As a preamble. I have no disrespect for nurses' aides, since I was one myself what 3 years ago. It's a very difficult and financially unrewarding career (disrespected and belittled).
Lately, I do note, at my new place of work I've been mistaken for being an aide and not an RN. Perhaps since I don't hesitate to help out my people to save time with hygiene duties, with meal trays, with vitals...since our aides are lumped with 11 patients each mind you.
An aside note. I don't like it when a nurse over burdens or should I say monopolizes an aide on our unit with everything under the sun...so that when I make a request it gets placed down to number 9 on a list of 8 requests from that SOB (not short of breath) nurse.
Anyway, getting back to the issue at hand. Do we define nursing as wielding power and not lifting a finger to assist patients and chart away me maties? Or do we define it as making the care of our patient's swift and let charting go by the wayside? I hate overtime, please don't get me wrong.
I hate when an aide promises to do something and doesn't deliver. So I find I'm having to follow up with her/him. I don't like being someone's parent. I have patient kiddies to look out for.
I also hate it when I feel picked on by the charge nurse as I'm charting. Get this, answer this call light, where did so and so put this, do you know or could you find so and so....etc etc etc. Sheeeessssh!:argue::argue::argue::sniff:
I've had doctors call me an aide when I am wearing my ID badge backwards. I pick up the phone and the first thing a person asks me "are you the secretary?".
it is annoying, but I don't care. I am getting RN pay and that is all that matters
Yes I've had it. Once had a woman snapping "Put that there!" "Pull me up!" "Fetch me a ginger ale" and then apologizing once she found out I was the nurse. I really wanted to ask her why she thought it was OK to speak to a CNA that way, but I let it go.
Knowing how overwhelmed the techs can get, I try to help out as much as possible. There have been several times where patients have asked me to "tell the nurse I need" pain meds etc. after I've gotten them water, helped them to the bathroom, and straightened out their room. Even though I've already told them I'm the nurse. I like to think it just illustrates what a phenomenal team player I am.
Yes I've had it. Once had a woman snapping "Put that there!" "Pull me up!" "Fetch me a ginger ale" and then apologizing once she found out I was the nurse. I really wanted to ask her why she thought it was OK to speak to a CNA that way, but I let it go.
I've had the same experience. It was strange.
I've been mistaken for both aide and doctor, many times. I think it all depends on the individuals' experience, how sick they are, how much time we've spent with them ... etc etc. Some people are never going to know who's who, some refer to each of us by name and know our roles. This is one reason I am a very strong proponent of nurses wearing easily identifiable symbols or a specific color. Not every department needs to be color-coded - that's confusing, and I think a lot of people will tell you it doesn't work that well. The nurse is the one you need to find fast and easily, without being confused by trying to remember if it's the nurses or the housekeepers who wear navy blue. I also find it wildly inappropriate for housekeepers, ward clerks, dietary, etc to wear scrubs. It is very confusing for patients and families.
Bethin, I too get mistaken for the nurse! I think, what??? Do people think you have to be a slob or stupid to be an aide? LOL.
Of, course, I tell pts I am not and that they should be glad I'm not because I'd probably kill them! They usually get a good laugh and say, "well, you LOOK like a nurse!"
I guess that is a compliment, but I guess it wouldn't feel that way after years of getting a hard earned degree, being a nurse and yet being mistaken for an aide.
You know, I sometimes think their needs to be a universal dress code to differentiate between the two. Just too hard for pts to tell us apart sometimes.
Specializes in clinical pathways - ED, home infusion, IT, lab.
Pts can make quick judgements based on appearance - perhaps you're on the younger side?
A few times I've come into a patient's room when a fellow student needed help with positioning or something and pt assumes I'm instructor b/c I'm in my 40s and wearing a lab coat!
At (some?) Advocate Health Care facilities (IL) nurses wear attachment to their ID tag that said in huge letters "NURSE". Great way for patients to identify us - let's make it easy for them (docs too)! Perhaps this is something to suggest @ your institution.
we have placards underneath our nametags that say RN in big blue background and yellow RN letters underneath....usually after I introduce myself there aren't any problems....
Long before I even thought about being a nurse, my nickname at work was "Doc" -- mainly because I loved to have a bag of baby carrots out to nibble on, but also because I usually had bandaids, aspirin, etc. One of my old friends stopped by work and did his usual "what's up, Doc" Buggs Bunny shtick, and everyone looked at me strange. I had to explain to everyone I hadn't been kicked out of med school or lost an MD license, I just liked freakin carrots....
:sniff:
labrador4122, RN
1,921 Posts
I've had doctors call me an aide when I am wearing my ID badge backwards. I pick up the phone and the first thing a person asks me "are you the secretary?".
it is annoying, but I don't care. I am getting RN pay and that is all that matters