I'm sure this has been said.. MA's calling themselves Nurses

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So Monday I was in a system-wide orientation for my new job as an LPN. I just graduated (so technically until i take my boards and pass.. I'm a GPN). Anyway- there was a girl in our orientation that was an MA, and said she was a nurse at her Dr's office. I was a little taken a-back by this! Call me a brat but I went through a lot to get IN to nursing school, make the grades and graduate to be able to call myself a NURSE! Does this bother anyone else??

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
Well, when I graduated from nursing school in the 1990's nurses were still required to wear white uniforms. I even had white dresses and hose. Within 2 years of graduating nurses and CNA's started to wear the same uniforms. It went from CNA's wearing plain purple scrubs and nurses wearing all white to everyone wearing the same uniforms. So without the badge who is to know. I really think we need to go back to the day of white uniforms only for nurses, just me. You say no one cares who takes care of them that is not true. I get ask all the time if I am the nurse.

Here is a story for you I use to work at Veteran's Medical Center as the unit leader RN I did everything LPN's could not do IV insertion then. It was me the RN and 5 LPNS and one evening one of the LPN's needed me to come into a room, so she rang for me she said to me in front of the patient okay you can insert this IV now and I said okay will do. I got the IV cart and preceded to prep the patients arm for the IV. The patient said to me don't you ever get tire of doing everything he said your just as good as she is why don't you go on and get your LPN?????? I was sort of listening but busy inserting the IV. I said, excuse me? He said, why don't you get your LPN ( someone had to tell him that it stood for Licensed practical nurse.) He said most all the nurse on the floor have their LPN except you. I was speechless to say the least, because I had never been approach with that one before. I said, well no disrespect to you but I already had my LPN and now I am a RN. He said, but your not a licensed nurse right??? I said yes I am a licensed nurse. I said I am a RN, now mind you I am getting no where, because he still didn't seem to believe me. What is the difference he ask I said a LPN is a 1 year vocational nurse and RN is a 2-4 year college nurse, and they are licensed. Well he could not say enough appologies that evening.

MAny people ask me why I don't go ahead and go straight for my LPN when I tell them I wish to go to school to be an RN. I think many connect more letters with more or higher licensure.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Actually, I think it's an Apostrophe. Sorry not trying to be a smart allic, but everyone here seems to be obessed with grammar, and most of them use it improperly themselves.

Thank,s for pointing that out: That*s a rhetorical question, by the way. Ha ha I'm just funnin' ya. See posts #134 and #136.:jester: The offendor has been eliminated. I was going to leave the error in in the interest of thread continuity, but with two people writing posts to correct me that means there are 200 more hiding thinking I'm a dum----s.

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Specializes in geriatrics, orthopedic rehab.
:lol2: Well it's clear I need not concern myself with the vexing issue of higher education if I don't know the difference between an apostrophe and a comma, lol. ==brainfart== after a real cluster-blank of a shift-- And you're right. Little things like that are important. I'm one who freaks out at the idea of O2 "stats" etc., so I know where you're coming from. :up:

lol thats so weird!!! that drives me nuts too "O2 stats"!!:devil: why and how do we nurses become so insane over this stuff. hehe

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Now, THAT is a new one on me! Telling an RN to go get her LPN...what a hoot! Everyone has their LPN,but you. WHO, pray tell, then, would supervise the LPNs? What a funny story! LOL!

Truthfully a lot of people do not know the difference between a LPN and a RN credential or they misunderstand it. They see L = Licensed and assume that an RN is not a licensed nurse, because there is no L. We didn't use CNA's at the Veterans Medical then, so just LPN's and RN's and we all did primary care nursing. So a CNA is one more credential in the mix for patients to have to figure out. I think it is important to establish who you are with a patient. Never did I say I condone telling a patient "I am part of the nursing" to confused them!!! I was just saying that anybody and everybody who works in the Nursing Dept. directly caring for a resident is part of the nursing staff which I am generalizing. It is a part of most hospitals and LTC policy to wear a badge and to inform your patient who you are. I know some do not always like to follow rules. :idea:

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MAny people ask me why I don't go ahead and go straight for my LPN when I tell them I wish to go to school to be an RN. I think many connect more letters with more or higher licensure.

Personally I loved being a LPN and it was my LPN position at the LTC facility that allowed me to pay for my RN or degree. My LPN 1 year vocational program I spent $1200 total and my RN or degree over $ 25,000. My LPN gave me my roots it allowed me the opportunity to see if I was truely cut out for this career. I am glad I did the both programs. Right now I am getting my BSN and I will be glad when I am finished. Ironically I had to go 3 years to get here, because there was no bridge program then, so when I am done I will have spent 5 years in school total LPN, ADN and BSN.

Lynne RN :nurse:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Truthfully a lot of people do not know the difference between a LPN and a RN credential or they misunderstand it. They see L = Licensed and assume that an RN is not a licensed nurse, because there is no L. We didn't use CNA's at the Veterans Medical then, so just LPN's and RN's and we all did primary care nursing. So a CNA is one more credential in the mix for patients to have to figure out. I think it is important to establish who you are with a patient. Never did I say I condone telling a patient "I am part of the nursing" to confused them!!! I was just saying that anybody and everybody who works in the Nursing Dept. directly caring for a resident is part of the nursing staff which I am generalizing. It is a part of most hospitals and LTC policy to wear a badge and to inform your patient who you are. I know some do not always like to follow rules. :idea:

What is particularly comical to me about this one is that normally, people don't think that LPNs are nurses AT ALL, so, this was a new one on me...LOL. But, you are correct...not seeing the word 'licensed' may trip some people up.

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I have to be very,very careful here as I see this is a very sensitive matter. Possibly this is quite justifiably so. At any rate, I am sensing that there is a lot of animosity between "nurses" (and to be clear, I mean Registered Nurses) and unlicensed assistive personnel. In particular it appears that the negative feelings and attitudes are directed primarily at Medical Assistants. Again, with the utmost caution and sensitivity I would like to suggest that this discussion is bordering on sterotyping of all MA's. I know many nurses get quite irate when themselves are victims of sterotyping. From a foundational and background perspective, I am not a nurse myself, am not an MA or in any position to assist either, so I consider myself neutral in this discussion.

The concern and question that initiated this thread is a valid one and many valid points are made throughout the discussion. However, the more that emotion comes into play, the more dilute the true issue (and subsequent resolution....which is what this is all about, no?) becomes.

Just an observation. If I offend, my preemptive apologies to all whom feel so. I enjoy this forum, and thanks to all that participate ~

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
We're all allowed a brainfart or two....or 12...
That's good because I get them often. Especially when I'm not thinking or when I'm really tired or stressed. :D
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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I have an idea! Why don't all medical personnel refer to themselves as CNA or certified nursing assistant, LPN as licensed practical nurse, RN as LRN or licensed registered nurse so the public knows he/she is legitimate, BSN as bachelor of science nurse, MSN as master of science nurse, and NPHD as a nurse with a PHD, or a doctorate nurse.

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I have an idea! Why don't all medical personnel refer to themselves as CNA or certified nursing assistant, LPN as licensed practical nurse, RN as LRN or licensed registered nurse so the public knows he/she is legitimate, BSN as bachelor of science nurse, MSN as master of science nurse, and NPHD as a nurse with a PHD, or a doctorate nurse.

awww, but then I couldn't mislead people into thinking what I want them to think.

:gtch:

Of course, then there would be a rash of threads saying "Why do we have to differentiate what kinds of nurses we are? We're all nurses! Who cares that this nurse had 4 years of college while this one only had 1?" Wah, wah, wah, wah, on and on into infinity.

Personally, I have nothing against CNAs or MAs. They both serve a purpose and fulfill a need. I do not like MAs or CNAs that misrepresent themselves. It has nothing to do with resentment or hostility. Its wrong to lie to people and tell them (or lead them to believe) that you are a certain type of healthcare practitioner, when you have no training in that field.

CNAs are part of the nursing family. They are not trained as nurses or licensed. MAs, too.

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I was only tongue-in-cheeking. I agree that it's wrong to mislead people to make them think you are something your really aren't I mentioned that earlier on in this thread. So kudos to you.

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gosh this bothers me too. this lady i know is an MA and she tells everyone she is a nurse because she claims to do the same things that a nurse can do.

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