Annoyed- Surgical Tech does NOT equal Nurse!

[Sue Damones]

A little annoyed by this... she stated in interviews that she went to school to be a surgical tech, and equates that with being a surgical nurse. UGH!

http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Minka-Kelly-Used-to-Work-as-Nurse-to-Pay-Bills-3584821.html

http://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=225&num=325188

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/70784/20101011/esquire-names-minka-kelly-as-sexiest-woman-alive.htm

[crazykate]

Thank you I really appreciate that, best wishes to you!

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Ok, cause some times I feel as though it bothers some people when LVN's call themselves nurses, Like nurses that have further education.

I am an LPN with 26+ years experience and I would go toe to toe with any RN in anything below an ICU setting. Yes, they have had a longer education, but IMHO that doesn't make them "better" than I am. We BOTH have 'nurse' in our title.

I know there are RNs who know way more than I do (my daughter for one):heartbeat, and I know there are RNs who couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag on the floor. Of course, there are LPNs who couldn't find their way out a wet paper bag either.

Those who have more knowledge should gently teach/inform those who don't when appropriate:yeah:, not make them feel bad because of their academic status.

Most LPNs know their "limitations" both legally and knowledge-wise. But never feel "less than" because of it.

[MattiesMama]

Hmm...just a thought but I ran across a job posting the other day for a surgical tech that stated they would also consider an LPN with OR experience. Don't know if that was the case here or not...

I do agree the "nurse" title is thrown around way too willy nilly. I went to visit a friend in the hospital the other day and the CNA waltzed in to his room and said "Good morning, I'm ____ and I'm going to be your nurse for tonight" I asked if he was an LPN or an RN (knowing full well he was neither since it said CNA in big bold letters right on his nametag"-he said "oh, no I'm not one of those". I just smiled and said "Oh, I'm sorry, I must have heard you incorrectly because I thought you said you were his nurse".

[AmericanRN]

I have a question, is it not appropriate for a LVN to consider themselves a Nurse.

An LVN IS a nurse. LVN =Licensed Vocational Nurse.

I might be an RN but I darn well consider LPNs to be nurses because they are. I can't stand the whole LPN vs RN vs every other inital of the alphabet game that people get into. I've met excellent LPNs & RNs and I've met crappy ones. I would happily accept tips, hints, tricks of the trade from an experienced LPN over an inexperienced RN.

[Irock]

It should be against the law to call yourself a nurse if you're not a licensed nurse.

It IS against the law!

[crazykate]

Thank you so much I feel much better calling myself a nurse now! I didn't want to insult anyone with further education than me if I was being inappropriate. I am a new grad LVN and hope that one day I can further my education. I am young and am just proud that I have gotten to the place in my life now where I can call myself a nurse. I know I still have a lot to learn still yet, but I think that is a continual process in this career. So thank you for clearing that up for me.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I have a question, is it not appropriate for a LVN to consider themselves a Nurse.

Of course that's appropriate. You're a nurse. You went to nursing school. You took your boards, and passed, and got a license and initials after your name and all that jazz. You, LPNs, RNs, and RNs with advanced degrees- we're the people that actually get to call ourselves nurses. That's it.

[crazykate]

You, LPNs, RNs, and RNs with advanced degrees- we're the people that actually get to call ourselves nurses. That's it.

I love this =]

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I work with a surg tech who wants to be a nurse. While sitting on a stool scrubbed in, she directs the nurses how to do their jobs, she tells the surgeons how to do surgery and she tells anesthesia how to do their jobs too. Guess what she is supposed to be doing? HER job. The surgeon she was working with one day got really fed up with it. He was doing a very difficult multi-ligament knee graft and she was supposed to be suctioning while he was sewing the ligaments. She was very concerned that I was doing something out of her line of vision (I was chatting with the CRNA about lab values) and wanted to offer her opinion. The surgeon yelled at her, "You have ONE job to do, and that is to suction. Now shut up and SUCK!" I could have kissed the man!

It seems that she knows just enough to be dangerous, and her "suggestions" make her look like a jackwagon. One day I was messing with her and said outloud, "Wow, our next patient's INR is 6. Think that is good or bad?" She said, "Oh, yeah, that's a good value." I just shook my head while the residents LAUGHED. I wonder if she calls herself a nurse outside of the OR? Hmm....

[OCNRN63, RN]

I work with a surg tech who wants to be a nurse. While sitting on a stool scrubbed in, she directs the nurses how to do their jobs, she tells the surgeons how to do surgery and she tells anesthesia how to do their jobs too. Guess what she is supposed to be doing? HER job. The surgeon she was working with one day got really fed up with it. He was doing a very difficult multi-ligament knee graft and she was supposed to be suctioning while he was sewing the ligaments. She was very concerned that I was doing something out of her line of vision (I was chatting with the CRNA about lab values) and wanted to offer her opinion. The surgeon yelled at her, "You have ONE job to do, and that is to suction. Now shut up and SUCK!" I could have kissed the man!

It seems that she knows just enough to be dangerous, and her "suggestions" make her look like a jackwagon. One day I was messing with her and said outloud, "Wow, our next patient's INR is 6. Think that is good or bad?" She said, "Oh, yeah, that's a good value." I just shook my head while the residents LAUGHED. I wonder if she calls herself a nurse outside of the OR? Hmm....

I don't know which I like better: "Shut up and SUCK!" or saying someone looks like a jackwagon. Either way, they both made me laugh.

[Scrubby]

Just glad that surgical techs are still a foreign concept to me.