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?
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.
I've started doing that.
It helps that we wear uniform in this country; our dress colour is different to that of an RN.
While I agree that physician assistants should not call themselves doctors, they are NOT "assistants"- certainly not on the level of a CNA calling herself a "nurse".
I was referring to the CNA. And replying the Physician assistant comment to the poster who said that that its like nurses calling themselves doctors
I am still a student, but i can totally understand. My friend finished her RCA program last week... she is going around calling herself a nurse... and when i tell her shes not a nurse, shes like, "well no.. im an RCA Nurse"... what does that even MEAN!??
I make sure to make it clear to patients who ask "oh are you my nurse today"... I say "No... i am your STUDENT nurse for today.. working alongside the RN, who IS your nurse" :)
Even I as a student get frustrated with my friend.. she went to school for 4 months and she calls herself a nurse... i have been in school for 3 years with many sleepless nights, crying, sweat, hardwork, fatigue, and suffering relationships and im STILL not a nurse. yeesh
As a post script, in my state a CNA must be licensed and is on record at the Board of Nursing.
We can be sued and lose our license.
I have the utmost respect for CNAs....I used to be a CNA in LTC. (at least in my state) CNAs do not have a license (and, hence, cannot lose it). They are certified--this the C in CNA.
I have heard patients call the aides nurses and the aides keep on talking to them and do not correct the patient. Now, this is with patients that are a little confused, very forgetful etc..... in these instances I really see no big deal if the aide answers to nurse. Seriously, I'm not going to try to orient someone to our job titles. Now if its an oriented person yeah they shouldn't call themselves a nurse but I really have bigger things to concern myself with.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Years ago I worked in a huge clinic and one of the "nurses" was a receptionist that apparently had been trained by the doctor how to assist with procedures, prioritize the urgency of phone calls, etc and everyone referred to this person as "Dr M's Nurse" just as they did for every other person who worked with a doctor and actually was a nurse. I didn't think much about it at the time, and probably most people figured nobody would remember an explanation anyway and let it go.
Fast forward to now -- there are many more mid-level providers and sub-sets of techs and assistants that anyone who is not crystal clear about their title poses a huge potential liability for their employer and jeopardizes their own job as Batman25 pointed out. Last time we visited the Urgent Care we've been using for years the place was in turmoil because a patient had accused a PA-C (a really nice guy,too) of representing himself as a doctor.
If anyone thinks the consumer of healthcare is not aware of these differences think again! It isn't worth it. Like everyone has said -- be proud of who you are!
. . . .Just for fun, would you think it illegal for a mother to say she was nursing her child instead of breast feeding?
Har har har are you trying to get a word game started? Let's start with all the different meanings of "runs" and "buff" there is probably some comedy gold there somewhere!!
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?
It is not okay in my book. Some people would bring out the whole idea of how hard we worked for our licenses etc.. but here in North Carolina, the board of nursing specifically mentions that only RN or LPN can call themselves nurse, not CNA. It is a law to for that matter. Badge law or something like that. I don't know where you live, but check you board's website.
I am a CNA and often times pt's refer to me as a nurse. I do correct them when I am asked "Are you Dr. so & so's nurse" I will quite often say " I am the nurse assistant." sometimes I have even heard "well I want to talk to a REAL NURSE". Which is fine, but the REAL NURSE is often the one to tell the pt that I am the person they need to talk to about getting their medicaid/medicare to pay for their medications. (I work in a psych clinic and I do the Prior Authorizations for medicaid and medicare prescriptions). But that is neither here nor there. So many times I go to our lobby to escort a patient back, get their vitals and let the doc know their pt is ready, just to have a 5 other people ask me about their meds. I tell them they need to call the nurse, their response "Well aren't you the nurse??" "NO I AM NOT THE NURSE, I AM THE NURSE'S ASSISTANT." "Well aren't you Cindy the nurse ??" that gets soo annoying. I even have a sign on the wall by my door that says my name and my title. I tell them repeatedly that I am not the nurse. They will call me by both of the LPN's name and I am forever correcting them. I AM NOT THE NURSE !!
I don't do the medications I do the vital signs.
I once got cussed out cause the pt had talked to the nurse about her medications and the patient didn't like what the nurse had to tell her so when she came in for her appt she cussed me, thinking I was the nurse.
I WILL NEVER REFER TO MYSELF AS A NURSE TO A PATIENT...their confusion is bad enough.
Now until I become a nurse...I will be a CNA and refer to myself as such.
JDZ344
837 Posts
I've started doing that.
It helps that we wear uniform in this country; our dress colour is different to that of an RN.