Health Aide/Nurse Aide help

Wave Watcher · Jan 21, 2015

I believe he would be acting outside his scope of practice. I would talk to your nurse supervisor. Your principal would not know what his job duties are and what he can legally practice.

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

Is this health aide unlicensed personnel? Is so I would be extremely nervous about him doing assessments on his own, period. You cannot even delegate the duty of assessment to someone who is unlicensed. As the RN, if he makes a mistake the consequences may very well fall on you. Your license could be on the line. Speak to your lead nurse for sure.

As far as calling himself a nurse, I would try to have a chat with him about how that makes you feel. YOU worked hard in nursing school to earn that title. By using that title he is essentially insulting you. He is a health aide and he should refer to himself as such.

rollernurse365 · Jan 21, 2015

I agree with the above statements. Pull up your state's nurse practice act as well as guidelines outlining his scope of practice. Keep them handy. You may need them if you don't get support from your nurse supervisor and/or principal. You could save legal issues for all parties down the line. Keep track of your communications with him, your supervisor, and principal. This way, if anything happens you have some sort of proof you tried to address the issue through appropriate channels.

You may be new but that does not mean you are not able to recognize when things are amiss. Trust your gut. If something doesn't seem/feel right, it usually isn't. You may also try calling other nurses with the same position in your district. They may know things about the "lay of the land" which may help you avoid stepping in muck if you catch my meaning.

childcare1 · Jan 21, 2015

Thanks for all your help! I will be talking to my lead nurse today about this, he thinks that he is older so he can tell me what to do. And then just today he told me that "Just because you have a license does not make you experienced in doing assessments" and that all the kids love him.

This guy needs to go!!!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 21, 2015

I had a run in with a health aide failing to disclose she was not the nurse in one of my son's schools. She was sketchy in her statements that made me question if she was a licensed nurse (she admitted she was not, but was offering medical advice). A nice conversation with the school RN & principal about lying by omission and implying you are a licensed nurse when you are a UAP. It never happened again and I understand a formal warning was issued.

This guy has territory , scope of practice and boundary issues to the point of dangerous. Doing assessments without discussing with the nurse? I don't think so..... Can he say "practicing nursing/medicine without a license"

Farawyn · Jan 21, 2015

Talk to him first. Maybe the kids refer to him as "nurse" because it's easier. I work in HS. Elementary, I can kind of see him going as Nurse Joe or whatever.

Any assessments he does, he should report to you. If he has been there for awhile he probably knows the kids, Well, and that can be helpful. But he should defer to you.

We have an Athletic Trainer who has her Masters in Sports Medicine, and she still refers to me for the nursey stuff.

Farawyn · Jan 21, 2015

Thanks for all your help! I will be talking to my lead nurse today about this, he thinks that he is older so he can tell me what to do. And then just today he told me that "Just because you have a license does not make you experienced in doing assessments" and that all the kids love him.
This guy needs to go!!!

Erm, how old IS he?

I'm telling you, buy him a coffee (or an herbal tea, if his heart can't take it) and talk to him. He is probably very threatened by you. Try that first. For me. :sarcastic:

No Stars In My Eyes · Jan 22, 2015

This may sound simplistic, but does this guy have to wear an ID badge? It should proclaim his status: "Health Aide" in large capital letters. It may not make much difference to the kids, since they don't know the finer points of the healthcare hierarchy.

But, I would tap a finger on his ID badge and remind him it says "aide", which is auxillary staff, which means assistant. And I liked the idea of getting that piece of paper which outlines his scope of practice. *Maybe* he doesn't realize that working under false pretenses can have serious LEGAL consequences. Enlighten him!

childcare1 · Jan 23, 2015

Thank you for all the great suggestions! I met with my lead nurse on Wednesday and found out that this health aide has a list of complaints, not only has he been calling himself a Nurse but also claiming to be an MD and giving medical advice WITHOUT A LICENSE!! :no:

She told me that he has been under investigation by the district for about two mouth and now is officially terminated as of yesterday, and the case is being give to the state board of nursing and medical board for review and maybe legal action. I feel bad for him but i mean come on if you want to be a RN or MD GO TO SCHOOL DONT LIE!!!!

I'm not saying that health aides/nurse aides/nurse techs or whatever you call them are not important members of the health care team. my time working at a hospital i worked with great nurse aides and i mean great like i would have gone crazy without them.

So now i get to pick my next aide i think maybe someone i worked with at the hospital, if you get a aide who knows there job, scope of practice and job description they are A LIFE SAVER!!!!!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 23, 2015

Wow. I would never have suspected it was to that level of fraudulent misrepresentation.

kidzcare · Jan 23, 2015

We don't have nurse aids in my district. What role do they fill? If they cannot assess or hand out medication, I'm not sure what their job description would be.