I am NOT a Nurse...

CamillusRN, BSN · Mar 21, 2015

. . . 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. . . when did you consider yourself a Nurse?

To echo the other posters, I considered myself a nurse when the state board of nursing considered me a nurse. I have a similar problem now as an RN - my patients like to call me ("doctor"). Maybe it's the stereotype the Boomer generation holds male healthcare staff to? In any regards, I'm quick to gently, but definitively, correct the patients. I knew it was going to be an issue when my nursing preceptor thought I was the new resident physician :)

RVA Nurse · Mar 21, 2015

Because I'm a man, I sometimes get called "doc" or "doctor." I correct each person once or twice, after that, they usually drop it. One of my coworkers still calls me doc, but he knows better...

CopperEmerald · Mar 21, 2015

I didn't consider myself a nurse until I was licensed. To state or let others assume otherwise is illegal.

cleobird · Mar 21, 2015

"Lovely picture, but it's really a bad idea to use your own photo as an avatar. There all whole threads about why this is a bad idea."

Ummm.......I think that's a cat. Probably not identifiable. LOL.

laurellestars · Mar 21, 2015

I'm in nursing school and have a CNA license, but I don't consider myself a nurse yet. lol, your patients are very cute. If it really bothers you then gently let the patient know that you're an aid.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2015

Ok, I was wondering whether the term nurse rather than lpn, lvn, or RN had some legal basis. Again not that I'd ever call myself nurse or want to.
Guess we better stop calling Clara Barton and Florence Nightengale nurses, they never even took the nclex!

In some states, yes. In WI, an LPN may not call themselves a NURSE. They HAVE to call themselves a LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE. Don't ask me why. Go ahead and ask me how many LPN's say "I'm the nurse" though, LOL

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2015

"Lovely picture, but it's really a bad idea to use your own photo as an avatar. There all whole threads about why this is a bad idea."
Ummm.......I think that's a cat. Probably not identifiable. LOL.

Ummmmm.....I believe the OP has come back and changed some identifying details. LOL

Angeljho, MSN, NP · Mar 21, 2015

In some states, yes. In WI, an LPN may not call themselves a NURSE. They HAVE to call themselves a LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE. Don't ask me why. Go ahead and ask me how many LPN's say "I'm the nurse" though, LOL

Wait so it's illegal for the LPN to call themselves a nurse even though it's in their title. I do believe there should be some distinction between the LPN and RN title so that the public can understand the roles a little better. It's misleading if two different people with varying titles care for a patient and introduce themselves as, "The nurse."

BrandonLPN, LPN · Mar 21, 2015

Wait so it's illegal for the LPN to call themselves a nurse even though it's in their title. I do believe there should be some distinction between the LPN and RN title so that the public can understand the roles a little better. It's misleading if two different people with varying titles care for a patient and introduce themselves as, "The nurse."

By that logic, RNs shouldn't be able to call themselves simply "nurse" either, if LPNs have to qualify that they're a practical nurse every time, then RNs have to qualify they're a registered nurse. All of which is pretty nonsensical. There already is a clear distinction between the two roles.

I maintain that this stipulation in WI is simply an oversight. If I were a LPN in WI, I'd not hesitate to call myself a nurse regardless. I doubt any LPN in that state has ever been disciplined for doing so. If anyone knows differently, please share. But I doubt anyone has, because I doubt it's ever happened.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 21, 2015

About a month into my first RN job? Before that I felt like an imposter wearing the Rn badge. Lol

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 21, 2015

Hey, I don't make the rules/laws! I can't explain a LOT of what happens in this state anymore (although I doubt this silly example of semantics is hardly a new thing)

GoofyBlondeChic · Mar 21, 2015

Wow, I had no idea that this would bring so many responses; but I am glad that it did. Rest assured that I do not work outside of my scope of practice nor do I even remotely consider myself a Nurse. I have corrected my client many times on it; but he still insists he understands but that he calls me that; because he sees me more than his real Nurse. I hope that my asking didn't cause hard feelings on the board; I was just curious.