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 maternal child, public/community health.
I recently had to call my doctor's office to try to get a prescription fixed. I found the error when I went to get the med and told the pharmacist what it should be (same drug but short-acting and different dose). He tried to get it straightened out but couldn't. I called and talked to "Sue, DR. X's staff." At least she didn't claim to be a nurse because it became obvious as I talked to her that she just didn't get what I was telling her. ("Yes, it use to be 50mg of extended release. She not only switched me to short-acting but she also increased the dose. I need 50mg of short-acting twice a day.") After three attempts, I just said, "Okay, this is what you need to tell the doctor....." It was extremely frustrating. It makes me wonder how accurate the information that gets passed on is! Thank goodness I knew what it should be it would never have gotten straightened out. What happens to patients who don't know?
I worked in a peds clinic with great MAs and RNs. Many of the MAs had worked there for years and knew a lot more than I did as a new grad about many things (how to give immunizations, draw blood on a 1yr old, etc) but they were always very clear that there were many things I knew that they did not -pathophys, how meds work, etc. It was a large clinic with lots of triage phone calls. There was always a MA and a RN on the phones. It was very clear -MAs can do many things (med refills, etc) but cannot assess. Nurses had to assess. Everyone respected what others knew but did not do things outside the limits of their duties. (On the other hand, I have a neighbor who calls herself a nurse but she is a MA. The MAs I worked with were very smart. This one - not so smart. I really hate to think that people might think she represents nurses!
I am going to talk to our nursing manager about this, as she refers to us as "unqualified nurses"
Yeah, I wouldn't want the word "unqualified" in my job title, even if it was "unqualified physician," "unqualified genius," or "unqualified baddest orifice in the world" lol.
Like many posters, I can relate to the OP. My endocrinologist has always had a "nurse", he refers to her as his nurse, and her badge says nurse. Well after a year or so I asked her about nursing because I had just gotten accepted into NS, and she said "Oh well I'm a medical assistant, but I have an associates degree." Lol, okay..it didn't/doesn't really bother me.
Actually, I do agree with you. We are NOT nurses. I do normally introduce myself as a "Auxrilly nurse" because it is a termn that has been around for donkeys years and most people know what it means. Now I am wondering if it's actually illegal in this country to use the title "Nurse" in any respect...and I will be finding out! I do not want to mislead my patients, either, or offend anyone!
"Auxrilly nurse" may be a regional term....because I've never heard of it at all.
First things first--the correct spelling is "auxiliary nurse." I say this, not to be part of the spelling police, but because it's difficult to Google incorrect spellings.
Second, when I did Google the term, it seemed to be predominantly located in Canada and the UK.
And third, the definition is similar to nursing assistant. It is not a licensed position. Some of the ads I saw for auxiliary nurse said no experience was necessary--on the job training would be provided.
The fact that "nurse" is a part of this title makes it highly prone to misunderstanding and misuse. At least with CNA, you can't say, "I'm a nursing" and not have people raise their eyebrows and question you further.
I'm a CNA at the moment in a nursing home. I do tell the residents that I'm the nurses aide and if they don't what that is then I'll explain to them. However, if they call me nurse I will answer to them and remind them that I'm the aide. Often times they'll just want a CNA task done however and I will do it.
Another thing that bother me is when people take their pre-reqs (I'm in the nursing program at the moment) say they are in the nursing program. I find this offensive b/c I've worked hard to get where I am and I continue to work hard (2nd qtr. nursing student). In fact, while taking my pre-reqs people in the general public would ask me how the nursing program was going and I would always make sure to correct them.
So I can totally understand how someone calling themselves a nurse, when they are in fact NOT one would make people angry.
Not only that BUT think of the ramifications...I mean IF someone got hurt and they thought this person was the nurse and it was something a little more complicated that first aid...just think of the harm that could come. I once had a friend who would go to the bar in his scrubs (he was a CNA) posing as a nurse, b/c then they wouldn't card him...to think if something bad happened and they thinking he was a nurse...Anyways I'm rambline and I apologize if I went off topic!
First things first--the correct spelling is "auxiliary nurse." I say this, not to be part of the spelling police, but because it's difficult to Google incorrect spellings.
Second, when I did Google the term, it seemed to be predominantly located in Canada and the UK.
And third, the definition is similar to nursing assistant. It is not a licensed position. Some of the ads I saw for auxiliary nurse said no experience was necessary--on the job training would be provided.
The fact that "nurse" is a part of this title makes it highly prone to misunderstanding and misuse. At least with CNA, you can't say, "I'm a nursing" and not have people raise their eyebrows and question you further.
When I read this and got to "I'm a nursing" I nearly peed myself I laughed so hard. I'm still smiling. Hahaha.
i know exactly where you are coming from!!!! ( i thought i was the only one who felt this way!)
i am also in nursing school (rn!!) and it really upsets me to hear people who are not nurses... (lvns or rn's) calling themselves nurses!! a friend of my boy friends...wife... (lol) works at an ob office and tells everyone we meet she is a nurse, when in fact she is a nursing assistant! i do believe they work very hard at their job and deserve respect, but to call your self/represent your self as something that you are most def not is not cool. most of them believe that just because they got on the job training and are ablet to adm med/draw blood or do other invasive things...they are worthy of calling themselve "nurse" but not im sorry...that is not what earns you right to call yourself that!!
we (future and real nurses..he he) go through years of hard work, sweat at tears to earn out tittle...and we know the pathology of what the med does...what the blood counts mean, and much much much more!!!
it drives me up the wall.... i was at a doc apt with my mother a few weeks ago and a very smart (cna) was interacting with my mother... i asked her "wow you are really good at what you do...what is your position?" she said "im one of the nurses" i said "oh awesome lvn or rn" and she said ooo "cna" i was like ....hummm...what is not a nurse!!!!! i just think they believe since they do alot of things nurses do..they think they are one... !!
have to say that, technically...a "future" nurse is not a nurse, either, and hasn't gone through or knows what a "real" nurse does, either. it's much more than what the "pathology of what the med does" or "what the blood counts mean."
I pulled over one day to a scene of a MVA. I was a EMT at the time and going to LPN school. A lady stopped and took over stating "I'm a nurse". Funny thing is that I found out that she was still in nursing school.
I don't get people that want to pretend to be more than they are. I like stating just what level I am at and what I am trained to handle. I would never want my ego to be the reason I hurt someone.
Be proud of what you are CNA, MA, PTC, LPN, RN, etc. But be honest about what you are.
BTW what's with the receptionists at MD offices now becoming triage nurses? That seems to be happening more often these days. And they are often wrong. Sorry to go off on a tangent.
I pulled over one day to a scene of a MVA. I was a EMT at the time and going to LPN school. A lady stopped and took over stating "I'm a nurse". Funny thing is that I found out that she was still in nursing school.
I had a similar incident many moons ago when I was a First Responder.
I witnessed a pretty nasty accident between an early 1980s era station wagon (therefore all metal) and a moped. I ran over to the scene and began to help people as my training allowed; another person arrived and identified himself as an EMT so I let him take the lead on things until he started insisting on moving the bike passenger to which I blocked him and waited for the ambulance to arrive.
(The moped driver was drunk but responsive and there was no immediate threat to his life or indication of cranial injury which warranted removal of the helmet or relocating him.)
When the ambulance arrived, as the EMTs took over response, the "EMT" who arrived attempted to leave! I stopped him as protocol in our state for First Responders and EMTs was to complete the report with the police officer.
While the police officer was taking our statements, I provided my First Responder card and the "EMT" confessed that he had only taken a first aid course!
I was furious! This guy could have caused severe injury to someone or even killed the biker by forcibly removing his helmet at the scene of an accident!
I don't get why people think it is "cool" to parade around as though they have a degree of education when they do not. Just be what you are and be content with that.
Just wanted to let you all know that I called the clinic that this incidence happened at. I spoke with someone who identified themselves as the "manager" and told him what happened and that I was deeply concerned about their facility misleading patients into believing that they were receiving care from a NURSE. I have a meeting with their operational manager and one of the owners ( a physician). I was actually surprised when they asked me to come in and talk with them. I don't want to start a giant issue. I just don't feel comfortable with what happened. I meet with them tomorrow. Will let you know what they say.
anurseatlast
224 Posts
I recently had to call my doctor's office to try to get a prescription fixed. I found the error when I went to get the med and told the pharmacist what it should be (same drug but short-acting and different dose). He tried to get it straightened out but couldn't. I called and talked to "Sue, DR. X's staff." At least she didn't claim to be a nurse because it became obvious as I talked to her that she just didn't get what I was telling her. ("Yes, it use to be 50mg of extended release. She not only switched me to short-acting but she also increased the dose. I need 50mg of short-acting twice a day.") After three attempts, I just said, "Okay, this is what you need to tell the doctor....." It was extremely frustrating. It makes me wonder how accurate the information that gets passed on is! Thank goodness I knew what it should be it would never have gotten straightened out. What happens to patients who don't know?
I worked in a peds clinic with great MAs and RNs. Many of the MAs had worked there for years and knew a lot more than I did as a new grad about many things (how to give immunizations, draw blood on a 1yr old, etc) but they were always very clear that there were many things I knew that they did not -pathophys, how meds work, etc. It was a large clinic with lots of triage phone calls. There was always a MA and a RN on the phones. It was very clear -MAs can do many things (med refills, etc) but cannot assess. Nurses had to assess. Everyone respected what others knew but did not do things outside the limits of their duties. (On the other hand, I have a neighbor who calls herself a nurse but she is a MA. The MAs I worked with were very smart. This one - not so smart. I really hate to think that people might think she represents nurses!