LTC owner/manager "invents" new nurse title?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was talking with a fellow RN friend of mine who works agency in Kansas. She did some shifts this week at a LTC facility. The owner there has decided to "retitle" all of the LPNs she has in her employ. She has had fancy, gold badges made up for each of them that read:

"LPN- Licensed Professional Nurse."

Is that legal?

These nurses are proud of their badges. Apparently, they do not realize they are being insulted. IMO, it looks as if the title Licensed Practical Nurse is not impressive enough for the owner. She has given her LPN employees a new, more important-sounding title of her own invention.

I joked with my friend- "You must have felt intimidated working with all those 'licensed professional nurses'. After all, you're only an RN!"

Do any of you find this as rediculous, deceitful and insulting as I do?

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Some people might wonder if she was trying to mislead the families and the patients.

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Well, this could be construed as discrimination, ha ha... What name could we come up to make RNs look and feel better about themselves, where the drs. , other nurses, families, etc., would treat them better - still kidding okay, but really you get my point. Renaming the nurses title and giving them a pretty gold badge is not going to solve the problems that LPNS and RNs face today re: not getting the respect they deserve from who they need it from. Many times, all we can do is look at ourselves and watch how we come across to ALL other people and make sure that we treat others fairly, and most of the time, people will treat you the same way. Kind of reminds me of the song by Michael Jackson,

"The Man in the Mirror".

But, just for fun, what could we rename RNs? Lets give some examples.... Maybe - Royal Nurses, or Regal Nurses , or ?????

Again, I am just kidding and not trying to get anyone upset here. Have a nice weekend!

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Gee weren't they considered professional before? Word game.

renerian

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

HHmmmmmmm

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I'm sure the board of nursing would frown on this. Hope someone tells them. :(

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Is this intended to make the LPN's appear as RN's?????? To fool or confuse patients and families????

No, I do not believe this is ethical and is probably not legal.

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Maybe the administrator didn't know that the P is for practical! A lot of LTC administrators around here have no medical background!!:eek:

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This is absolutely ridiculous. I was an LPN prior to becoming an RN and I would have been insulted to have had my title changed, as hard as I worked for my LPN license. I would probably have called my LPN instructor and asked if it was legal. I was young when I became an LPN.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Originally posted by oramar

Some people might wonder if she was trying to mislead the families and the patients.

I would have to agree. Thank Heaven for LPNs !!! But I do believe this lady felt that perhaps the patients, their families, etc. may have doubted their qualifications or sth. to that effect... believe this was addressed on another thread here some time ago. I feel for the LPNs.. they are being put in the middle here...:o

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63-7-112. Use of "licensed practical nurse" title.

Any person who holds a license to practice as a practical nurse under this chapter shall, during the effective period of such license, be entitled to use the title "Licensed Practical Nurse" or abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person shall assume such title or use such abbreviation or any other words, letters or signs to indicate that the person using the same is a licensed practical nurse. [Acts 1967, ch. 78, 21; T.C.A., 63-749.]

63-7-108. "Practical nursing" defined.

The "practice of practical nursing" means the performance for compensation of selected acts required in the nursing care of the ill, injured or infirm and/or carrying out medical orders prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist or professional registered nurse. The licensed practical nurse shall have preparation in and understanding of nursing, but shall not be required to have the same degree of education and preparation as required of a registered nurse. [Acts 1967, ch. 78, 17; T.C.A., 63-745.]

63-7-103. "Practice of professional nursing" defined.

(a) (1) "Practice of professional nursing" means the performance for compensation of any act requiring substantial specialized judgment and skill based on knowledge of the natural, behavioral and nursing sciences, and the humanities, as the basis for application of the nursing process in wellness and illness care.

(2) "Professional nursing" includes:

(A) Responsible supervision of a patient requiring skill and observation of symptoms and reactions and accurate recording of the facts;

(B) Promotion, restoration and maintenance of health or prevention of illness of others;

© Counseling, managing, supervising and teaching of others;

(D) Administration of medications and treatments as prescribed by a licensed physician, dentist, podiatrist or nurse authorized to prescribe pursuant to 63-7-123;

(E) Application of such nursing procedures as involve understanding of cause and effect; and

(F) Nursing management of illness, injury or infirmity including identification of patient problems.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the practice of professional nursing does not include acts of medical diagnosis or the development of a medical plan of care and therapeutics for a patient, except to the extent such acts may be authorized by 63-1-132, 63-7-123 and 63-7-207. [Acts 1967, ch. 78, 12; 1972, ch. 523, 1; T.C.A., 63-740; Acts 1990, ch. 651, 2.]

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63-7-120. Violations and penalties.

(a) It is a Class B misdemeanor for any person, corporation or association to:

(1) Sell or fraudulently obtain or furnish any nursing diploma, license or record, or aid or abet therein;

(2) Practice nursing as defined by this chapter under cover of any diploma, license or record illegally or fraudulently obtained or assigned or issued unlawfully or under fraudulent representation;

(3) Practice nursing as defined by this chapter unless duly licensed to do so under the provisions of this chapter;

(4) Use in connection with the person's name any designation tending to imply that the person is a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse unless duly licensed so to practice under the provisions of this chapter;

(5) Practice nursing during the time the person's license issued under the provisions of this chapter is suspended or revoked;

(6) Conduct a school of nursing or a program for the training of practical nurses unless the school or program has been approved by the board; or

(7) Otherwise violate any provisions of this chapter.

(b) Legal procedure in prosecution of violations of this section shall be in accordance with general statutes.

[Acts 1967, ch. 78, 29; 1976, ch. 501, 11; T.C.A., 63-757; Acts 1989, ch. 591, 112.]

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