Are CNA's considered "Nurses"?

[nursesherry]

I am a new nurse but was a CNA for 15 years before going to school. I was never referred to as a nurse when I was a CNA. I recently went to work in a Doc office where the CNA refers to herself as a Nurse and all of the office personelle refer to her as a nurse. She does everything that I do. I was suprised at this. I have since found that many Doc offices utilize CNA's as nurses. Is this a new thing? I don't want to sound caddy but it just kind of seems like my blood, sweat and tears I put into Nursing school was for nothing if a CNA can do my job. Please don't think this is a smack to CNA's because I have much respect for them as I was one myself for so many years. I would just like to hear some opinions.

[crb613, BSN, RN]

I am a new nurse but was a CNA for 15 years before going to school. I was never referred to as a nurse when I was a CNA. I recently went to work in a Doc office where the CNA refers to herself as a Nurse and all of the office personelle refer to her as a nurse. She does everything that I do. I was suprised at this. I have since found that many Doc offices utilize CNA's as nurses. Is this a new thing? I don't want to sound caddy but it just kind of seems like my blood, sweat and tears I put into Nursing school was for nothing if a CNA can do my job. Please don't think this is a smack to CNA's because I have much respect for them as I was one myself for so many years. I would just like to hear some opinions.

NO NO NO!!!! A CNA class in Ky. is 75 hrs/ 16 hrs. clinicals. CNA's cannot give meds or insert/remove anything from the body(except enemia). CNA's work under supervision of a nurse. I know this because i'm in the class now. We are taught to correct anyone that referred to us as a nurse as its fraud/nursing without a license.CRB613

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

i am a new nurse but was a cna for 15 years before going to school. i was never referred to as a nurse when i was a cna. i recently went to work in a doc office where the cna refers to herself as a nurse and all of the office personnel refer to her as a nurse. she does everything that i do. i was surprised at this. i have since found that many doc offices utilize cna's as nurses. is this a new thing? i don't want to sound caddy but it just kind of seems like my blood, sweat and tears i put into nursing school was for nothing if a cna can do my job. please don't think this is a smack to cna's because i have much respect for them as i was one myself for so many years. i would just like to hear some opinions.

we nurses have lost our titles entirely. let me explain...

for the most part, we address docs by their title & then their sir name...right? what's happened to nursing is that folks in healthcare (starting with ourselves on up to docs) don't respect our titles anymore. we used to be referred to as nurse _______(fill-in your sir name). now we're...lisa, jen, dave, jeff, the nurse. in fact...most of my co-workers (especially the male ones) will refer themselves as the rn or lpn/lvn...they go in & say: "hi i'm dave, your rn"...they don't even say they're the nurse to their patients! we assume that patients know the difference between cna, lpn/lvn, & rn...but many don't!

perhaps we should go back to using our titles with our sir name & not rely so much on the lettering behind our names....yeah that might be a bit uptight or formal...but at least we would get some respect back as nurses...at least imho.

cheers!

moe