Someone saying that they are a LVN when they are not!

[jetta1]

There is a patient's family member that is telling people that she is a LVN but I find out that she is nothing more than a sitter. This is against the law, right?

[RN BSN 2009]

YUP! 'fraid so.

[jetta1]

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure before I tell my manager.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I am not sure what the manager can do if she is paid by an agency rather than your facilty, but she can certainly call whomever hired her and tell them what she is doing. Are you sure, though, that she is not an LVN whose license is not active? Or completed an LPN/LVN program but didn't take NCLEX-PN? Even so, she is not a nurse until she has taken and passed the boards.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I do know of one CNA that is taking a medical assisting course, who is telling people that she is studying nursing. Every time I think of her, I laugh. Nothing close...nothing close.

[jelorde37]

yeah that is illegal. people cant claim to be something they are not. its not just rude to the people who worked hard to obtain their title, but its for the public's safety and it provides a means to identify one's responsiblity and liabilities associated with that title. i dont think your director can do much since she is most likely associated and hired with a separate entity, BUT as a nurse, your responsibility is to be a patient advocate.

[jelorde37]

also, that wannabe nurse might give wrong advice or should i say, patient teaching, to your patient and it could have some adverse reactions.

jon lvn

[akanini, MSN, RN]

I HATE THIS. A girl I know used to tell people she was a nurse and she was a home health aide. I swear this ****** me off. I am still a student and wouldn't even think to do something so immoral.

[*Scrubs*]

Is she actually caring for your patient or just flapping her gums?

Perhaps she is trying to act like she is knowledgable to make the family think she knows what she is talking about. I would call her out on it.

Say "I didn't know you were a nurse! Where did you go to school? Then ask her some question about your patients diagnosis or something- making the question something only a nurse could answer. And ask it right in front of the family.

Her behavior is an insult to all nurses who work so hard to become one!

[jetta1]

The woman claiming that she is a LVN is my patient's mother. Her son is in ICU and when she comes to visit him, she is telling staff that she is a LVN. She does not work at my hospital or is employed at my facility. Someone asked her what school she went to and when we looked it up, the school doesn't even have a LVN program.

There is also a respiratory therapist that knows of the mother outside of work and she tells us that she is really a sitter for patients. We told the RT that she was telling people that she was a LVN and she burst out laughing and said that woman is nothing more than a sitter.

[MaryAnn_RN]

I HATE THIS. A girl I know used to tell people she was a nurse and she was a home health aide. I swear this ****** me off. I am still a student and wouldn't even think to do something so immoral.

A friend told me her neighbour had a card in her car stating 'Nurse on Call' and had a box of gloves prominently displayed on the dashboard.

She was a care assistant.

What a wally.

[JeanineLPN1984]

You can look up to see if she has a license- go to your states board of nursing website, do an online search with her fisrt and last name and if she holds a license it will show up.

Also the Nurse Practice Act states no one may use the title" nurse" unless they are an RN or LPN, if they are a nurses aide- they must use that full title and not abbreviate it. Also if you report this person for mis -representing herself, the board of nursing will send her a cease and desist letter stating she can be fined and /or imprisioned if she continues.

On another note she is his mother and as long as she doesn't interfere with his care, you may want to include her with some non nursing tasks of her son. She will feel important and needed and leave you to do your work. Hope this helps and good luck.:wink2: