Can I refer to myself as RN or the school nurse

[kkanady]

Hi all, I am a RN with an ADN degree and accepted a position as a nursing assistant because a school nurse has to have at least a bachelors. So my question and concern is can I refer to myself as nurse so and so or the nurse?

[kkanady]

Thank you

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

But even though she IS a nurse, her job title is not "additional helper PD nurse", it's "NA".

I don't know. I think it could bite her in the booty. Hard.

I think if she has the ability to work below her title (in my state, as someone else pointed out one cannot - so it would be a moot point here) and she sticks to her guns it may work out but... and this is a big but here... we all know that school districts when given an inch will expect a mile. and as someone said - there could be that issue with yes - license wise the OP could give an emergency med, but not title wise - and when the fertilizer hits the ventilator because a child did not get what they needed in an emergency situation because they had an RN acting in a capacity where they could not use their licence to its full extent - the district is going to cover it's own butt. Like I stated earlier - if you do decide to take this job, just be sure that the district knows what the scoop is -that by working in that capacity what you can and can't do - whether it's an emergency or not. And like someone said - be sure your malpractice is paid up at all times.

But i agree with old dude - it's too weird for me - the district should just pony up the cash and pay the OP to be a nurse.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

Well, here's a scenario for you. Let's say the nurse is for some reason not in the building temporarily. A teacher comes down yelling that a kid in her classroom is seizing. Little Johnny has epilepsy and diastat kept in the nurse's office. As an assistant, you are not allowed to administer diastat so you can do nothing but call 911 and monitor the child. When EMS arrives, they want to know why diastat wasn't given for a kid who's been seizing for 10 min. Say the kid has some long term issues from this prolonged seizure that wasn't treated promptly. Your license says you can act and administer the diastat but your job description says you can't. Too much of a gray area in my opinion.

Actually it would depend on the State. In my state, law dictates that any staff member trained in medication administration would be permitted to administer the diastat in an emergency situation. A health aide or nurse assistant would fall under that law.

[cynmrn]

In our state, unlicensed, trained staff would be permitted to administer medications, whether they are scheduled, PRN or emergency (specially trained for these emergency meds).

I can definitely see the schools using OP as a "school nurse" however, and would definitely have to be sure that everyone is clear on what can and can't be done in this position.

[ixchel]

If legally you can be held responsible to the level of your license, you should be allowed to function fully within your scope of practice at all times. You are a licensed nurse, so I feel like not revealing that if asked feels somehow deceptive or dishonest. I don't know.... This situation would bother me enough that I'd honestly still be looking for a job that would use me and pay me as an RN.

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

If they can't pay you what you are worth, give you the title you have worked hard to earn and are essentially placing you in a position where your role is kind of muddy - is that a place you really want to be?

Personally, I would not do it! In fact, I told my husband that if I die before him, to make sure he buries a copy of my nursing license with me.

Whatever your decision, best of luck to you!

[ixchel]

In fact, I told my husband that if I die before him, to make sure he buries a copy of my nursing license with me.

There is a thread called "black humour" that I have a feeling you'll fit in well on. This made me giggle like an idiot!

[Mr. Murse]

Seems simple. You are a licensed registered nurse, yes, but not working as a nurse.

If you went and flipped burgers then you would still be a licensed registered nurse, but in that position you would be a burger flipper, not a nurse.

[CardinalFanRN]

I've been working as a substitute school nurse for the past 2 years. On occasion I sub for a "health tech". They "let" me "work" below my license because they are not real titles, and because then they can pay me less... and we essentially do the same job. Even the office staff is allowed to pass meds after they take a small orientation on it. The new grad situation in my state is very tough, so I took what I could get. As long as you get very clear instructions of what your scope is I think you'll be ok. I have a harder time with the health techs who call themselves nurses. You're an RN, and think you could say so if asked. No one ever addresses me as "nurse Sara" at school. But I have been asked if I'm an RN. I've been told that our district doesn't have any legal responsibility to provide a nurse. They could employ all health techs. They provide some nurses as a courtesy.

[kkanady]

Yes Ive worked extremely hard for this degree and to just be called an assistant I feel bad and yes I feel like I'm being deceptive when others ask me if I'm a nurse. Thank you all for your input I will continue to look for a job where my position is RN.