Legally Protect the word "Nurse?"

[applesxoranges]

Should the word "nurse" be a legally protected title? I am mixed on it. Personally, the word nurse is vague and could mean many different things. It could mean an LPN and it could mean an RN. It does not signify a credential. However, a lot of people assume nurse = RN.

It is kind of like a "doctor" in my opinion. A doctor could be a doctor of anything whereas it is illegal to say you are an MD or DO without being an MD or a DO.

My state does not currently regulate the use of the word nurse. Hence why we have graduate nurse interns or nurse techs (which are PCTs/CNAs).

So what are your thoughts on the issue?

[malestunurse]

Of course there are always going to be people that sneak around the protected title legislation too. For example, saying they are a part of the nursing team.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I wonder if this is a regional thing? I hear (and have used the verb) "nursing a baby" applied to breastfeeding all the time. But it's kind of like so many words in the English language that has several meanings; in context, nobody that I know if hearing a woman say "I'm nursing my baby" believes her to be saying that she is an RN or an LPN. Of course, if a woman hired to breastfeed an employer's baby is representing herself as an actual nurse, that would be a different story.

Using the term in the context of a woman "nursing a baby" is probably the only situation where " nurse" or "nursing" can be used if someone isn't a RN/LPN/LVN.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I, being a lactation consultant, can identify myself as a nursing nurse. :)

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

I would argue that it is the noun form of "nurse" that is protected, not the verb. I don't thinking anyone would think twice about saying "I nursed my baby" or "she's nursing her hangover today" let's not get carried away now. Saying "I am a nurse" when you aren't is definitely wrong.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

I actually changed PCPs a few years ago because the office staff kept referring to themselves as "nurses" when clearly they weren't. The first time this happened, I asked, "Oh, where did you go to school?"

She named a community college nearby.

"RN or LPN?" At this point, she admitted that she was "just like a nurse."

"No," I told her. "You are not. And furthermore, it is against the law to represent yourself as a nurse when you clearly are not."

She got all huffy and marched off. Another MA came into the room to take my vital signs and a similar conversation -- with a touch more huffiness ensured. This time, I told her, "I'm going to inform Dr. Smith that you are falsely -- and illegally -- misrepresenting yourself as a nurse." And when I did, Dr. Smith just laughed and said "They all do that." That was the last time I saw Dr. Smith.

Let me reiterate; I am supportive of "nurse" as a protected title. I guess my contention is that regardless of our vast discussions, it's not really. What does seem to be protected is calling one's self a nurse to then obtain an official position to then practice nursing.

We don't prosecute blowhards who claim to be "doctors" at a bar to impress the ladies. Even if he passes out a little medical advice. We only get serious if said blowhard convinces any ladies that he's able to do some lipo. The cases I can find where people have been criminally prosecuted for "calling" themselves nurses it has always been in the context of them taking employment for a licensed position.

Nowhere have I seen the scenario RubyVee (luv ya girl, no offense meant) described that resulted in any charges, much less conviction or penalties.

Just saying, if this is a passion for someone, they should be aware that there don't seem to be any true consequences to calling one's self a "nurse" as long as one doesn't do so to get a licensed position. If this is important to someone, I guess they should have a talk with their local prosecutors. I'm afraid they will find prosecutors have bigger fish to fry. Just saying.

What's the point of my rant? Not sure. As Dr. Smith said (as he laughed about it) "They all do that." And no entity with any teeth cares.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I wish it was. I had a family of a patient yesterday where they were making a big deal about the family member who was a "nurse." She was very demanding, rude to our staff including one of my favorite doctors and talking down to me in my nursing care. I finally asked her where she worked as a nurse point blank; and it turned out that she was a caregiver for developmentally disabled. I understand she was trying to be protective of her family member, but I wish when someone ends up being that ignorant of medical knowledge that I was not placed in the same category. (She states multiple incorrect things in generalized terms regarding various medical statements) I got frustrated and was grateful to send the patient to another area just because of how rude her family members were being, especially the "nurse."

[sharpeimom]

I wonder if this is a regional thing? I hear (and have used the verb) "nursing a baby" applied to breastfeeding all the time. But it's kind of like so many words in the English language that has several meanings; in context, nobody that I know if hearing a woman say "I'm nursing my baby" believes her to be saying that she is an RN or an LPN. Of course, if a woman hired to breastfeed an employer's baby is representing herself as an actual nurse, that would be a different story.

Side note, your aunts' service is incredible. I'm sure they didn't stand for any foolishness, and I'd love to hear what they would have said about this issue!

The English language is such a stumbling block for our neighbor that I couldn't get her to understand that we don't routinely employ such thing as a wet nurse here. When I moved on to "but you can nurse the baby yourself. There are special nurses who can teach you how." "But you just said no wet nurse." "This nurse is a special kind of trained nurse." "What?" THAT was when I switched over to the term "breast feed."

My aunties were never short of opinions -- on anything! One retired as a full colonel and the other as a lt. colonel and I swear the elder one even starched her undies! Not with starch, but with starch!

Their stories were sad, funny, heartbreaking, gross out anybody but another nurse, endlessly entertaining. They were a living breathing look into the past for my generation and the one below mine. History coming to life.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I wish it was. I had a family of a patient yesterday where they were making a big deal about the family member who was a "nurse." She was very demanding, rude to our staff including one of my favorite doctors and talking down to me in my nursing care. I finally asked her where she worked as a nurse point blank; and it turned out that she was a caregiver for developmentally disabled. I understand she was trying to be protective of her family member, but I wish when someone ends up being that ignorant of medical knowledge that I was not placed in the same category. (She states multiple incorrect things in generalized terms regarding various medical statements) I got frustrated and was grateful to send the patient to another area just because of how rude her family members were being, especially the "nurse."

I was helping my Nurse admit a patient who had his daughter in tow. She kept talking about how she was in the "medical field" and making references to inappropriate things. We finally asked her, "What is it that you do in the medical field" She said "I'm a housekeeper"......

okaaayyyyyy

I have no problem telling people I am a CNA. I am damn proud of it. It's hard work with little compensation. I know why I do it and I know it is helping me on my path. I wish everyone would just be proud of who they are and what they do instead of pretending to be something they aren't.

[schnookimz]

I was helping my Nurse admit a patient who had his daughter in tow. She kept talking about how she was in the "medical field" and making references to inappropriate things. We finally asked her "What is it that you do in the medical field" She said "I'm a housekeeper"...... okaaayyyyyy I have no problem telling people I am a CNA. I am damn proud of it. It's hard work with little compensation. I know why I do it and I know it is helping me on my path. I wish everyone would just be proud of who they are and what they do instead of pretending to be something they aren't.[/quote']

I had a patient the other day whose daughter kept saying "I'm in the nursing field." Obviously it turned out she was not a nurse. I just want to say "dude. As soon as you said nursing FIELD I know you aren't a nurse. So just give it up."

[OlajuwonM09]

I wonder would it be okay for student nurses to call each other baby nurses or even nurse for encouragement to get through the program.. For example, if one of my friends are lacking motivation I might say, "Dnt give up, we need you Nurse!" I think tht helps students to remember what we're working towards!

[SleeepyRN]

I think you are reading it incorrectly.....I mean ZERO disrespect to licensed nurses who work in offices (I did some work in one, too!). I meant the employee who holds no such license, but answers to "nurse" when called, and when calling patients says "this is Dr. X's Nurse". Or when a patient calls asking to speak with a nurse, gets the medical assistant who tells her all about what her own kid did when she had that same rash....you get the idea. The term "office nurse" is just as common as "baby nurse" was (and in some places, is).

People like your mom, an experienced nurse in a medical office, are a dying breed, sadly. All too often they are replaced with not just cheaper, but lesser, employees without credentials.

Ahhh gotcha. There was a receptionist who worked with my mom for years. My mom had to step in a few times when she overheard the receptionist overstep her bounds. I wasn't aware people actually say they are nurses when they are not. That is scary to me, nursing being the trusted profession. I did recently have a couple CNAs tell me, an RN, that they "used to do the same thing I do." Meaning they were med techs. Boy did I have to bite my tongue. True, a good 5 hours is spent passing meds, but I'm applying the nursing process each and every time. Due to my assessments, I decide if I will hold a med and put an intervention in place. Sigh... Everyone thinks they are a nurse.

[SleeepyRN]

I actually changed PCPs a few years ago because the office staff kept referring to themselves as "nurses" when clearly they weren't. The first time this happened, I asked, "Oh, where did you go to school?"

She named a community college nearby.

"RN or LPN?" At this point, she admitted that she was "just like a nurse."

"No," I told her. "You are not. And furthermore, it is against the law to represent yourself as a nurse when you clearly are not."

She got all huffy and marched off. Another MA came into the room to take my vital signs and a similar conversation -- with a touch more huffiness ensured. This time, I told her, "I'm going to inform Dr. Smith that you are falsely -- and illegally -- misrepresenting yourself as a nurse." And when I did, Dr. Smith just laughed and said "They all do that." That was the last time I saw Dr. Smith.

That to me shows a lack of respect and knowledge of what a nurse is and does by that doctor. Years ago, I was moving into my then boyfriend's apartment he shared with his brother and his fiance. My bf told me she was a nurse. Later he said she's an MA in an office but can do everything nurses do. *Banging my head against a wall.*