chiropractor employee taking blood pressures

Nurses Relations

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So this is a new one....I was recently at a community event were I saw a table with a woman taking blood pressures and handing out literature. I got my blood pressure taken and asked her if she was a nurse. She said yes, she was the clinic nurse for the chiropractor she worked for. After further conversation, she told me she was neither a RN or LPN. She wasnt even a MA or CNA. Just someone working for a chiropractor taking blood pressures and passing themselves off as a "clinic nurse".

Just another example of how everyone is calling themselves a "nurse" without actually being one! Where does it end???

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Well chiropractors call themselves healthcare providers or even more laughably doctors , so what do you expect from someone who works for one

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

At least chiropractors have a doctoral degree. Just like university professors with a PhD or EdD. It's not physician = doctor it's doctoral degree = doctor.

The title of nurse is restricted in 40 states to those licensed as an RN or LPN.

Perhaps she should've chosen. "Chiropractor Assistant" as her self-appointed title. ;)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Just another example of how everyone is calling themselves a "nurse" without actually being one! Where does it end???

Until people start receiving stiffer punishments for falsely representing themselves as nurses, I do not envision an end to this mendacious behavior. Citations, monetary fines, and jail sentences are the wake-up calls that are needed to curb this insidious form of defrauding our trusting public.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I don't have a problem with her taking BPs... it's not rocket science, anyone can be taught to do it, but calling herself a nurse is misleading and wrong.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I don't have a problem with her taking BPs... it's not rocket science, anyone can be taught to do it, but calling herself a nurse is misleading and wrong.

Agreed. I taught my 12 year old how to (which was great until he dismantled my bp cuff just to "see how it worked" good thing I don't need that one anymore). Blood pressure is not a skill limited to licensed nurses.

The title of nurse is limited to nursing professionals

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
it's not rocket science

Good Lord, this was the same exact thing (phrasing included) that I was thinking!

I agree with a PP, there should be stiffer penalties. I don't want to get into a urinating contest over titles, but nursing is a profession that has earned the trust of the public. And yet the public allows an individual who is not a nurse to use this title? Sorry, I have an issue with this. Suppose the "fake" nurse uses his/her fake title to give someone advice which ends up being very detrimental. That hurts all of us (real nurses).

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Ahh I think some of them feel like throwing the 'nurse' title around makes a low paying dead-end job seem a little sweeter...

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Eh, just to throw it out there--Yes, anyone can be taught how to take a blood pressure, and no, it is not rocket science, BUT--

What is an assistant in chiropractor's office to do with the BP information? Meaning that if a person has a critically high blood pressure, they then need to be advised as to what the means, and what they need to do for follow up.

People who portray themselves as nurses and who are taking a vital sign that may need follow up is not in a position to give the advice needed to the person's benefit...

But then again, they are not in a position to call themselves a nurse, either....

Further chiropractors most often have an alternate medicine theory that is not always mainstream. That someone has a BP of 210/120 and is advised to go home and drink guava juice is not helpful, and could be dangerous. And this assistant may not have the backing, nor the knowledge to suggest someone follow up--sooner rather than later.

All this is a huge reason why people who work in clinics shouldn't portray themselves to be things they are not. Patients can get hurt that way.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Ahh I think some of them feel like throwing the 'nurse' title around makes a low paying dead-end job seem a little sweeter...

A low paying job is far better than none at all. Perhaps this is the best job this individual could get.

There are fines and jail time for impersonating a police officer or an army officer. There should be consequences for impersonating a licensed nurse.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Please take ACTION by writing a letter to alert the Chiropracter of what transpired at health fair and RN title protection. Address letter to both chiropracter AND Board of Nursing if your state has title protection, send to both parties.

See ANA's state map Title "Nurse" Protection and Title "Nurse" Protection: Summary of Language by State

Restricting use of the title "nurse" to only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements for licensure as outlined in each state's nurse practice act is a protection for the public against unethical, unscrupulous, and incompetent practitioners. Nurse practice acts describe entry level qualifications such as education, practice standards and code of conduct for continued privilege to practice nursing.

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A low paying job is far better than none at all. Perhaps this is the best job this individual could get.

There are fines and jail time for impersonating a police officer or an army officer. There should be consequences for impersonating a licensed nurse.

I don't think it's right either. Just speculating because at the chiropractor's office I visited a time or two, the chiropractor 'let' the young receptionist take some blood pressures when one of her family members came in as a patient (I was observing while waiting to be seen myself). But you are right, whoever is promoting this thing that unlicensed actual nurses can refer to themselves as "nurse" should be corrected. Is it the fault of these individuals alone? Or are their employers using the term to stroke their egos/promote a fantasy in these people?

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