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?????
Wow your are laid back...my spouse is the same way. Thats a good way to be!!
I have worked with the nurses who think everyone is trying to take their license or question their competence...and the ones who are secure and dont really care what others say or think.
I think some people make the "im a nurse" statement...maybe innocently..then there are some who know that they are trying to pull the wool over. Gotta watch for those. I was always told was that no one was a "Nurse" unless a "Registered Nurse" and unfortunately LPN's were not looked at as the same. I dont know...I just know we need quality staff with work ethic!!!!!! How bout it!!
I have worked with the nurses who think everyone is trying to take their license or question their competence...and the ones who are secure and dont really care what others say or think.
I am competent, I am secure, I don't care what others say or think about me. I do not however appreciate non-nurses impersonating those of us who legitimately earned the right to use the title of "nurse". My opinion is that they are jealous. They want the respect, the title and the salary. The only way they'll get it is by going to school and earning it.
It agravates me. At my last job we had a TMA who not only called herself a nurse...she would fill out the charge nurse assignment book, and often even change it after the charge nurse had filled it out! For whatever reason...the nurses there wouldn't put their foot down. It drove me NUTS.
I could tell I REALLY made her mad though one day lol. A resident wheeled up to me and asked who her nurse was. I (honestly didn't know the TMA was there) nicely told her her trained med aid was ***. Boy...did I get a dirty look!
THe way I looked at it....I was in my last semester of RN school..and that TMA treated me like an idiot because I was only a part time CNA. She's not a nurse and the residents have the right to know that if they're mentally oriented.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Wow your are laid back...my spouse is the same way. Thats a good way to be!!
I have worked with the nurses who think everyone is trying to take their license or question their competence...and the ones who are secure and dont really care what others say or think.
I think some people make the "im a nurse" statement...maybe innocently..then there are some who know that they are trying to pull the wool over. Gotta watch for those. I was always told was that no one was a "Nurse" unless a "Registered Nurse" and unfortunately LPN's were not looked at as the same. I dont know...I just know we need quality staff with work ethic!!!!!! How bout it!!
Interesting that you bring this up; each time one of these posts creep up, I remember times where LPNs have NOT been considered as nurses; that we are not 'nurse enough' or other things. There may be a difference in the scope of practice, or education, but, we learned 'data gathering', the nursing process, disease processes, patient teaching, pharmacology and took state board exams that license us to practice. We have to take responsibility for our actions similar to the RNs. I AM a nurse, but I do not misrepresent myself as being an RN. If we are not nurses, then, what the heck are we?
It is definitely illegal in all 50 states to misrepresent yourself as a nurse. If you do not have an LPN, ASSOCIATE degree in Nursing, BSN, etc, and are not currently licened in your state, you can be charged with practicing without a license, as well as other offenses. Next time someone calls themselves a nurse, its time to get a witness, and file it with the Board of Nursing. You can file a claim in confidence with all 50 Boards.More power to you!
Wow your are laid back...my spouse is the same way. Thats a good way to be!!
I have worked with the nurses who think everyone is trying to take their license or question their competence...and the ones who are secure and dont really care what others say or think.
I think some people make the "im a nurse" statement...maybe innocently..then there are some who know that they are trying to pull the wool over. Gotta watch for those. I was always told was that no one was a "Nurse" unless a "Registered Nurse" and unfortunately LPN's were not looked at as the same. I dont know...I just know we need quality staff with work ethic!!!!!! How bout it!!
I agree with the "quality staff with work ethic" Just because they are an RN does not necessarily mean they are someone I want working with me. RN just says they passed college and passed their boards. Thats all. Work ethics mean different things to different people.
I suppose it really depends on the context. For example, lets say I was stiffed on my last pay check and want a night out on the town. I decide to have my night, but I cannot afford to buy more than one drink. So, I NURSE my drink all night long. I guess I could call my self a Nurse because I was a practitioner of the art of Nursing?
Honestly, I could care less what title you want to put after your name. I would not want to hurt your feelings in this politically correct world. However, it does turn into a problem when you walk into a hospital, throw a cool looking Caridiology III over your shoulder, and start performing nursing care as defined by your states BON when you are in fact something else.
This can get very complicated...i have worked in the admin role and working with R.N's...not good. I answered to the Director..an R.N. They assign duties and know where people cut corners and slack. Thats where I came in. Keeping things in order and following regs. Not all who work for you understand that there are fines and fees for not being in compliance....anyway i will stop here. too much.
to me an LPN is a nurse...a Licensed Practical Nurse. I dont understand why it has to be so mean spirited...we are supposed to have the same goal..hopefully we do!!!!!!
HHHMMM, I was told by our PD that it is illegal to refer to yourself as a 'nurse', (of ANY kind) unless you are a RN or LVN. I have to check it out for accuracy.(and penal code)
I work as a home health nurse & have to call Dr's offices to get orders. Lots of times the "nurse" is the one getting the order from the doc & calling me back or okaying orders. Once I had a pt. on coumadin & I was trying to get orders to do lab draws but the doc wasn't calling back. Finally, after about 5 days the doc called back, furious. I told her I talked to her "nurse" who said such & such (can't remember the specifics). Come to find out that "nurse" isn't a nurse but a "patient coordinator" whatever that is. In the end I ended up doing my part & documented all my calls. The doc was only mad because she messed up & had to try to blame somebody else. Well, now when I talk to the doc's staff I make sure I ask if they're a licensed RN or LVN.
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
I work as a home health nurse & have to call Dr's offices to get orders. Lots of times the "nurse" is the one getting the order from the doc & calling me back or okaying orders. Once I had a pt. on coumadin & I was trying to get orders to do lab draws but the doc wasn't calling back. Finally, after about 5 days the doc called back, furious. I told her I talked to her "nurse" who said such & such (can't remember the specifics). Come to find out that "nurse" isn't a nurse but a "patient coordinator" whatever that is. In the end I ended up doing my part & documented all my calls. The doc was only mad because she messed up & had to try to blame somebody else. Well, now when I talk to the doc's staff I make sure I ask if they're a licensed RN or LVN.
Good move but if they are not available get the person's name you are speaking with and document this. Let them know you are documenting the conversation so they will MAKE sure they pass your messages on.
meant4me2
60 Posts
Wow your are laid back...my spouse is the same way. Thats a good way to be!!
I have worked with the nurses who think everyone is trying to take their license or question their competence...and the ones who are secure and dont really care what others say or think.
I think some people make the "im a nurse" statement...maybe innocently..then there are some who know that they are trying to pull the wool over. Gotta watch for those. I was always told was that no one was a "Nurse" unless a "Registered Nurse" and unfortunately LPN's were not looked at as the same. I dont know...I just know we need quality staff with work ethic!!!!!! How bout it!!