If you are not a nurse, do NOT use the title, please

[RNsRWe]

I'm starting a blanket thread, rather than doing individual posts like I have been the last few days, because this might get some people's attention better.

The word "Nurse" is a legally protected title in most states (as well as "LVN/LPN", and "RN"). The law was written to prevent people who are NOT nurses from using those titles.

Beyond that, if you are posting ON THIS WEBSITE, AllNurses.com has a clear Terms of Service posted that you agreed to when registering for a username. To put it simply, you may not use the word "Nurse" or "RN" or "LPN" unless you hold an active LICENSE for one of those titles.

Usernames such as Nurse2Be, or FutureRN, or HopeToBeLVN are obviously not in violation of the TOS, as it is clear that the member is not misrepresenting himself or herself as a current nurse.

If you are someone who has mistakenly registered an incorrect username, please take the time to CHANGE IT. There are many members here who will be angry with seeing your fraudulent use of the title; some will be nice about it and ask you politely to change it (as I am doing) and some will be far less pleasant....and both will be right.

CNAs, MAs, who are using the word Nurse in your name....please stop. Students, post-students who have yet to pass the NCLEX, please do not use a title you have not earned.

You wouldn't call yourself Doctor Sally (I don't think?) if you aren't a doctor. Please give Nurses the same consideration.

Thank you.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I honestly believe that many of the ones I'm referring to DON'T know it's inappropriate, or illegal. But it's time to give them a clue.

[NurseLadi2b]

I think she's allnurses™ name check security...lol... And have lots of time on her hands checking names and titles. Go be a NURSE!

[RescueNinjaKy]

Well I use the title student nurse

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I thought it was only in some states that nursing was a legally protected title

Some, most, who cares.....when people joined THIS website, the rules are pretty upfront. You can't use it without having earned it.

That said, more and MORE States are passing legislation that makes using the title in any form illegal.

Much of the general public has been duped, defrauded, misled, whatever you want to call it, by people who represent themselves as qualified, educated and licensed nurses and aren't. These people have caused confusion at best and danger/harm at worst.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think she's allnurses™ name check security...lol... And have lots of time on her hands checking names and titles. Go be a NURSE!

She IS being one...making sure that a protected title is being upheld-it's called ACCOUNTABILITY.

Are YOU one...just curious, since you have such a strong reaction to what the OP is writing about.

[NurseLadi2b]

She IS being one...making sure that a protected title is being upheld-it's called ACCOUNTABILITY.

Are YOU one...just curious, since you have such a strong reaction to what the OP is writing about.

Oh, we have back up security do we? I hope allnurses™ sends their name security checker and her backup a nice fat paycheck for all their support.

And NO I am not a nurse! Im so proud to say im a student NURSE and ill use that title until the day im licensed..

I just thought it was comical this was posted 4-5x. I always look for uplifting positive things on this site and happened to come across this blog of negativity several times so I figured I comment. No offense to anyone, continue saving lives rather you're a cna, ma, LPN/lvn, RN, pa, np, MD or janitor for all I care.

Have a marvelous day my fellow life-savers :)

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

I think she's allnurses™ name check security...lol... And have lots of time on her hands checking names and titles...

.

Are YOU one...just curious.

How very ironic that you should comment, "Nurse"Ladi, as your profile indicates you're a pre-nursing student, and not in fact a nurse. You're an excellent example of the exact issue this thread is addressing and that RNsRWe is trying to change.

As a side note, your 10 years of MA/CNA/UAP experience are not 10 years of nursing experience. You ought to change your profile to reflect that.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

And NO I am not a nurse! Im so proud to say im a student NURSE and ill use that title until the day im licensed..

Really? Perhaps you should edit your username to reflect that pride, per the TOS as well.

Also, if you're still a pre-nursing student, you're not a student nurse yet. Keep that in mind.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Isn't is remarkable how quickly the offenders rise to prove my point?

"blog of negativity"....LOL...."fellow life-savers".....really? You're my colleague? Oh, wait....no, you're not. You're the problem.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

And NO I am not a nurse! Im so proud to say im a student NURSE and ill use that title until the day im licensed..

You are neither nurse nor student nurse, and have no business using that title; thank you for being such a glowing example of the problem I commented on!

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Isn't is remarkable how quickly the offenders rise to prove my point?

"blog of negativity"....LOL...."fellow life-savers".....really? You're my colleague? Oh, wait....no, you're not. You're the problem.

Rather remarkable. I knew it was a matter of time, but in less than 3 hours from the OP? Wow! That happened fast, and on a Sunday, even!

Here's hoping that folks like that come to understand that correctly using a title isn't about feeling good about oneself or putting someone else down--it's a matter of professionalism and legality.

Perhaps after they've fought their way through school, the boards and into practice, they'll have more respect for what it means to earn a license and how irritating it is when someone who hasn't earned a license presumes to tell you how your profession should regard those who have yet to enter.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Rather remarkable. I knew it was a matter of time, but in less than 3 hours from the OP? Wow! That happened fast, and on a Sunday, even!

Here's hoping that folks like that come to understand that correctly using a title isn't about feeling good about oneself or putting someone else down--it's a matter of professionalism and legality.

Perhaps after they've fought their way through school, the boards and into practice, they'll have more respect for what it means to earn a license and how irritating it is when someone who hasn't earned a license presumes to tell you how your profession should regard those who have yet to enter.

The funny thing is, when someone is so adamant that anyone should be allowed to use a professional title one hasn't earned, you'd think that she/he would offer evidence to support that position....like I have done (in another thread, that I'm sure is soon to be merged with this one).

WHY, if you are uneducated, should you feel you deserve to claim a professional title, and have no accountability for that?

I can only imagine if someone (like "Ladi") were to walk into a medical center and ask to speak with a doctor, and someone with a lab coat walked over and said "I'm a doctor, can I help you"....do you think that "Ladi" would be just fine with finding out he was the janitor, as she claims? Or do you think she might be screaming for a lawyer so she can sue?