Published
When I worked as a CNA I did not want to be called a nurse, nor do I think a CNA should be called a nurse. I do think CNAs are a very import asset to the team and many CNAs are highly skilled at what they do. But I think that the term nurse implies a certain level of training and scope of practice. As a CNA I did not want there to be any misunderstanding, especially because I could not legally provide the same care as a licensed nurse.
CNAs are not "nurses"...however, it could be said that they are changing their career to "nursing" because it is a description of the field as a whole...I make sure that patients know I'm their nurse, and their CNAs are my assistants...they are helpful...but certain things I will have to do/help them with.
op: i saw this interview too; he is not even a cna!!!! he is a student trying to obtain his license to be a cna from what i could see. so it is not even ok to call him a cna.... i wish the news reporter respected titles with licenses. if i knew how to complain i would because that student was neither a cna nor a nurse. not to mention, the report did not mention that there is no nursing shortage in many areas of the country at this time so these students may not find a job when they graduate.
jean36
44 Posts
this is not an offence to those who are cna's, were cna's or yet to become cna's. i was just wondering if it's ok to call a cna a nurse. i've heard a lot of educated people as well as non educated call then nurses, even on cnn, a few days ago, a gentleman was on tv who apparently was changing his career i think from a sales rep. to nursing, according to him, but during the interview i heard him say he's a cna and how he's aspiring to advance his education with an adn or even pa. however, during the conversation, he was been portrayed as someone who's changed his career to nursing. as said earlier, i've heard this time and again. just wondering.