Legally Protect the word "Nurse?"

allnurses Guide · Mar 12, 2014

My grandma told me about wet nurses in the South. She grew up in Arkansas and I think the difference is that it was aristocracy who wouldn't nurse their kids. It was more a community of new moms who helped each other out and could nurse another child if that mom was busy with something else.

I heard the term from her first. And . . . I nursed one of my nieces one day. Her mom got stuck in a meeting and I had a baby I was nursing and her baby was hungry. First breastmilk she'd had w/o nicotine! (Mom smoked).

I've worked with MA's who act like they are nurses. But to be fair, it depends on what the doc allows. I worked for a physician in an office setting while going to nursing school. I was not a "certified" MA but I worked as one under his license and he let me do a lot of procedures. I did my first IV there. BUT, I never acted like "I'm a nurse; get out of my way!". :nurse:

Asystole RN · Mar 12, 2014

Our neighbor who used the term wet nurse, is from a Muslim culture where the daughters from the wealthier families are gently reared, carefully home tutored in the "gentler, more ladylike" subjects, and expected to do no more than produce an heir or two and be decorative. These women would never be expected to care for or feed their infant or young babies. Instead, she married a much older man who taught in the states and moved her here. They admit they bought that specific house because we lived next door and they both felt comfortable with us.
I'm so proud of her! she has learned to care for her boys, keep house, cook, become involved with her kids' schools, etc. Her husband is concerned somewhat however. She has become more [/i] feminist through her association with me. Oh dear! I did introduce her to all those ****** liberated females!

Lol, wet nurses have been around far longer than Islam, Islam is a relatively newer religion.

Wet nurses have been around about as long as women have been making babies. Even many primates will act as a wet nurse.

Rathyen · Mar 12, 2014

Here we go.
When I call a medical office and ask to speak with a nurse, if I have a question about a particular medication, I DO NOT want to have "the office nurse" give me information. She is not a nurse. She's either the Medical Assistant or receptionist, but she's not a nurse....and MANY people take her information and/or advice as coming from A NURSE.

I greatly beg to differ and am slightly offended. I am a registered nurse who is working on her thesis for her MSN and I work in a primary care clinic. Right along side 13 other RN's. You should not assume. Directly ask who you're talking to before you misjudge. Yes there are MA's here as well, but you should never just assume.

CountyRat · Mar 12, 2014

The word "nurse" is a generic word in common usage with many meanings. Protecting such a word legally would be like trying to legally regulate the use of the word "manager." The titles "registered nurse" and "licensed vocational (or practical) nurse" are designations with legally defined meaning as determined by state or provincial government. However, the state does not issue "nurse" licenses because the word is too vague to regulate.

It is illegal to represent oneself as an RN, LVN, LPN, etc. if not licensed by the state, even if one does not actually use a formal title. For example, it is illegal for someone without a license to submit an application for a job as an RN, LVN, or LPN, even if they never write the word "nurse" on the application. In that context, they are misleading whoever reads the application, and that is illegal.

What bothers me is when workers portray themselves as nurses in a professional context, for example, a receptionist in a doctor's office referring to herself as "nurse." It is the context that gives the word meaning, and in a professional context, use of that term would be misleading. I believe that every patient and family has a right to know the qualifications of anyone providing services to them, especially in a health care context. So, only those who hold an active license as RNs, LVNs, or LPVs should call themselves nurses at work. Out in the world, however, you really can't control what people say in the unregulated context of the street. Not everything that is wrong is illegal.

Asystole RN · Mar 12, 2014

The word “nurse” is a generic word in common usage with many meanings. Protecting such a word legally would be like trying to legally regulate the use of the word ”manager.” The titles “registered nurse” and “licensed vocational (or practical) nurse” are designations with legally defined meaning as determined by state or provincial government. However, the state does not issue “nurse” licenses because the word is too vague to regulate.
It is illegal to represent oneself as an RN, LVN, LPN, etc. if not licensed by the state, even if one does not actually use a formal title. For example, it is illegal for someone without a license to submit an application for a job as an RN, LVN, or LPN, even if they never write the word “nurse” on the application. In that context, they are misleading whoever reads the application, and that is illegal.
What bothers me is when workers portray themselves as nurses in a professional context, for example, a receptionist in a doctor’s office referring to herself as “nurse.” It is the context that gives the word meaning, and in a professional context, use of that term would be misleading. I believe that every patient and family has a right to know the qualifications of anyone providing services to them, especially in a health care context. So, only those who hold an active license as RNs, LVNs, or LPVs should call themselves nurses at work. Out in the world, however, you really can’t control what people say in the unregulated context of the street. Not everything that is wrong is illegal.

In the United States every type of "nurse" is regulated by the state. There may be subdivisions such as RN and LPN but there is no such thing as an unlicensed nurse. Representing oneself as a nurse to the public insinuates that you are in fact licensed by the state.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

Representing oneself as a nurse to the public insinuates that you are in fact licensed by the state.

Exactly. Going back to the example of an MA calling him/herself a "nurse": I know family members who would take this to mean that they are a licensed nurse, and therefore would lend more credence to their medical "opinion." The ironic thing is, a "real" nurse would know better than to just give out medical advice without consultation with a physician (go back to the example of "my kid had the same rash and....").

robynp2 · Mar 12, 2014

When I was a nursing assistant and asked what I did for a living I would say "I am a nursing assistant". When I was an LPN and asked what I did for a living I said "I am a nurse". When I got my RN I said I am a nurse. Now I am a nurse practitioner and when asked I say I am a nurse. Once you are "licensed" as a nurse I feel then you have the right to call yourself a nurse, but not until then.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 12, 2014

I greatly beg to differ and am slightly offended. I am a registered nurse who is working on her thesis for her MSN and I work in a primary care clinic. Right along side 13 other RN's. You should not assume. Directly ask who you're talking to before you misjudge. Yes there are MA's here as well, but you should never just assume.

Nor should you assume that the person you are speaking to after you've asked to speak to the nurse actually IS a nurse.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

I greatly beg to differ and am slightly offended. I am a registered nurse who is working on her thesis for her MSN and I work in a primary care clinic. Right along side 13 other RN's. You should not assume. Directly ask who you're talking to before you misjudge. Yes there are MA's here as well, but you should never just assume.

If you're taking offense, it means you have greatly misinterpretted what I've written. And for clarification, I have a followup post addressing this same question (I guess you must not have read it before posting your message).

I am NOT talking about actual nurses, working in a medical office. I'm talking about "the office nurse" (as opposed to an RN or LPN), one who is NOT a nurse, but presents herself as such.

I'm not stupid and don't assume, or presume, that every person answering the phone is a nurse, or isn't a nurse.....I'm being pretty specific about places where one knows that it is NOT a nurse who is being handed the phone.

And as an RN working in a medical office (working on an MSN or not), I would think you'd be as offended as I if you called to speak with a nurse and got someone YOU KNOW is not. Then just think of all the people who DO NOT know this, and are misled all the time by the non-nurse-fake.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

Nor should you assume that the person you are speaking to after you've asked to speak to the nurse actually IS a nurse.

Bingo. And case in point would be that scenario I described awhile back, another thread, where I watched a non-nurse co-worker pick up the phone that was transferred to her....and heard her answer "Yes.....This is Dr. XX's nurse.....how can I help you?" And then she proceeded to "help" the patient.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

Lol, wet nurses have been around far longer than Islam, Islam is a relatively newer religion.
.

Well.....She didn't say it started with Islam. She just mentioned a Muslim woman who utilized the same tradition, that's all.

Asystole RN · Mar 12, 2014

Well.....She didn't say it started with Islam. She just mentioned a Muslim woman who utilized the same tradition, that's all.

Oops, my reading comprehension is not 100% today.