I know a CNA who's name badge says nurse!

Published

Okay, my relative by marraige is a CNA II. She works for a Dr's office that is owned by a larger hospital coorporation. Since she has worked for this office she has called herself a "nurse" and she does get to administer IM injections and do lab draws, EKG'S, immunizations, and she says she even does patient teaching. Her husband told all the parents on our ball team that if any emergency arose not to worry because his wife is a nurse. This truely irritaes me to no end because I worked my butt off to get through nursing school and sacrificed so much to get my RN. I hate the fact that she has no idea what nursing is all about. Well, the other day she got off work and I saw that her badge said nurse, not LPN or RN just nurse. Not only am I offended that she uses this title but I feel like it is very misleading to patients who see Dr's at this practice. I know there are some good unlicensed health care workers but they still do not have the background, education or right to call themselves nurses. I have not confronted her about calling herself a nurse but I see this happening in the future. Makes me wonder if the "nurses" in the office that I go to are really nurses. I think from now on I will ask, "Where did you go to nursing school," just to be safe.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Your attitude really stinks by the way, I would HATE to be one of your patients or work anywhere around you.... health care professionals should come together to help and assist patients, and everyone should respect each other... something that you lack

:yeah:

I was trying to think of a nice way of saying just that. Can you imagine working on the floor with someone with that attitude? My god - It'd be a war zone !:uhoh3:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.
:yeah:

I was trying to think of a nice way of saying just that. Can you imagine working on the floor with someone with that attitude? My god - It'd be a war zone !:uhoh3:

I THINK THAT MY FELLOW NURSES WOULD RALLY AROUND ME TO STOP PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF FROM CALLING YOURSELVES NURSES WHEN CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT ONE! LIKE ANOTHER POSTER HAD SAID, IT IS CLEARLY ILLEGAL BY MOST BOARD OF NURSING IN ALL STATES!

Um no MY attitude is JUST fine, thank you very much...and I don't know where you work BUT in settings OTHER than Dr offices as a REGISTERED NURSE, I am permitted to delegate tasks to UNLICENSED ASSISTIVE PERSONNEL. And a CMA is just that, unlicensed.

You delegate tasks to CMA's?????? tsk tsk tsk... thats really NOT ALLOWED....

yes 2 years ... I did it b/c I wanted to do so... I love what I do... I have an associates degree in health science...

Your attitude really stinks by the way, I would HATE to be one of your patients or work anywhere around you.... health care professionals should come together to help and assist patients, and everyone should respect each other... something that you lack

NAME CALLING IS QUITE UNBECOMING OF YOU MY DEAR!! My coworkers LOVE working with me, thanks for asking and well....honey, you just ARE NOT getting the point that I was trying to make so I think I will now respectfuly bow out of this discussion. Because clearly the point is just NOT gonna get through your mind.

Have a nice day!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i think that my fellow nurses would rally around me to stop people like yourself from calling yourselves nurses when clearly you are not one! like another poster had said, it is clearly illegal by most board of nursing in all states!

um no my attitude is just fine, thank you very much...and i don't know where you work but in settings other than dr offices as a registered nurse, i am permitted to delegate tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel. and a cma is just that, unlicensed.

name calling is quite unbecoming of you my dear!! my coworkers love working with me, thanks for asking and well....honey, you just are not getting the point that i was trying to make so i think i will now respectfuly bow out of this discussion. because clearly the point is just not gonna get through your mind.

have a nice day!

i think you need to re read my post... i never called myself a nurse... i am not a nurse.. and given your attitude, i think i am thankful for that... you are not giving nurses a good rep...

where i work we all respect each other... and no you are not allowed to give cma tasks, unless the physician tells you to do so, if you are doing it just do to do it and the cma messes up, then you probably would be held responsible...

i did not call you any names, i simply stated how rude you are, and how i would hate to be in the position to be your patient or work with you. which still stands.

it is quite obvious, given your attitude, that you do not respect the cma profession. if that is how it is, then so be it. you should still show respect to anyone in the health care setting, regardless of their title. it seems to me you are on a little power trip. cma's work hard to be where they are at too, and we choose to be cma's... you may not understand that, but that is how it is... we enjoy being versitile in the office.

but please, go back and re-read my posts, i never called myself a nurse...and if that was the point of your post, well then it was just flat out pointless, and very very rude.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
where i work we all respect each other... and no you are not allowed to give cma tasks, unless the physician tells you to do so, if you are doing it just do to do it and the cma messes up, then you probably would be held responsible...

while physicians delegate to mas in the office setting, some mas are hired by hospitals in a patient-care capacity.

in that situation, the ma is working in the nursing department, and does fall under the direct supervision of the rn. thus, when nurse-lou delegates to an ma in her unit, she is well within her role to do so.

and yes, she is partially responsible for the actions of the ma she delegates to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
i think you need to re read my post... i never called myself a nurse... i am not a nurse.. and given your attitude, i think i am thankful for that... you are not giving nurses a good rep...

where i work we all respect each other... and no you are not allowed to give cma tasks, unless the physician tells you to do so, if you are doing it just do to do it and the cma messes up, then you probably would be held responsible...

i did not call you any names, i simply stated how rude you are, and how i would hate to be in the position to be your patient or work with you. which still stands.

it is quite obvious, given your attitude, that you do not respect the cma profession. if that is how it is, then so be it. you should still show respect to anyone in the health care setting, regardless of their title.

why? respect is earned, not endowed.

it seems to me you are on a little power trip. cma's work hard to be where they are at too, and we choose to be cma's... you may not understand that, but that is how it is... we enjoy being versitile in the office.

but please, go back and re-read my posts, i never called myself a nurse...and if that was the point of your post, well then it was just flat out pointless, and very very rude.

i suggest you cool off and read the original post, which is what this thread is about.:down:

i also suggest you look to the top of your screen to the name of this site.:nurse:

finally, methinks the lady doth protest too much. medical assistants are capable at the limited tasks they have been taught, but are unable to gather patient data (lpn's) or assess patients (rn's). as lou pointed out, there is no national certification, no standard body of knowledge, no consistant definition of what a "cma" is. feel free to draw my labs or give me an injection, but if me or mine are ill, i want a nurse.:rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i suggest you cool off and read the original post, which is what this thread is about.:down:

i also suggest you look to the top of your screen to the name of this site.:nurse:

finally, methinks the lady doth protest too much. medical assistants are capable at the limited tasks they have been taught, but are unable to gather patient data (lpn's) or assess patients (rn's). as lou pointed out, there is no national certification, no standard body of knowledge, no consistant definition of what a "cma" is. feel free to draw my labs or give me an injection, but if me or mine are ill, i want a nurse.:rolleyes:

cmas are able to gather patient data...

from the aama

clinical duties vary by state and include...

  • taking medical histories
  • explaining treatment procedures to patients
  • preparing patients for examination
  • assisting the physician during the exam
  • collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
  • performing basic laboratory tests
  • instructing patients about medication and special diets
  • preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
  • authorizing prescription refills as directed
  • drawing blood
  • taking electrocardiograms
  • removing sutures and changing dressings

administrative duties may include...

  • using computer applications
  • answering telephones
  • greeting patients
  • updating and filing patient medical records
  • coding and filling out insurance forms
  • scheduling appointments
  • arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
  • handling correspondence, billing and bookkeeping

if me or mine are ill.. give me a dr please.... not a nurse... or a cma.. a cma is going to do what the lpn does..... . take my vitals, my history, preapre the exam room... and that im fine with.. but i want my care to come from my dr.. nurses are not quailifed to diagnoise or treat .. u can perfer a nurse if you wish.. good luck with that.. have a wonderful day

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

If you don't turn them in the practice will escalate. How can we prove to the public that it is beneficial to pay for our experience and education if we do not protect nursing practice? Make that call today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in HOSPICE,MED-SURG, ONCOLOGY,ORTHOPAEDICS.

I have no problems with specialized training and job responsibilities. I work beside LPN's, CNA's, HA's and QMA's that I learn from every day and am proud to be on a team with. I am aware that ther is all kinds of training that will allow you to "upgrade" from what your base licensure is. What I take issue with is someone representing themselves as something they are NOT. A CNA is not a nurse, no matter how you want to put it on a name badge. My bigger concern is the fact that she is okay with it---leads to the thinking that she is okay with the misrepresentation that she has nursing authority and responsibility.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

"never try to teach a pig to sing. it wastes your time and annoys the pig.":smackingf

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

TO STOP PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF FROM CALLING YOURSELVES NURSES WHEN CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT ONE! ...

OK. Let me say this again. Presenting yourself as a nurse when your are not an LPN or RN is illegal. It's also a bad idea. What I also said though was that LNA's are part of the nursing staff. THey are aid's to the nurses. They are suprervised by nurses. They are liscenced by the board of nursing. Working with an LPN or RN who sees them as second class citizens who know nothing is nightmare. Nursing is not all about passing that all important test. That is an accomplishment to be proud of. I'm working on finishing my LPN training now and I know it isn't easy. But I hope I never forget how important the aides are and how tough THEIR job is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

I'm not sure how it went from a CNA to CMA's to dissing. But back on the original subject. A CNA who wears a name badge that says nurse is setting herself up for alot trouble. Misdiagnosing in public, Misrepresenting self in public and at work. For misrepresenting oneself at work as a nurse is a crime and a dangerous thing to do not to mention stupid.

BTW: I didn't read anything in meandrog02's post to mean that she thinks she is or calls herself a nurse. She said she can do what an LPN does. And followed that up by saying that she was trained by an LPN for a week. Which we can all agree means nothing but in all fairness she never portrayed herself as a nurse.

I think everyone is getting pretty over sensitive. I know I'm a nurse, others know they are not, I believe that eventually "what goes around comes around" Honesty does prevail in the end. Happy Thoughts :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i suggest you cool off and read the original post, which is what this thread is about.:down:

i also suggest you look to the top of your screen to the name of this site.:nurse:

finally, methinks the lady doth protest too much. medical assistants are capable at the limited tasks they have been taught, but are unable to gather patient data (lpn's) or assess patients (rn's). as lou pointed out, there is no national certification, no standard body of knowledge, no consistant definition of what a "cma" is. feel free to draw my labs or give me an injection, but if me or mine are ill, i want a nurse.:rolleyes:

there is a national certification..... from the aama...

quoted from the aama website:::::::::

a: yes. this credential is a national certification recognized by employers across the country.

you can find that information here :http://www.aama-ntl.org/medassisting/faqs.aspx#respons

cma's are nationally certified. to be nationally certified a ma has to have graduated from an program accredited by the caahep or abhes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion