So I just got off the phone with my best friend, who is a RN in another state. She said that a CNA on the floor tells the patients she's a nurse. My friend said today was the last straw when she overheard the patient who sounded upset ask to speak to a nurse and the CNA said, "I am a nurse." I dont know the full details because I wasnt there, and Im trying to get her to join allnurses.com (maybe one day). Apparently, when she approached the CNA about this, she got defensive and my best friend was just trying to tell her that it would be more appropriate to tell the patients she is an aid and not a nurse, which offended the CNA because she said that she is a nurse (or they all are nurses - something like that). Anyhow, I just wanted to know you guys perspective on this, I know a couple CNAs who call themselves nurses (I mean I have a cousin who has nurse as her job on fb and she is a CNA), but this is different because its occurring in the field, not just in random conversation or on social sites. Is this a big deal? I personally think my best friend handled it the best she could (even though she said the CNA didnt seem to change her mind on the issue). I dont know if there is anymore she can do, should she just let this one ride?
if a cna introduces her/himself as a nurse, it's fraudulent. it would be the same as if i had introduced myself as "your substitute professor" the morning my husband woke up with a flu bug
and i gave his final exam for him. same principle.
A girl I work with was telling me a story about a friend of hers who went to nursing school to be an RN. she completed the class, graduated and then went to take her boards. She failed her boards (I dont know how many times they let you take it, but she failed them). She was working at Drs office as a receptionist and he was hiring for an RN. This girl had to make a copy of the RNs lic. well she did, she made 2. She took one home doctored it up on the computer, then went to a hosp about 2 hrs away and applied for an RN position. The hosp hired her and she worked as a floor RN for THREE yrs. She moved back to the area applied at one of the local hosp and they checked her out with the BON. only to find out that she didnt have a licsence. So they call her and tell her she got the job and to be there in the morning for orientation. she got a heads up from a friend of hers that worked at the hosp. they had called the police and they were going to wait for her to show up and arrest her for impersonating a nurse. she turned herself in and since she was married to a lawyer she got off with a fine, community service and probation.
THAT IS REALLY SCARY. You would think hospitals would check those things when they hire someone.
How about a DNP? Do they get to say I'm Dr. So-and-So in a hospital setting? No. They have a "doctorate" degree, but they cannot use the word "doctor" to identify themselves to patients because that term is protected legally. .
FWIW, this is completely untrue. There is no such prohibition. DNPs may absolutely refer to themselves as Doctor in every state. Some individual facilities have made a policy forbidding it, thereby preventing a DNP from identifying him or herself as Doctor inside that facility. However, most of them are highly specific and state if a DNP is introducing themselves as Dr. Jones, they MUST be clear that they are a Doctor of Nursing Practice, not of Medicine. I don't think it impacts your argument, but I don't like to see misinformation perpetuated on this subject. BTW, it is an earned doctorate, no quotes necessary.
I must be sure to caution lactating mothers to not claim to be nursing.
Examples of someone claiming a title then preforming an action out of their scope of practice is quite different.
Simply referring to yourself as a nurse, in most states, only subjects you to BON sanctions. The earlier urban legend "a friend once told me...." not withstanding.
I begin to see why so many people see us as arrogant. The title "nurse" has too many meanings. Better wording to protect the title "Registered Nurse" or "Licensed Vocational Nurse" would perhaps give some meaning to a protected title.
I believe the thread was about the CNA calling herself a nurse. Not about the CNA practicing as a nurse. There is a difference.
I seem to have a compulsion for repeating myself. So, in answer to the OP. I do not think it's wrong for a CNA to call herself a nurse. As long as she does not try to practice as a nurse. I often wish those who hold the license would practice as a nurse but I bet that's another thread.
My Niece is MA, and at her work, a MA tells patients she is a nurse. I explained to my niece that MA is not a nurse and to tell patients she is, is a violation of Law.
One of my biggest pet peeves is CNA's telling patients they are Nurses. I explain to the CNA that they are not Nurses and to tell patients they are is in violation of the State Boarding of Nursing.
I have a friend who is an MA and calls herself a nurse. Makes no sense to me...
I seem to have a compulsion for repeating myself. So, in answer to the OP. I do not think it's wrong for a CNA to call herself a nurse. As long as she does not try to practice as a nurse. I often wish those who hold the license would practice as a nurse but I bet that's another thread.
And the rest of us will have a compulsion to continue repeating, it is wrong for a CNA to call herself a nurse. It is wrong to claim a title and a status that has not been earned, and it is illegal in 25 of the 50 states. Simply by stating (or not denying) she is a nurse is misleading and an outright lie to the patient or family. She is an Aide or an Assistant. Has nothing to do with "practicing nursing", she has misrepresented herself.
I am getting more clear on this. Calling oneself a nurse is using a title they have not earned. Even though "nurse" has many meanings. It would not seem to be easier and more helpful to the patient if we called ourselves by the true title Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse. Those titles are clear and have specific meanings. The Consensus here is that we should instead change the meaning of "nurse" to be only those people who are licensed.
I won't follow the majority, but I think I understand.
You're getting there. In the context of an Aide using the term, it is misleading, especially in ANY health care context. The Aide is obviously not presenting herself to breastfeed the patient, which is the only other use of the term "to nurse" in health care.
Aides may perform nursing tasks during their assistance of the actual nurse.
"One who looks after, fosters or advises." is Merriam-Webster's second definition of a Nurse. That is what a CNA does. But, I'll post a link to this thread to Merriam-Webster and advise them to change that second definition because using the word in that way is a crime, unless you have a license.
"One who looks after, fosters or advises." is Merriam-Webster's second definition of a Nurse. That is what a CNA does. But, I'll post a link to this thread to Merriam-Webster and advise them to change that second definition because using the word in that way is a crime, unless you have a license.
That would be most appreciated. Thanks!! (And some people thought there was no hope!)
sharpeimom
2,452 Posts
if a cna introduces her/himself as a nurse, it's fraudulent. it would be the same as if i had introduced myself as "your substitute professor" the morning my husband woke up with a flu bug
and i gave his final exam for him. same principle.