Is it ok to call CNA's nurses?

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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.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Ok....CNA stands for certified nurses assistant. Some people say certified nurse assistant. Does it make a CNA a nurse? And LPN is a licensed PRACTICAL nurse. Look....I've obviously pushed some buttons and I'm sorry. I've just never considered an LPN as a nurse....I've considered them LPNs. In my nursing book it states nurses as being RNs AND LPNs.....it's just something I've never considered.

I am a bit curious of how you would not consider a Licensed Practical Nurse a Nurse...if your nursing book stated that nurses are RNs and LPNs, then, what confused you? We do learn of the same nursing process, medications, nursing procedures (basic bedside skills), the disease process and gathering the proper date to report to physicians and RNs.

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I am a bit curious of how you would not consider a Licensed Practical Nurse a Nurse...if your nursing book stated that nurses are RNs and LPNs, then, what confused you? We do learn of the same nursing process, medications, nursing procedures (basic bedside skills), the disease process and gathering the proper date to report to physicians and RNs.

Deva, I think she's just having fun getting people worked up. I vote we ignore her.

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i was just wondering if it's ok to call a cna a nurse.

absofrigginlutely not.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Okay, I'm an LVN in a small hospital in Texas. I have noticed that while the scope of practice for an RN is pretty much the same, it varies greatly for LVN/LPNs from state to state and even from facility to facility.

During the last week I have pushed IV meds, prepared IV infusions, started a half dozen IV's, hung PRBCs, flushed PICC lines, administered respiratory treatments, changed sterile dressings, done wound care, and had knock down drag outs with two hard headed family members. I have also helped the CNAs when they are swamped. The same is true of every other LVN here. (Yes, we do work under the supervision of an RN) About the only thing LVNs here don't do is admission assessments or any procedure that is specifically forbidden under the nursing practice act (a pretty short list).

So, pray tell, if we aren't nurses, what are we?

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No CNAs are not nurses, but they are an essential part of the nursing team.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Absofrigginlutely not.

I do believe the OPs question has been answered!!! I could not have said it better myself!!

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Do you have to be a nurse to nurse someone?

Before lots of people jump in with of course you need to be a nurse to nurse someone, just think about what nursing a patient means and I'll think everyone will agree it is everything from washing and feeding your patients right up to administering meds, carrying out procedures and doing the paper work

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Specializes in LTC.

Isn't the "LPNs not being nurses" thing some old belief? We have a resident at my LTC who used to be an LPN and I said something to her one day like, "well you already knew that because you were a nurse" and she really downplayed it, saying she "just passed meds and such" and that "practicals" didn't really get any respect back then.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Oh kiss off! WOW....never realized there were so many nasty people on this site.

Please, when you are a NURSE, post again. Let us NURSES know how you feel then. WHEN you are a NURSE. Earn the title. Or if you dont want to, for what ever reason, be PROUD of what you are!!! Until you decide, please do NOT be a troll........

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I think it's OK to call CNAs nurses. Patients don't generally know the difference - it's much easier for the patients. No need to confuse them with all these different names.

Some nurses think that title makes them God or something and get very offended - I don't understand it. Some nurses don't give a flying whoop, and I'm one of them!

I think some of the CNAs where I work introduce themselves as nurses at the beginning of shift. It takes far too much time for them to explain what the heck a CNA is - it's more efficient for them just to be referred to as one of the nurses. I don't see anything wrong with it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Some nurses think that title makes them God or something and get very offended - I don't understand it. Some nurses don't give a flying whoop, and I'm one of them!

Other professions are highly protective of their job titles, and I don't blame them. If you worked hard for your job title, others shouldn't be allowed to use it cheaply.

Physicians get offended when mid-level practitioners such as PAs and FNPs call themselves "doctor."

Attorneys become frustrated when paralegals and legal assistants mislabel themselves as the "lawyer."

Physical therapists take offense at the PT assistants who refer to themselves as the "therapist."

Industrial engineers get peeved when factory workers misrepresent themselves as the "engineer."

Teachers become annoyed when their grading assistants misidentify themselves as the "teacher."

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Just whom can hold for themselves and hold same out to the public as a nurse is regulated in all 50 states. The title is restricted to those having graduated from an accredited nursing program, passed the boards and holds a license, period. RNs are nurses, LPNs and LVNs are nurses. CNAs, NAs, Surgical Technicians, Medical Technicians all and sundry of unlicensed personnel running around hospitals these days are NOT nurses, nor do they have any rights to claim such, regardless of how good they are at their work.

One has noticed a gradual "title creep", at least in this area regarding nursing assistants at some institutions. Through their unions NAs are now called something else. Also at one hospital CNAs voted themselves into the same uniforms worn by many student nurses, including those who do clinical at the same hospital. The only other difference in uniforms between the two is arm patches on the uniform.

Professional nurses have worked long and hard to distinguish themselves from various unlicensed persons delivering "nursing care". It is the thin end of the wedge to allow persons to use or be addressed by titles they are not entitled.

I say all the above as former nursing assistant, and one who worked at time when all nursing staff wore all white. In such instances it would be an easy mistake to call one "nurse", but always quickly set anyone doing that straight (politely of course). First, one was not a nurse and if any such nonsense got back to the head nurses I worked under, I'd have been out on my keyster. Second, did not want anyone grabbing me and dragging me into a room when patient went south or stuff hit the fan.

You want to be called a nurse? Get yourself to a nursing program, graduate, pass the boards and obtain a license, that is what I say. *LOL*

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