all try to help answer lights etc.

I am just getting tired of the aid complaining about the nurses and how lazy we are.

I have been an aide for several years and I am now an RN. I know how it sucks sometimes to be an aide. It sucks sometimes to be a nurse. I help the aide as much as I can and ask her for help as little a possible.

I am sorry for the long post I would type more, but I don't want to bore you with the details.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i dealt with this before and what i did was flat out tell the tech that if she wants to be a nurse she should go to school and stop pretending to be something she's not. she was FURIOUS because i confronted her. guess what??? 7 years later that same girl is a nurse and we laugh about it to this day. i have also heard that some hospitals will fire cna's for misrepresenting themselves so she should be careful.

[EmmaG, RN]

Document objectively all instances where you have heard or been told by patients/families what this person has said, and take it to your NM. If it were *just* her claiming to be a nurse, I'd suggest you go to her first and confront her. Since she is also complaining to patients that nursing staff is essentially incompetent, I think this is something you need to let your manager handle.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

At our hospital every patients room has a large whip off board. ON that board we write the

date:_____ Nurses name_______ and CNA's name______

plus any other helpful information such as their activity and diets.

This would clarify everything. Plus our patients do like to know the names of our staff.

Also when I go into a room during my initial rounds, I introduce myself as their nurse and if I am lucky enough to have a CNA that day I will state "Suzy is going to be your CNA today and she will be in shortly"

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above posts. The fact that she's complaining to the patients about other staff in the hospital violates my number one pet peeve, along with misrepresenting herself and her credentials, which I believe is illegal if I'm not mistaken.

Talk to her privately, document, then go higher up. This woman is undermining her co-workers and undermining trust on the part of the patient. She's making the hospital look bad in the eyes of the public with her childish and inaccurate remarks. She severely needs a reality check and perhaps a big helping of humble pie.

[Nurseboy1]

You could point out to the CNA that in many states the title "Nurse" is protected by law. There could be serious legal rammifications for her/him if they are reported.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

In my state this is illegal. HR should be notified - which means your supervisor should be told (or go up the chain of command). Most facilities have a corporate compliance statement that includes your promise not to break ANY laws while at work.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Correct her in front of the patients, if necessary.

[TAB_RN]

I have to say, that before I became an RN, I was a PCA on an Orthopedic/Neuro floor. Many patients assumed I was a Nurse. In fact, they would refer to me as one to some of the nurses. I ALWAYS corrected them. But there were times when one of the nurses from my floor, assumed I told a patient I was her nurse. She kind of accused me of introducing me as her nurse, because of the conversation the patient had with her. I did not. So, unless you hear her saying she is a nurse, take it with a grain of salt. She should not be talking to patients about the staff at all... so I would definitely find out what is up with that.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I could not agree with you more, one time when I was working as a CNA one my patients told her nurse "the other nurse just took my B/P" the other nurse being me!...I did not tell that patient I was a nurse and she never asked if I was a nurse, since we all CNA/Lab/Resp and Nurses wear the same colored scrubs, and I took her vital signs, she must have just assumed I was a nurse.

The nurse then questioned me on why I told the patient I was a nurse.

So yes, unless you specifically hear the Tech/CNA state " I am your nurse" dont write her up or go to your mgr.

[Valerie Salva, BSN, RN]

I have worked with CNAs/techs who have told pts they were a nurse, right in front of me. Yes, I did write it up. No, nothing was done. this is pretty common.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

When a patient calls a CNA their nurse I promptly and politely set them straight. I am _____I am your nurse. _____is a nurses aide and can help you and also helps me but if you need medical information or medications you have to ask for me.