Impersonating a nurse

[Elleveein, LVN]

So I'm a new grad vn (taking nclex 4/2) I decided to go back to medical assisting in the mean time since jobs are hard to come by for new vn's. So I landed a job at a Urgent care and didn't tell them I was a new grad because they wouldn't have hired me. On my first day they introduced me to the head nurse and then she took me to nurse's station and I met the rest of the nurses at least that's what they called themselves, I asked them "Are u lvns or rns?" And they replied "we're ma's" I was shocked they even had business cards that said nurses they tried to give me some to give my pts in case they needed to call me, that's not even the worst of it even the docs says "my nurse" this is a huge practice 10 + docs and not 1 licensed nurse. These ma's are giving Demerol and I.V's I really don't know what to do, who can I anonymously report this to?

[Elleveein, LVN]

Anyone?

[samirish]

This really burns me up and I hope something can be done about it. Why dont they just refer to themselves at medical assistants?? Be proud of your accomplishments whether it be ma's or rn's or lvn's but dont go around referring to yourself as something your not! As far as the excuse I've heard alot which is "my patients wouldn't understand what a MA is" ...i say b.s. Anyone and everyone can understand what an "assistant" is. Its not that hard.

[Elleveein, LVN]

I know. These ladies believe their nurse's and everyone in the office goes along with it, I wanna report it but I have no idea how to go about it.

[CaregiverGrace]

You need to report this to your state BON. MA's are the secretary version of CNAs, but with even less "nursing" knowledge. By presenting themselves as nurses they are committing a crime imo.

[noelia23RN]

Omg this really ****** me off!!!

[Elleveein, LVN]

Since no licensed nurse works there they're getting away with it. Every time I hear "good morning nurses" I cringe.

[RN1980]

you better drop a call or e-mail to the bon, if you dont and it is found out later you very well could be brought under punishment for turning a blind eye for possible defrauding the population on the pretence that those jokers you are working with are not nurses. however, im sure one of the "law nurses" on htis site may have better informed info for you.

[RN1980]

better yet, i would call the bon from a pay phone and ask someone about this issue. i'd make sure not to give my name initially.

[Jonathank]

First, get another job. Then report them to your state BON. They're almost certainly practicing beyond the scope of MA's, and the business cards that say they're nurses are fraudulent. Whatever else you do, don't hand any of those cards out.

[Elleveein, LVN]

Ok I will

[NurseSnarky]

This ****** me off to no end too. I also worked in an office where the doc and the MA introduced her/herself as a nurse. WT?! She said she never wanted to even BE a nurse...no way, no how. Too much BS. Oh reallY?! She did not do IVs or push meds, but just letting patients believe she was a nurse was more than I could take. We did a lot of phone triage and she would say, "this is dr. so & so's nurse, how may I help you?" ARGH!!!! I looked all over my state's BON site for an answer to this and for my state nothing is in writing. I thought other states had something, but not all. I would always let patients know I was and RN and that this person was a MA. Period.

My opinion is that I cannot call myself a doctor to anyone. And MAs or CNAs should not be able to call themselves or be referred to as a nurse. I once had a ST allow herself to be referred to as a nurse and when an RN complained the ST threw a fit to a sup and a doc. They both said, "well you're part of the nursing team, so what's the problem?" Whoa!?

For me this issue is like ******* in my Cheerios.

I hope you get out of there and someone pays a visit to get them straightened out.