Facility wants to take my RN title away

[rnwings]

The long term facility I work at wants to take away my RN title at the end of my name on my badge and put "Clinical Associate". Can they do this? I worked hard for my RN title and do not believe this can be fair. With this NEW title I feel like I work at Wal-Mart or something. I was also told that by doing this, next they will decrease our pay. I am VERY upset about this. Any light you could shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated. :loveya:

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Is this a corporate facility? Just curious.

[RazorbackRN, BSN, RN]

Your legal, professional title will always be RN, whether you are a DON, Clinical Assoc., or whatever.

You can check with your state's board of nursing, but I know that in most states, if you are functioning in the role of your professional title, you are required to use that title. If they want to add their title then so be it, but only after RN is identified.

You didn't pass boards for NCLEX-Clinical Assoc., it was NCLEX-RN.

[neicito]

I recently interviewed for a position as an GYN/RN coordinator but the people at the office kept referring to the Office Coordinator job. I finally stated to the interviewer that in the case of being hire they were getting an RN. I got the offer and now I am planing on having my RN written next to the name they choose. You earn your RN degree and no one can take it away from you!! (except the Board).

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I'd be willing to bet that some of your residents and family members of residents might not be to happy about the name badge change. First of all, in most cases (informed consent) the patient has the right to know what skill level or certification a caretaker has. Resident's family members want to know this too. Some will argue that most residents/ family members think everyone in scrubs is a "nurse". Yet, this is not the case for everyone and these "alternate" titles serve to add to confusion.

Also, in the LTC I work at PRN as a CNA, we have several retired nurses as residents... I suspect that they would be very offended about this sort of name badge on their caretaker.

[calliesue]

I was pretty sure that nurses are required to have their designation ie LVN or RN after their name. I think it is mandated..

[daisydoll]

I would find me a new job ASAP!!

[oslogirl]

Knee jerk reaction.

[DusktilDawn]

As Siri posted, as long as your title is on the badge that satisfies BON requirements. That doesn't prevent the facility from making the title CLINICAL ASSOCIATE the more prominent title displayed on the badge. This kind of thing goes on all the time folks. Have you never seen a badge with Jane Smith, CNA (or PCT) with the more prominent title of NURSING SERVICES or another similar title underneath? Lumping everybody (RNs, LPNs, and CNAs) together under the title of NURSING SERVICES (or something similar) has been going on for years.

If an RN = "Clinical Associate", then the next step is probably that a CNA = "Clinical Assistant", titles so similar that the clients will begin to assume that everyone is a nurse. This dishonest tactic has been tried by unscrupulous facilities that would rather not address staffing issues.

I disagree Jolie, I think the CNAs will also be classified as CLINICAL ASSOCIATES. Let's face it, why would a facility promote this: to give the impression that all patient care staff are nurses. There's a reason when a facility doesn't want it to be clear about credentials, it's to deceive.

Back in '96 or '97, my sister was working for a health care organization that decided to eliminate the use of LPNs. What they did first was use the term CLINICAL ASSOCIATE for both CNAs and LPNs, except one was classed as CLINICAL ASSOCIATE I and the other as CLINICAL ASSOCIATE II. LPNs were eventually phased out, than the title was changed to NURSE EXTENDERS. I'd definately be wary of title changes like this, especially when they they don't want to differentiate between who has what qualifications.

Using titles that sound impressive instead of traditional titles people are used to is nothing new. It's done to make something sound more impressive than it actually is or make it appear that higher training and education is necessary for the job.

I used to be an ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, now doesn't that sound more impressive than a housekeeper?

[Hygiene Queen]

Yep. I think this trend of using words such as "technician", "engineer" and "associate" is getting out of hand.

"Engineer" is especially funny.

They tend to slap "engineer" titles on people who couldn't "engineer" their way out of a paper bag.

[DusktilDawn]

Yep. I think this trend of using words such as "technician", "engineer" and "associate" is getting out of hand.

"Engineer" is especially funny.

They tend to slap "engineer" titles on people who couldn't "engineer" their way out of a paper bag.

Don't forget the tacking on of the word REPRESENTATIVE to a job title. They're just used because they make a job sound more impressive and complex than it actually is.

BTW I never tell anyone I was an ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, unless I'm joking with them. I was a housekeeper, I cleaned and disinfected the facility, period. ENGINEER is another title that should be protected and not slapped on a lot of jobs the way it is.

[november17, ASN, RN]

Like when a toilet is clogged in a patient room and you tell the "Health Unit Coordinator" (i.e. the secretary) to call "Engineering" (i.e. the guy with the plunger)

[november17, ASN, RN]

It does no service to anyone in any level to downplay or upgrade titles.

You wouldn't want the CNAs feeling bad though...They work hard, you see.