I am NOT a Nurse...

[GoofyBlondeChic]

Greetings all. I have a weird question for ya'll. I work in Home Healthcare as a CNA and often my clients call me a Nurse. I have no idea why, but it irks me. I don't even remotely consider myself a Nurse. I may have begun that journey, but chickened out and haven't pursued it. So my question; when did you consider yourself a Nurse? Were you in school, working as a Nurse or even working as a CNA or the like? Just curious. S

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Sometimes I still feel like I'm playing nurse. Didn't consider myself a nurse til I started working as one.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I started calling myself a nurse when I passed PN nclex in 2009

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

You are a nurse when you pass your nursing boards. It is important to correct the patient and let them know what your position is. Of course, if they have dementia and you have already reminded them a few times I wouldn't see the point of repeatedly correcting them as this could agitate the patient. I wouldn't think that you need to inform your management but I don't know the culture of the organization that you work for so if in doubt it wouldn't hurt to give them a heads up, though most likely they won't remember the phone call the next day if they are like many of the home health agencies that I have seen.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Nurse's Aide, Care-Giver, Sitter, Companion, My 'Girl', Helper.......Ask him if he can practice calling you or referring to you as one of these.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

In regards to them calling you a Nurse, do correct them but many of them will do it regardless. It's annoying, but they just associate the word nurse with anyone who is a caregiver.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I knew I was a nurse when I passed the NCLEX and saw my name on my states BON website. But I didn't FEEL like a nurse until I received my first paycheck working AS a nurse!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

When I stopped being terrified walking up the sidewalk to the front door of my first job.

I know the license made it official, but inside I was an imposter.

[nursel56]

I do correct my client and he says that he understands. But he calls me his nurse because I see him more than his real nurse does. It does drive me nuts though. Should I pursue it by the higher ups, so that it doesn't get me into trouble?

If you're working in home health it's hard to visualize how you would get in trouble for what your client calls you. I think it might be a good idea to remind him who "his nurse" is, if he or she visits at longer intervals. My experience is that turnover is pretty high in this field. Unfortunately sometimes the client is the last one to know!

If you are very concerned about it, you might let your superiors know so they are aware you haven't misrepresented yourself. Best wishes!

[smoup]

When I stopped being terrified walking up the sidewalk to the front door of my first job.

I know the license made it official, but inside I was an imposter.

Pretty much this. And it hasn't happened yet LOL. I'm only in my first week on the unit though, so in time I'm sure it will.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

"No, your nurse is ____________. I am your health care aide."

[spacemonkey15]

I considered myself a nurse when I had my registration.

Mind you, in the UK if you're a male working in healthcare a lot of patients and relatives assume you're a doctor. This happens when I'm in an identical uniform to my female colleagues.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

As long as YOU are not referring to yourself as a nurse, you're not breaking any laws. Clients are going to call you whatever they call you and you can't always control that...I would keep correcting the patient, however, and make sure it's crystal clear to everyone that you are not a nurse nor presuming to be one.

As for when one considers themself a nurse...for me, that was when I passed the NCLEX.