Calling yourself an RN

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I am Facebook friends with someone i work with. She lists herself as an RN where we work and she is not. She is housekeeping staff. This makes me crazy!

Specializes in Psych.

There are so many people who call themselves nurses it drives me crazy. I do not allow anyone to call me a nurse because I am not one. Some people even tell me that because I am a pre-nursing student it's almost the same. That is absolutely not true. It is a title to be earned!! I wouldn't call the security guard at the mall a police officer, so why should I address myself as a nurse?

But I would like to mention that at the clinic I go to I hear doctors and midwives call MA's nurses all the time. With that going on how are people not letting it go to their head?

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There are so many people who call themselves nurses it drives me crazy. I do not allow anyone to call me a nurse because I am not one. Some people even tell me that because I am a pre-nursing student it's almost the same. That is absolutely not true. It is a title to be earned!! I wouldn't call the security guard at the mall a police officer, so why should I address myself as a nurse?

But I would like to mention that at the clinic I go to I hear doctors and midwives call MA's nurses all the time. With that going on how are people not letting it go to their head?

I would call you a "nursling". :cat:

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Specializes in General.

I have a MA refers to herself as a nurse she triages calls, every rash is measles, so far I've only seen acne , allergic reaction to PCN, not measles SMH

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
And now you know, too. I'm still deciding your punishment, though.

While you're deciding, perhaps you should refer to your nurse practice acts to see if there is a fine involved for your state.

The more people who laugh this off as a joke, the less anyone care that it even happens at all.

I happen to care.

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.
That's tough talk, but has it ever actually happened? ...when it's only a claim and not practicing?

Good question. The person I quoted said that it wasn't illegal. I just showed that it was illegal, at least, in my state. Whether it's been enforced in the OP's situation is something I don't know.

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If she is calling herself nurse on social media AND has the place of employment listed as well (RN at ABCD Hospital) then yes, I can see her potentially losing a job over it.

I have seen more than one person who claims "someone hacked my social media" therefore, they are "not responsible" for inaccuracies.

It could be that this person is from another country where they were an RN. Some find that they are unable to get a license in America. So you never know.

Don't friend co-workers on social media. However, I would suggest that the person in question take off their place of employment (as should anyone who lists it on social media). There are many human resource and public relations portions of facilities who do keep track of social media and when their facility is mentioned.

And you may want to private message and say "the hospital gets all in a tiff if people claim they are RN's for them and they are not. I would probably put your degree level "BSN" or "ASN" instead, and take off the hospital name."

In any event, make it a personal "policy" to keep work and not work separate.

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While you're deciding, perhaps you should refer to your nurse practice acts to see if there is a fine involved for your state.

The more people who laugh this off as a joke, the less anyone care that it even happens at all.

I happen to care.

Do you personally know of anyone who has actually been fined for calling themselves a nurse? I'm genuinely curious...

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Do you personally know of anyone who has actually been fined for calling themselves a nurse? I'm genuinely curious...

I could see this if someone who says they are a nurse does something that causes patient harm (from triaging incorrectly to giving bad advice to giving immunizations that cause a skin reaction from poor technique) and the patient files a lawsuit because of it. Then come to find out the person is not a nurse but an MA, CNA, took care of granny for a few years, I do private duty kind of stuff.

So if it becomes a legal issue, I can see a person being fined. Otherwise, the sheer numbers of people who claim to be a nurse when they are not would be far too much for anyone to enforce consistently.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Do you personally know of anyone who has actually been fined for calling themselves a nurse? I'm genuinely curious...

I don't personally know, however, my state BON reports on people who are impersonating LPNs or RNs; people are fined and are not allowed to practice as a nurse; usually rendering then not allowed to practice in any state, due to that pesky fraudulent act... :cool:

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I don't personally know, however, my state BON reports on people who are impersonating LPNs or RNs; people are fined and are not allowed to practice as a nurse; usually rendering then not allowed to practice in any state, due to that pesky fraudulent act... :cool:

I tried to look it up, but don't seem able to for PA. Have you seen actual discipline records related to claiming to be a nurse? Not acting as one ...but just saying you are one?

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.
Good question. The person I quoted said that it wasn't illegal. I just showed that it was illegal, at least, in my state. Whether it's been enforced in the OP's situation is something I don't know.

The state board news letter in my state includes discipline cases. I've seen about 1/2-dozen cases with each quarterly issue naming the offender, the offense of impersonating an RN (includes everything from email signature, verbalizing, posting on social media), and the penalty. Most cases have been closed with a "cease and desist" letter and fine. Not sure if the OP's state board does the same, but it might be worth looking into as a way of establishing credence.

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The state board news letter in my state includes discipline cases. I've seen about 1/2-dozen cases with each quarterly issue naming the offender, the offense of impersonating an RN (includes everything from email signature, verbalizing, posting on social media), and the penalty. Most cases have been closed with a "cease and desist" letter and fine. Not sure if the OP's state board does the same, but it might be worth looking into as a way of establishing credence.

Interesting! I've never seen or heard of anything like that...

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