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?
RN/BSN school: 24-48 months: Mucho Grande hours clinicals
No, you're not "the nurse". When people ask, "are you my nurse?"...I always reply "I am the nurse assistant" or "I'm your CNA". It sets the expectation. Bedside commode yes, Dilaudid no.
Yes I am proud to have a certification, and am listed on the registry, but a NURSE...nope.
Now...ask me in 100 days or so (after the LPN NCLEX) and yeah, then I can say yes to the question above.
I hope it continues to gain ground. We need to clarify what our profession does and how a registered nurse is different from a lay nurse.
Just for fun, would you think it illegal for a mother to say she was nursing her child instead of breast feeding?
OMG!! Is that a new title, "lay nurse"?????????? Give me a break!!! You are not a nurse! I'm not even going to justify the last part of that quote with a response
ahem, I am staring at my physical license from my state. It has my license # and expiration date. It also requires the "signature of licensee" on it.My license # can be found at the "Departments Licensure Verification" where it lists where I attended classes, Licensure status, and any disciplinary actions taken. This is a License to work as a CNA and is required in my state. This still will never allow me to call myself a nurse and it is still my responsibility to make a pt. aware that I am not a LPN or RN. I do not hold any other professional licensure and would be in violation of the law if I represented myself as such.
My physical certification actually states a license # and expiration date also, but it's all in the semantics.
My state's BON has a Dept. of licensure verification with all of the same things you've named above.
Once again, I say it's all in the semantics and what has become accepted it seems, over the yrs., for some CNA's to refer to themselves as licensed.
Look, even the BON puts our certification as "license #" . So, yes, it's confusing.
Maybe I'm too old school, but CNA's are certified!! It's really no different in Rhode Island or in Timbucktwo.
RN/BSN school: 24-48 months: Mucho Grande hours clinicals
No, you're not "the nurse". When people ask, "are you my nurse?"...I always reply "I am the nurse assistant" or "I'm your CNA". It sets the expectation. Bedside commode yes, Dilaudid no.
Yes I am proud to have a certification, and am listed on the registry, but a NURSE...nope.
Now...ask me in 100 days or so (after the LPN NCLEX) and yeah, then I can say yes to the question above.
My physical certification actually states a license # and expiration date also, but it's all in the semantics.
My state's BON has a Dept. of licensure verification with all of the same things you've named above.
Once again, I say it's all in the semantics and what has become accepted it seems, over the yrs., for some CNA's to refer to themselves as licensed.
Look, even the BON puts our certification as "license #" . So, yes, it's confusing.
Maybe I'm too old school, but CNA's are certified!! It's really no different in Rhode Island or in Timbucktwo.
Correct. You've outlined it well. The test for a CNA is also called a "licensing exam" but they are indeed certified. I can understand why people get confused.
That bothers me..I have met a lot of CNA, MA's & Med Techs that like to call themselves "nurses"....I am proud to be an aide, and also equally proud to be a student nurse. But when I work as an aide, I always identify myself as one. Until I pass the NCLEX, I am NOT A NURSE.
Registered/Licensed nursesgo through a LOT of hard work and sacrifice to get their title. With it comes responsibility, accountability and all that fun stuff that we don't really have to deal with.
Unless and until someone is willing to work hard and sacrifice and take on that LEGAL (not personal) responsibility for another human being, then they have no business calling themselves a nurse. Just because we can do some tasks a nurse does- well, I could probably be trained to do some of the basic tasks that a rocket scientist does, but it darn well wouldn't make me a rocket scientist.
Be what you are, be proud of it, do your job well and if you want to advance, then get yourself the required education.
I just don't understand why these people cannot just be proud of the title they have earned?!!?!??! Can anyone answer me that?
I am a CNA, AND DARNED PROUD OF IT!!!!
The only time I ever call myself "nurse" to a pt is if I'm taking care of a confused pt whom only recognizes the term "nurse;" nurse aide can be a little too wordy in those types of situations! lol
but for A&O pts I always introduce myself as the nurse aide at the beginning of my shift. ALWAYS.
dekagirlsRN
137 Posts
Wrong! She's an Aide! If you want to be called a nurse, go back to school and earn that title.