But she's not a nurse!

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I just started a new position running a clinic. The clinic is staffed by myself and one CNA. I am so happy to be working with this CNA as she has over 15 years experience working in this clinic and is a wealth of knowledge and help to me. I adore her. She is very nice and cooperative. I only have one problem with the entire situation. Everyone who comes to the clinic calls her, Nurse Judy. All of the employee handouts and printed information and brochures have her listed as Nurse Judy. They have me listed as Nurse Diane. As if we were one in the same. I am a RN and of course her supervisor. She is 20 years my senior and I really do have alot of respect for her. I just can't live with her using the Nurse designation. I know it is against the law and I'm thinking that is the angle I will try and to set the record strait. Other people who work in the company would never let thier assistants be called thier own professional titles. All of the other staff are non medical. They have worked with Judy for years, they trust her and love her. Any ideas on how to handle this?

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Well done, Flowerchild. And perhaps you could start a trend of "Miz Judy" or "Miz J" like we do here in SC.

P (or is that Miz P)

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BBelle

I am sure MA's are very well trained and professtionals in their own right. I havent seen a post here that stated otherwise.

But you are not nurses. In addition to the skills you listed nurses are trained to assess patients and to know the appropreate actions to take in a varitry of medical situations.

Although I think the indirect approch flower child took in this situation was appropreate. I think We need to petition the ANA to push the issue of only useing the tittle nurse if you are licensed as such.

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Nurse- A person who is skilled and trained in caring for the sick....

I took the liberty of using a dictionary, you know that thing that defines words. Well of course you do, you paid the money and got that big college degree right.

sorry, just playing devels advocate...........

but anyway that is what it says according to

http://www.askjeeves.com

it dont say nuttin about hav'n a degree in anyting!

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many nurses dont have a degree and I dont think anyone has mentioned that as criteria to be a nurse.

Im sure if you looked up doctor it wouldent say anything about 8 years of college and 4 years of residancy( or however long it is). I doubt it would mention licensing. Yet how many people have you seen sent to prison for impersonating doctors?

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I enjoyed reading all the postings, and I do agree with what is being said. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse. We are not CNA's, MA's, RRT's, etc. We go to school for a defined period of time and go to nursing school. I am happy that Judy is very good. But what is she was bad at what she did? She would be giving nursing a bad name, and the patients may generalize to other nurses because of a bad experience. In my state, we must be an LPN or RN, in order to use the title, "nurse". I think that in order to use the title, you should put in your time and earn it!!! In order to show what great things nurses do, we need to make sure that our patients know who the nurses are, and who they are not. I think using nametags: Judy, CNA and your name with RN after would help to simplify matters. I do agree that changing the written materials would help too. We as nurses need to promote our profession and not allow anyone to use that title unless, they really are one. I also think that some of your patients would be rather taken aback, by the fact that the doctors or the administration overseeing your clinic, only invests in one nurse and a CNA. I think that if the patients knew that Judy was not a nurse, they might start asking questions and want to know why there are not more nurses to take care of them. Also, the opposite may happen, once they find out that Judy is not a nurse, they may have a lower opinion or nursing, and wonder what the big deal is all about if a CNA does the same job as a nurse. This would only hurt our profession!! We need to give ourselves credit and make the community more aware of what a nurse is!!! joenp

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It is by far not the same thing as impersonating a doctor in any respect. if she used "Judy Lastname LPN" as an official title when in reality she is a CNA or MA then yes that is impersonating, but people, people this is a term of endearment of sorts that patients placed on her for wipping there butt. I dont see a reason to be bent out of shape over it. You can change the pamphlets or whatever but someone who has been going to see "nurse judy" for 10 years isnt going to change what they call her to appease the new boss.

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Ummm..I never said that we should belittle "Nurse" Judy. I said that the matter should be addressed in a subtle manner. Rapport, schmapport...she is not a nurse and she shouldn't call herself one.

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:roll :imbar :roll :imbar :roll well lets settle your claims dayray.

doctor- 1. a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a phd) conferred by a university.

2. one skilled or specializing in healling arts; especially: a physician surgeon dentist, or vetrinarian who is licensed to practice. licensed conferred by a university academic degrees

:eek:

open mouth insert foot!

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oh and by the way I work in corrections and have yet to meet anyone sent to prison for impersonating a doctor.

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What DO they do with people who impersonate doctors?You know I stole a pair of scrubs for my boyfriend from L&D once cause he said they looked comfy and wanted them to sleep in .Well, one night , we were cooking dinner and he had to go to my car to get the big carving knife(we had just moved).Well, he was wearing the scrubs. He comes back inside and said,"I just realized that I was walking down the street,dressed like a doctor carrying a big knife...that couldn't have looked good,"

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Well, I know one thing...in Texas we get a bi monthly newsletter from our BON and they have detailed info including PHOTOS of people who impersonate nurses....and ask for our help locating them. They always state they have reported the matter to the authorities for prosecution.

I can't imagine doctor impersonators getting lighter treatment...

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nurse-prac-ti-tion-er

Pronunciation: -prak-'ti-sh(&-)n&r

Function: noun

Date: 1969

: a registered nurse who is qualified through advanced training to assume some of the duties and responsibilities formerly assumed only by a physician

registered nurse

Function: noun

Date: 1896

: a graduate trained nurse who has been licensed by a state authority after qualifying for registration

licensed practical nurse Function: noun

Date: 1951

: a person who has undergone training and obtained a license (as from a state) conferring authorization to provide routine care for the sick

nurse

Pronunciation: 'n&rs

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French nurice, from Late Latin nutricia, from Latin, feminine of nutricius nourishing -- more at NUTRITIOUS

Date: 13th century

1 a : a woman who suckles an infant not her own : WET NURSE b : a woman who takes care of a young child : DRY NURSE

2 : one that looks after, fosters, or advises

3 : a person who is skilled or trained in caring for the sick or infirm especially under the supervision of a physician

4 a : a member of an insect society that belongs to the worker caste and cares for the young b : a female mammal used to suckle the young of another

....Interesting, eh?

S_BSN

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