Last week I had to take my father to an urgent care clinic while he was visiting me from out of state. We were both in the exam room when a woman walks in and introduces herself. "Hi, I'm Jane (not her real name) and I'm the nurse". Even her name tag said "Nurse" under it. After she got done taking my dad's VS, I asked her where she went to nursing school since I am currently in nursing school at a college close by. She started stumbling over her words and eventually told me that she had not gone to school at all and wasn't a nurse. She's not even a certified nursing assistant. She simply had received on-the-job training to be doing what she was doing.
As a nursing student who is working extremely hard to earn the title of "Nurse" I was furious! And if she's wearing a name tag that was issued from her from her place of employment, they should be ashamed for misrepresenting this woman as a nurse to their patients. Isn't this illegal, or at least unethical? Am I just over reacting here?
Specializes in Quality Nurse Specialist, Health Coach.
I definitely think that representing yourself as a nurse when you are not is wrong. I worked very hard to become a RN and I don't want someone representing my profession if they are not.
In my area, none of the doctors' offices employ nurses. They hire CNA's, train them to draw blood, and call them "nurses". They are the ones you talk to about medication changes or prescription call ins. They are CNA's! But they work as and are called nurses. How can this be allowed?
The same way the same doctors could hire medical assistants to do the same thing. Only they would have to pay the medical assistant a dollar an hour more to do what the CNA does for less.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
YES! It is illegal! Many state nursing boards outline just this in their nursing practice acts and/or their rules and regs. You should never represent yourself as or use the title of "nurse" when you do not, in fact, hold the proper license. Bad idea.
She's in England, not the US. I think she's wondering if it's illegal in HER country.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
In my area, none of the doctors' offices employ nurses. They hire CNA's, train them to draw blood, and call them "nurses". They are the ones you talk to about medication changes or prescription call ins. They are CNA's! But they work as and are called nurses. How can this be allowed?
Most doctors offices around here use MAs. Even still, I have heard them introduce themselves as nurses.
Been going on since the beginning of time. People who give themselves the title without the degree. I think they are using the term very very loosley. How many times you see nurses aids posted under nursing. As long as they do not write the title r.n., or l.p.n. after their name.
Most doctors offices around here use MAs. Even still, I have heard them introduce themselves as nurses.
That's my point. They do introduce themselves as nurses and they are called nurses by the doctor's and other staff. I'm sure lots of people believe they are nurses... I probably would if I didn't know these girls.
Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.
Is it illegal? Probably. Unethical? Definitely! In Texas we have "imposter alerts" and there was an office staff person that was representing her self as an "RN" and "office nurse". She got busted with her name and photo on the board of nursing website. I think ignorance places a big part in your situation - she probably thinks because she does "nursing tasks" that she can call herself a nurse. Shame on the clinic for actually representing her as a nurse and providing her ID as one. I would definitely report this to your BON.
In response to previous posts - just because your patients are elderly does not mean you cannot spend 2 seconds to explain "No I'm not your nurse. My name is ____, I am your tech/CNA and I will be assisting you today. Your nurse is ____." I was a CNA before and I never called myself a nurse. Besides most of our oriented residents knew the difference between CNA and nurse. It's not hard to educate people on the difference. I occasionally have to explain the difference between LVN and RN. Be proud of what you are!
Except that in many (most?) states, it's not just "as long as they don't use the title RN or LPN". Even the title "nurse" is protected.
Indeed it is, and 27 states currently have protection of the title "nurse."
"The intent of restricting use of the title "nurse" is to protect the public from individuals who are not licensed nurses, yet deceitfully lead the public to believe they are and able to provide services that only nurses are qualified to provide. A solution is to enact legislation amending the state nurse practice act. Nurse practice acts describe entry requirements, practice standards and codes of conduct with the intent of protecting the public against unethical, unscrupulous and incompetent practitioners. The regulation of nurses offers some assurance to the public that a nurse is competent to provide services in an effective and safe way. Restricting use of the title "nurse" to those who have satisfied the licensure requirements ensures protection the public deserves."
(4)(d) Unless the person holds a license under this chapter or as a vocational nurse under Chapter 302, a person may not use, in connection with the person's name: (1) the title "nurse"; or (2) any other designation tending to imply that the person is licensed to provide nursing care.
Section 301.415. Use of Certain Nursing Titles
Unless the person is practicing under the delegated authority of a registered nurse or is otherwise authorized by state or federal law, a person may not use, in connection with the person's name: (1) the title" nurse aide", "nurse assistant", or" nurse technician" or (2) or any other similar title.
So unless you're being supervised by an RN in TX, you can't even use the title of a nurse assistant/aide.
Actually, I just had someone say that because they are a mom they are also a nurse because she "deals with puke and blood". Ok, seriously? Seriously? That's what you think nursing is? Just dealing with puke and blood? And apparently I'm the one taking things too seriously because I said something about it. Whatevs.
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NurseNinaFla
96 Posts
Not only Illegal,but Ignorant as well..or better yet "stupid" is probably defines calling oneself a nurse when in fact they are not!