Calling yourself a "nurse"

Published

maybe its just me, but i get very bothered when someone says "i'm a nurse," and their not, their a cna, or nurse aid, or have no schooling at all and just worked their way up in a clinic. i work at a local emergency clinic 30 hours a week to gain experience in my field, and i just got accepted in ns, and i'v worked darn hard to get here! and i find it bothersome when one of the girls at work say "i'm the nurse" or something along those lines...i feel that when i graduate and pass my nclex that, only then, will i be able to say "i'm a nurse." the other day my doctor said "jamie, will you get a nurse?" i said "im sorry doc, i dont think we have any of those working here." he actually laughed and said "you know what i mean"......but is this just me?????:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

No, it's definately not you. It irritates the begeezies out of me. There have been numerous threads on this very same subject and the bottom line is...it is against the law to call yourself a nurse if you are not. Besides that it's just plain stupid and just plain wrong. (I guess you can tell it's a touchy subject for me too).

P.S. The pink is really hard on my eyes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
maybe its just me, but i get very bothered when someone says "i'm a nurse," and their not, their a cna, or nurse aid, or have no schooling at all and just worked their way up in a clinic. i work at a local emergency clinic 30 hours a week to gain experience in my field, and i just got accepted in ns, and i'v worked darn hard to get here! and i find it bothersome when one of the girls at work say "i'm the nurse" or something along those lines...i feel that when i graduate and pass my nclex that, only then, will i be able to say "i'm a nurse." the other day my doctor said "jamie, will you get a nurse?" i said "im sorry doc, i dont think we have any of those working here." he actually laughed and said "you know what i mean"......but is this just me?????:uhoh3:

all states require a nursing education and a license, in order to call yourself a nurse. and bon take a very negative view of anyone calling themselves a nurse without a license. and your doctor should know it. i wonder if he would feel the same way, if a physician assistant referred to himself as a doctor. i bet he would have a very negative attitude towards the p.a. who calls himself a physician.:angryfire

woody

Up Vote Up Vote ×

there aren't any nurses working in an er clinic???

who administers the meds, treatments?

as dutchgirl states, it is 100% illegal when personifying oneself as a nurse.

unless they're signing themselves off as a nurse, or identifying themselves as nurses to the pt population, i don't know what else can be done.

of course you can always call them to it, but if tptb are going along with it, there seems to be little support.

i don't know what or if the BON could do anything since there isn't anything overt.

i could be way off base however.

best of luck in this frustrating situation.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree... it is a lot of work to become a nurse!!! It gets confusing to patients as well when they are not sure who is actually their RN... When I was a nursing student I was always taught to clarify exactly what my position was so that patients and other staff would know what they could expect from me and what they could not. I think that goes for all hospital staff. It is very important to correctly identify oneself for patient safety and just legality!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

as dutchgirl states, it is 100% illegal when personifying oneself as a nurse.

unless they're signing themselves off as a nurse, or identifying themselves as nurses to the pt population, i don't know what else can be done.

leslie

Actually, I looked into this for my own State when this turned into a lengthy thread a few months ago. It is NOT 100% illegal to call oneself a nurse in all 50 States. In fact, in NY, it is ONLY illegal to call oneself a "Registered Professional Nurse"(or "Registered Nurse"), or "Licensed Practical Nurse" if one does not hold either of those licenses. It is only the full title that is protected.

Probably the reason why we still have "baby nurses" (AKA nannies or babysitters!) and "office nurses" (those people who wear scrubs in your pediatrician's office and take your kid's height, weight, and walk you to rooms). The "office nurse" is usually an MA, but even then not always. Anyone off the street that is hired into a physician's practice and answers the phones suddenly becomes the "office nurse".

And it is 100% legal. How infuriating is that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree! I am a student and will graduate in 9 months and hopefully pass my NCLEX to become a RN. I get really frustrated when I see someone either in or out of the clinical setting talking about how they are a nurse when they are not. I am working very hard to EARN that title and I hate hearing people use it so freely!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Even though I already graduated from LVN school, I don't call myself a nurse and I won't until I get a license saying that I am. At work my badge says "student nurse" but I work under a CNA protocol, so I tell those patients who ask if I'm a nurse that I'm just an aide and that I will get my license soon (more like someday) and by then I WILL BE a nurse :)

Peace,

Vivi

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I met a new neighbor the other day who said she was a nurse and then went into how much she hated it...only to find out she was actually a unit secretary...ughhhh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

IN SC it is indeed illegal for a person who is not a nurse to represent him/herself as one. This law was passed years ago by the State Legislature and is enforcable, albeit rarely done.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah - I gotta agree - It makes me mad that people will come in to visit their loved one, claim to be a nurse, criticise everyone's care and then we all find out that the family member is not a nurse, but a CNA, or a lab tech or something stupid like that!!! I worked hard to be able to call myself a "nurse"!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I don't think the public has a clue. If they take can take a pulse and wear scrubs, they're a nurse. Oh and the female part goes a long way too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion