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?
One more story--I was treated by a rude and arrogant physician's assistant at an urgent care, it seemed to me he had introduced himself, and been introduced, as "Dr. so-and-so." My husband noticed his tag said PA, and when I questioned him about his assessment and recommendations for long enough, he finally had to get the Dr., his "supervisor," and I got actual treatment.
...and I graduate with my BSN next week!!
I have yet to meet a PA that isn't assy and arrogant. At least they are in my hospital anyway.
And congrats on the graduation!!! I'm graduating next May! I know you are so excited!!!!
I have yet to meet a PA that isn't assy and arrogant. At least they are in my hospital anyway.
And congrats on the graduation!!! I'm graduating next May! I know you are so excited!!!!
meredith
I'm sorry you haven't met any good PAs. My PCM is a PA. I go to a military hospital so there is always a doc on the floor, but they have such high volumes the patients normally see a PA. I love him. He actually sat there and talked to me instead of making quick judgments about my care. He is leaving in 2 weeks though, so I'm sure I'll get stuck with another person that sucks like I had 2 years ago at the hospital.
I'm sorry you haven't met any good PAs. My PCM is a PA. I go to a military hospital so there is always a doc on the floor, but they have such high volumes the patients normally see a PA. I love him. He actually sat there and talked to me instead of making quick judgments about my care. He is leaving in 2 weeks though, so I'm sure I'll get stuck with another person that sucks like I had 2 years ago at the hospital.
Sorry, I didn't mean to start something about PAs, I'm sure nurses have plenty to say about good and bad experiences with them. The main thing for me was that I believe he represented himself as a doctor, similar to unlicensed personnel being called nurses.
Say what? I know what I wrote and it's perfectly legal. Does this look like a pt document? NO it is my personal document as in MY LIFE. That Dr. probably was injecting himself with some anesthesia, he made no since just like you. So sue me.
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?
It is illegal to call yourself a nurse when you are clearly not one. I am a nurse and I use to work in a clinic where they let people with no school training do things that I went to school to learn. I didn't feel like a nurse there, so I left and went somewhere else. The patients didn't know any better. They thought everybody was a nurse, even though the name tag said otherwise. You have to question people to find out the truth. Good thing you asked the lady more questions. I think that clinic is asking for a lawsuit if they don't quit misrepresenting their employees.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Here are the basic economics: doctors have to work harder, spend less time than ever with patients, to earn less money than ever. They can only afford to hire those with the least qualifications to make the numbers work. In the states where I have worked, if the doctor trains somebody in HIS/HER office to act under HIM/HER supervision to give a flu shot, go through a list of questions on the telephone in a screening process or triage function, take a blood pressure, take a basic health history, etc. (you get the idea) then even a person off the street can work for that physician doing the delegated tasks. OF COURSE it would be much better to have a REAL nurse. Doctors don't always get what nurses even ARE! And economics plays a big part in the hiring process. Once this individual is trained to do some nursing type delegations, and they earn so little money, wouldn't you think it would be tempting for them to call themselves nurses if there was no consequence AND since the physician has entrusted them with these important tasks?
Yes, I know. I've worked in doctor's offices and clinics. And you are right. In California, there is no requirement for a certification for someone to work as a Medical Assistant. The doctor's malpractice insurance carrier may require it, though. Also, even reading out off a list of things to ask for various symptoms is considered triage, but there is no doubt physicians will push the limits of what they allow their office personnel to do.
It used to be that an RN in practice with a physician gave him more cache, or at least an LVN, and the term "my nurse" would not be a misnomer. I really hate to be cynical, but the truth is because of declining reimbursements and other factors, the average doctor does not care if his office help is a "nurse" in reality or not. The name of the game is to get the cheapest labor possible. He or she will refer to his ancillary helper as a nurse, for no other reason than expediency as they point the patient down the hall or have them wait for an injection. It's a trend that I don't like either, but I don't see it changing anytime soon.
wow! they told us in school that when we graduate we have to say I am a graduate nurse, just like we say, I'm a student nurse. until you have that license you are not a nurse
Sorry, I didn't mean to start something about PAs, I'm sure nurses have plenty to say about good and bad experiences with them. The main thing for me was that I believe he represented himself as a doctor, similar to unlicensed personnel being called nurses.
Oh, I wasn't trying to start something. I was just letting you know that there are SOME good one's out there, and I'm sorry you haven't met any of them. It a a shame really.
DayDreamin ER CRNP
640 Posts
I have yet to meet a PA that isn't assy and arrogant. At least they are in my hospital anyway.
And congrats on the graduation!!! I'm graduating next May! I know you are so excited!!!!
meredith