Fox News calls CNA a nurse

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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. :mad:

Colorado nurse, 2

Specializes in Critical Care.

I think the overwhelming thrust of the article was how sad and tragic this young lady's death was. You get a more pithy kind of impact if you write a headline of "nurse, 20, dies blah blah blah" than "certified nurse assistant, 20, dies, etc." And unfortunately, these days all the news is about what can make the biggest splash for a few minutes before it's inevitably forgotten. It would have been nice for accuracy's sake if they'd clarified in the article that she was, in fact, a CNA.

I have seen many people call themselves a nurse, once by a vet tech (really?!). Kudos for letting FOX know!!

One of my friends is in a vet tech program currently and because I'm wrapping up my ADN program she likes to tell me all the time that being a vet tech is just like being a nurse and may, in fact, be harder. I don't get into it with her, but if she starts calling herself a nurse I might draw a line.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
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?

As you note, the OP said she was "suspicious" and never said "there is no way she can be a nurse based on her age." In addition the OP did research to confirm her suspicion rather that just rather than just run with an assumption.

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Evidence-based practice. ;)

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
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. :)

There is a difference between nurse and Nurse and your BON will be happy to explain it. I can forgive the lay public and stupid FOX "news" but nurses in the profession should be more accurate.

It's just not true that anyone who wears scrubs is a nurse.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I thought the same thing when i saw she was 20, but I think an LPN could be that young. But in this case, a CNA, and Fox? - I'm not surprised.

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It's honestly not that concerning at all. I was in the music business for 15 years and everybody calls themselves a "musician" when only less than a third have actual training and a bachelor's like myself. It's frustrating, but there's not much you can do. Skills and ability will always reveal the truth, labels are just names.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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. :mad:

Colorado nurse, 2, dies in bungee jumping accident | Fox News

Very sad that a 20 year old lost her life in such a sensless accident. As far as calling her a nurse -- consider the source. Fox news is fake news if there ever was such a thing.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
It's honestly not that concerning at all. I was in the music business for 15 years and everybody calls themselves a "musician" when only less than a third have actual training and a bachelor's like myself. It's frustrating, but there's not much you can do. Skills and ability will always reveal the truth, labels are just names.

Musician is not a protected title.

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It used to be. That's the problem

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Specializes in Nursey stuff.

Why does anyone have to be defined by their job title, and/or how does reporting their occupation play into the reporting of the individuals death? Okay, perhaps if one were a police officer, firefighter, or yes even a nurse, if the death happened while they were actively working. They might have written this... "A 20-year-old women with a nose piercing died in a bungee jump accident." See what I mean?

Yes, I can understand the point of being put out by a report that stated that a nurse who was not a "nurse" died and whoa, a protected title, but the word nurse is not a protected title. You can have a wet nurse, dry nurse, nurse's aide, certified nursing assistant, and even be a nurturer. Only a licensed health-care professional, when the word nurse is used along with with Registered or Licensed is a protected title. Meanwhile a Fox can be a carnivorous mammal, a clever, crafty person, a good looking person, or in this case, an unfair and imbalanced news network.

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It's honestly not that concerning at all. I was in the music business for 15 years and everybody calls themselves a "musician" when only less than a third have actual training and a bachelor's like myself. It's frustrating, but there's not much you can do.

Oh look at you, Mr. Baaaaachelor's degree in music.

Skills and ability will always reveal the truth, labels are just names.

You should heed your own advice more.

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Oh look at you, Mr. Baaaaachelor's degree in music.

You should heed your own advice more.

I do indeed.

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