Sorry, this really irritates me. Fox seems to be the most sensationalist of the major outlets.
An unfortunate 20 yr old woman died in a bungee cord accident in Colorado. Fox listed her as a nurse. I was suspicious because of her age, so I looked her up and she's a CNA.
My heartfelt condolences to the family, by the way. But, this thread is about the all too common practice of calling MAs and CNAs nurses. I know the news media is generally sloppy with their facts, but this burns my britches.
You said you were suspicious because of her age. Well, you do know that a 20 year old could be either a LPN or and ADN/RN don't you?
It's usually unlikely. I saw the same article pop-up on my iPhone's newsfeed, and wondered the same thing, although I assumed she just got her ADN. Most nurses I know, and even CNAs, are older than 20.
I'm guessing her family or friends called her a nurse and no one in the "news" outlets verified it. I would strongly recommend against reading the comments.
My oldest daughter wants to be a nurse and would be one by 20 if she went for her ADN. She'll graduate high school at 16. I would hate for people to not think she's a nurse based solely on her age.
Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..
NY post has their headline as; Nurses death in bungee jumping accident remains a mystery. Like someone else said its possible the woman's family referred to her as a nurse. Regardless of what she is referred to she died and I think that tragedy overshadows the news outlets mistaking a CNA as a nurse(tragic as it may be).
I'm guessing her family or friends called her a nurse and no one in the "news" outlets verified it. I would strongly recommend against reading the comments.
I think people who comment beneath articles must be barely human. Fox attracts the worst, whether they be right-wing apologists or left-winged protagonists. It's a no holds barred
atmosphere. The fur does fly. It's like a Media movie. You get the gist of the plot within the first minute or two.
Your post seems like fake news. In all seriousness though, I think the only people that care about their titles are those that are in their respective field. This sounds like one of those petty "should DNPs be called doctors" issues. Get over the titles and put that energy into the job. CNAs utilize some nursing skills, so RN work doesn't look different for those that are not in the industry. I call meter maids cops, and paralegals lawyers. So what.
Every other news source that reported it called her a nurse too. Sadly, the girl is dead. Let's let her be a nurse in memory and not worry about if she was one or not and which news organization reported it.
I work with a CNA who refers to herself as "a nurse". At first I questioned her use of the term, but as I've thought about it more ANYONE could call themselves a "nurse". A "nurse" is someone who gives medical care to someone in need no training required or necessary to use this word. My English major sister was a "nurse" to my mother for months while she was on home hospice. The hospice nurse came for 1 hour per day and my sister was "the nurse" for the other 23 hours/day. The CNAs on my unit check blood sugar, perform EKGs, collect vital signs, assist with daily care and provide emotional support to patients. This IS nursing care! And if she wants to call herself a "nurse", I'm okay with that. Perhaps she's been disrespected when she's called herself a "tech" or an "aide" and when she says "I'm a nurse", she feels more respected and proud. It's semantics.
I am a "registered nurse" and I don't have an issue with it. I need my aides and techs and I can't do my job as well when I don't have one, so if s/he wants to call themselves a "nurse" I'm cool with that. :)
I went to nursing school with a girl who did dual enrollment in high school and already had an AS upon graduation from high school at 18. Our program was 21 months so she was still 20 when she graduated and passed the NCLEX 6 weeks later. Only by a smidge, but it does happen.
opalbee
91 Posts
It's usually unlikely. I saw the same article pop-up on my iPhone's newsfeed, and wondered the same thing, although I assumed she just got her ADN. Most nurses I know, and even CNAs, are older than 20.