claiming to be what she isn't

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 23, 2006

I think many people are genuinely unaware that nursing is a professional discipline separate from unlicensed 'helpers'. I think it also shows a lack of respect, which I'd attribute to nursing being a predominantly female occupation.

I met a student the other day and we got to talking. I asked her what she's studying. She said "I'm a nursing student." I said "Wow, you must have great grades to have gotten into the nursing program since it's so competitive!" She stammered then said "Well, I'm a freshman and I'm taking the pre-requisites." I wouldn't call myself a nursing student unless I was in a nursing program.

luvmy3kids · May 23, 2006

I think many people are genuinely unaware that nursing is a professional discipline separate from unlicensed 'helpers'. I think it also shows a lack of respect, which I'd attribute to nursing being a predominantly female occupation.
I met a student the other day and we got to talking. I asked her what she's studying. She said "I'm a nursing student." I said "Wow, you must have great grades to have gotten into the nursing program since it's so competitive!" She stammered then said "Well, I'm a freshman and I'm taking the pre-requisites." I wouldn't call myself a nursing student unless I was in a nursing program.

I don't know if I would agree with that....

I'm starting my pre-reqs this fall. I'm going to school to be a nurse. I already have my BS completed. I have no other reason to go to school other than for "nursing school".

While I usually say, "I'm starting my pre-reqs this fall with the hopes of being accepted into the nursing program once they are completed....." I wouldn't fault someone who is working towards that point and considering themselves a nursing student.

If you lie and say you are an RN/LPN or whatever and you are not, then that is a different story. But I don't think saying you are a nursing student is as big of a deal..... jmo

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 23, 2006

I agree, it's not in the same league as saying you are a nurse and you aren't. It just hit me funny, and I wouldn't say that myself.

smk1, LPN · May 23, 2006

I agree, it's not in the same league as saying you are a nurse and you aren't. It just hit me funny, and I wouldn't say that myself.

still though, how hard is it to say you are a pre nursing student? I did it for 2 years. You aren't a nursing student until you have that acceptance letter in hand and start the actual program, just like the thousands of people that think they are going to become physicians are PRE-med until they are actually accepted. Not that it needs to be a big bone of contention, but it does a disservice to nursing to have a million people walk into the registration office at their local college, fill out an application and walk out a "nursing" student. It devalues the hard work and competitive process that most have to go through to earn that status. When people meet a medical student, they have a good idea about how selective that process was and how difficult it was to get into and how hard they must have worked. Most people just think you walk into nursing school and "sign up" and a year later you are done. having everyone and their brother calling themselves a nursing student doesn't help that perception any. JMHO. :uhoh21:

epiphany · May 23, 2006

I think thata lot of people posing as RN's do it, and get away with it, because the public is unaware of how specific and specialized our jobs are. The scrub tech on my floor is always called a "nurse", and so are the nursing assistants. For example, the patients would say, the nurse who spoke to her earlier, blah, blah.., and I don't bother to correct them,which perhaps I should.

Also when I say - I'm going to be your nurse, I realize that my role isn't all that clear to them. We have so many "nurses" coming in and out - taking blood, changing sheets, we are all in the same scrubs. I make it a point to tell them that I would be here from this time to this time, and they should come to me for anything they need. When I leave for lunch, I also tell them when I would be back, and who would replace me, etc.

Okay, I've gone off on a tangent, but my point is that patients don't really know that they have a primary nurse. My patients wouldn't question anyone who comes in and changes their IVs, it's that scary. We are all nurses to the pts. Since many techs, or assistants have always been called nurses, they don't feel its a big deal to pose as one. When you say to a pt, I am going to be your nurse, how many people know what it means?

How many times have I heard people say they never knew or appreciated what a nurse did until they has a close encounter experience with one. When someone pretends to be a nurse they get away with it because our role isn't all that clear to the public. Just saying.

JessicRN · May 23, 2006

My friend ex wife said she was an RN even produced a licence and went to work for the district attorney reviewin and testifying in rape cases. When my friend found out he reported her.She was not an RN nor did she ever go to any college. She forged her licence. Now that is what I call a serious lie.

texas_lvn · May 23, 2006

OK, here's a borderline issue that actually doesn't make me angry. I have a 70-ish relative who says she was a nurse. She worked in a nursing home for about 30 years. She never took one nursing class, not even a diploma or hospital-type training. She says it didn't work that way back then? She says she was a practical nurse in Canada. I asked her tactfully and gently once if she was a nurse's aid (I do like and respect her). She said no, that she was a practical nurse. She just says back then 'practical nurses' didn't need any official training, just on the job.
It does have me curious though, were there 'practical nurses' 50 years ago that had zero official training...not even a diploma or hospital-based type training? Or is my sweet relative just confused and she was a nurse's assitant for all those years. Hmm.

I can't believe I remember this :lol2: :lol2: but I know that hundred plus years ago a "practical nurse" had no official training besides maybe a week or two OJT. That is why they are called Practical. Whereas a RN has more schooling. I am not sure of the year that began practical nurses needing to be licensed.

According to Foundations of Nursing by Lois White, 2000,

"Women who cared for others, but who had no formal education, often called themselves "practical nurses." Formal education for practical nursing began in the 1890's. The first schools were Ballard School, Thompson Practical Nursing School, and Household Nursing Association School of Attendant Nursing."

Now, this is in the US so, it may very well be possible for your relative to be telling the truth.

ICURN_NC · May 23, 2006

I agree- the bigger problem is the public perception of what RN's do and the education it requires to do it.

I had never worked as a CNA or MA before I became an RN, but I imagine (devil's advocate here) that some CNA's/MA's get frustrated trying to explain their role to pts and "settle" on nurse just for brevity. (Honestly, my decision to go to nursing school was made very quickly and before I went, I had no idea what the difference between a CNA or "nurse" or even what an MA was! I had heard of an RN, but never an LPN.)

Does this make it ok for someone to say they are an RN and they aren't? No. Does it drive me insane now for the doc/office staff to say "the nurse will be with you in a minute" and a NA comes to take my vitals? Sure.

I think we need to do a better job educating the public about what kind of a education LPN's and RN's go through, what kind of licensure we get, and how that all differs from a CNA or MA or whatever and the certification they receive. Like a public education poster posted in every pts room. Yay! :idea: This would not diminish the work that other unlicensed staff do, it would just make it alot clearer for pts to understand the difference in their caregivers.

Bruce RN · May 23, 2006

OK, here's a borderline issue that actually doesn't make me angry. I have a 70-ish relative who says she was a nurse. She worked in a nursing home for about 30 years. She never took one nursing class, not even a diploma or hospital-type training. She says it didn't work that way back then? She says she was a practical nurse in Canada. I asked her tactfully and gently once if she was a nurse's aid (I do like and respect her). She said no, that she was a practical nurse. She just says back then 'practical nurses' didn't need any official training, just on the job.
It does have me curious though, were there 'practical nurses' 50 years ago that had zero official training...not even a diploma or hospital-based type training? Or is my sweet relative just confused and she was a nurse's assitant for all those years. Hmm.

She's probably not confused.

I can't speak for Canada, as I'm not familiar with their history and evolvement of nursing education, but I do know that the evolvement of practical nursing started with no formal education and was learned on the job at the bedside.

Over the years, states began to change and differ in their requirements for the practice of practical nursing. In some states, nursing assistants who received additional on the job training and/or were nursing assistants for a specified number of years could be grandfathered in as practical nurses as an alternative to attending the traditional programs that began emerging.

Other states allowed nursing assistants to challenge the LPN board exam and they could practice as LPN's without going through a traditional program as long as they could pass the board exam.

You most likely would not be working with any of these LPN/LVN's as most who were able to achieve LPN/LVN status by one of these routes have long reached retirement age, and the LPN/LVN's that you would be working with today are those who have attended accredited LPN programs because this is now the current requirement for licensure and has been for many years.

The only exception to this that I know of is that some states allow certain classifications of military corpsmen to be licensed as LPN's in the civilian world.

lovemyjob · May 23, 2006

a friend of ours exwife was a MA, CNA, and a phlebotomist. When I was in nursing school (BSN) she called herself a nurse. WHne I asked her hwere she went to school, she gave me her tittles and then said "I might as well be a nurse, I know all of the stuff." she then went on to tell a group of us that BC pills do not stop ovulation. When I tried to argue the point, she acted like I was an idiot. P'd me off just a bit. The after her divorce, her ex was telling me some BS about something and mentioned "well since she was a nurse.." I stopped him right there and said no, she wasnt a nurse. SAid that I didnt go to school for four years, work my butt off, to have my knowledge and what I do equated to someone who drew blood, took vitals, and gave shots. Couldnt believe that this is all he (and I think most of the public) think we do.

I agree, ancillary staff are a godsend and an absolute necessity and play an important role in healthcare. But misrepresenting yourself says nothing more than you are embarassed to be what you are.

LanaBanana · May 23, 2006

OK, here's a borderline issue that actually doesn't make me angry. I have a 70-ish relative who says she was a nurse. She worked in a nursing home for about 30 years. She never took one nursing class, not even a diploma or hospital-type training. She says it didn't work that way back then? She says she was a practical nurse in Canada. I asked her tactfully and gently once if she was a nurse's aid (I do like and respect her). She said no, that she was a practical nurse. She just says back then 'practical nurses' didn't need any official training, just on the job.
It does have me curious though, were there 'practical nurses' 50 years ago that had zero official training...not even a diploma or hospital-based type training? Or is my sweet relative just confused and she was a nurse's assitant for all those years. Hmm.

I think this is kind of how my grandma was. She only had an 8th grade education due to finances back then, but from what I have been told and read about jobs she did, in todays world she would probably be classified as a Patient Care Tech (somewhere between a CNA and LPN.) She worked as a "private dute nurse" for many years. Like others have said though. The line wasn't as clear back then.

Cowboys_RN, BSN · May 23, 2006

I had a colposcopy the other day and the doctor said she was going to get the "nurse". I looked at the girl's badge and it said clinical assistant. The doctor's at Kaiser are always referring to their MAs as nurses.