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.

[Gabby-RN]

And I'm sure they did not as each of their first posts on this thread were angry and insulting. No one said one insulting or "bullying" word in any way to either of them to provoke their nasty and immature comments. They came on antagonistic and offensive, and then wondered why people didn't sprinkle them with kindness. I am a professional, and am paid to be one in the appropriate setting. I am not unprofessional because I won't lay down and die when a rude, ignorant person insults me and makes derogatory comments to try and taunt me. In my free time I am entitled to converse with like-minded people and engage in pleasant conversation---including lively debate. I assure you I am "acting like an adult" in every moment of my life, as I AM an adult.....and I have no need to prove this to anyone, or "act" a certain way when I'm enjoying MY OWN TIME on a message board. A thought, though: I strongly suspect some of the more difficult people who wander in and out of this site are not adults, probably emotionally immature teens, actually, but what can you do? I feel no need to curb my disdain for people who insist on presenting themselves as rude and ignorant. I DO find them disdainful. I offer no apologies, or accept that I am somehow "unprofessional" because I dismiss them as nothing but angry people looking to be contrary for their own purposes. I have not been rude, I have not used offensive language or suggestions of the same, I have not used text-speak and grammar and spelling that make my posts nearly unintelligible...*I* have nothing to be embarrassed about on this thread, period.....and frankly, I DO resent the idea that those who find such posters to be laughable are also unprofessional. They are anything but.[/quote']

I agree nobody was bullying. I meant that sometimes people interpret constructive words to be bullying and get defensive. As in they took a general statement personally. When they get defensive and heated they say things that any respectable adult would be ashamed of, which I believe happened in several of the nursing hopefuls posts. I am all for a good debate, but for a good debate both sides need to have valid points. Unless I missed it, the other side had nothing but negativity. I agree with everything you have said and do believe you conducted yourself in a respectable manner in this discussion.

[dt70]

This should have been a poll, so those of us on the sideline know when to cheer for our team.

Usernames are informal and not legally tied to an individual(yet). I could be creative and use NurseRatched or Doctor Who as a username and everyone would know that its fake.

Using the title as a username may be legal, but is hurtful to those who earned the title.

Like it is now legal to buy a Medal of Honor medal and hang it on your wall, it is illegal to imply you earned it, and is hurtful to those who earned it.

RNsRWe is correct about the TOS, but that shouldn't weigh on your shoulders. Pass it along to the admin, the creators of the TOS.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I do appreciate your posting, but I think you might be overreacting. I made the mistake of using it, but I created my user name when I was accepted to the Nursing School. I was looking at myself as a Nurse. Like positive thinking kind of thing. It didn't work for me...the school...neither the user name here... I changed it as soon as I was advised by one of the users in this website. I believe your post came up a little stronger than what it should have been. Regards Nurse.

I completely understand why you would have made that mistake....and my original post was really not directed at those who are/were similar to you. It was directed at people like the one(s) who immediately chimed in with foolish, ignorant comments and made my point for me. I would truly hate to think that a person such as that would be taken for a nurse, even for a moment.

If anything, it wasn't as strong as it might have been, in light of those who will write that they know full-well that they are in violation of the Terms of Service of this site (as well as the law in many States) and don't give a rat's orifice about it. They flaunt their disregard for rules and think nothing of breaking them. How, then, could I have come on too strong....if the reaction it garnered was an 'in-your-face-what-you-gonna-do-about-it' one?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

no, Gabby, you didn't miss it....there was nothing valid in a position that has at its heart "I did wrong but don't care".

Thank you, btw :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thread closed for time-out.

It may be reopened after staff review.