why do many MAs and CNAs call themselves nurses?

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As I was taking care of a pt, she mentions she's also a nurse. I asked what her specialty is and where she works at. She says she works at a clinic as an MA. In my head, in what universe is an MA a nurse?!

Lol. I've never worked in a hospital. *shrugs* But my heart is in corrections & then leans towards psych.

Hubs works corrections. It changed him.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Hubs works corrections. It changed him.

Oh yeah, I believe it. But the C.O.'s get the short end of the stick. They are over worked, under paid & always with the inmates. The inmates from day one *hate* the C.O.'s. In medical we have routines with the inmates, like if they come down for insulin. But we don't spend all day with them & they don't hate us until we tell them no. I've always enjoyed corrections, such a rush! :p

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Oh yeah, I believe it. But the C.O.'s get the short end of the stick. They are over worked, under paid & always with the inmates. The inmates from day one *hate* the C.O.'s. In medical we have routines with the inmates, like if they come down for insulin. But we don't spend all day with them & they don't hate us until we tell them no. I've always enjoyed corrections, such a rush! :p

I like the women inmates. When I worked in the clinic we had tons of inmates. They were salty.

They all had gonorhea.

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Specializes in ER.

I had an RN's husband insist that she was a NP at a nursing home. I checked the license and there is no one licensed under her name. Now, if she did not change her legal name on her nursing license, then that person who lives in the same city and has the same name and non-hyphenated name is not a NP and is an RN. (Which technically she needs to update it within 2 weeks of a name change)

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Just as other professions outside of nurses save lives. I never even implied that saving lives only happens in acute care hospitals. OrganizedChaos first said that medical assistants only work in clinics and are never in a position to even perform CPR or save lives. An obviously ignorant and demeaning statement.

Also - patients that are circling the drain are not forbidden to enter clinics. I've also seen patients code in clinics. All I'm trying to say is these generalizations from OC are not respectful.

Dude you are being creepy.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Actually research (including anecdotal) shows quite the opposite unless only nurses are wearing all white (which is impractical on many levels) Kindly link to your data

It seems to work in our hospitals (NZ) however the uniforms are standardised across all hospitals within a DHB area. A patient can be in any of the four hospitals in my district health board area, an RN wears a blue uniform with a black cord. ENs wear a blue uniform with greenish cord and the hospital aides wear maroon.

Couldnt provide you with any evidence, however no nurse ever gets mistaken for an aide or vice versa. At least that I know.

I work for an agency who insists on dressing us in white. I've been mistaken for a nursing student. The doc did seem slightly embarassed when I pointed out the nursing medal on my chest

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I don't understand why some people lie either. There is nothing Shameful about being a CNA.

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Specializes in L&D, Women's Health.

As an NP, I'm constantly called "doctor". I always say, "I'm not a doctor. I'm Alley, a nurse practitioner." I need to order a T-shirt with that!

When a CNA/NA calls themselves a nurse or lets it go when someone calls them a nurse, it implies they have the education and training to be a nurse. When they then give a ridiculously illogical answer to a patient's question, it certainly does damage to that training and education in the minds of the pt. It can also be correcting the misinformation. Adds to the "Everybody tells me something different".

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Please stay on topic and respect each other. Several posts have been deleted. Thanks

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"Medical assistants and LPNs play the same role in every clinic I've ever come in contact with. Idk why you are so against something so similar to your own role."

Very frightening statements that simply demonstrate your lack of understanding of a nurse's training and licensure. Simply put, you don't know what you don't know and that's scary.

While you are busy administering drugs and saving lives, I'm wondering whose license you are operating under (and possibly jeopardizing).

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Specializes in Med Surg, Cardiac Telemetry, Pulmonary.

Not all CNA's and MA's do this!! You are making it seem like it happens majority of the time. When I am quite sure that this is not the case!! Quite a few nurses that I have worked wiith are very lazy and think that they are up and above PCT's and I would NEVER feel the need to lie about being one of them!! Most times, patients have better experiences with their tech's/ NA's because we spend the most time with them. If this is happening as much as you are so called witnessing this, then why are you viewing it in such a bad manner!? why not view it as an honor to be admired so much??? Technically as a CNA- Certified NURSING Assistant THEY are are assistant nurses.. I don't see what the big deal is... BESIDES any PCT/ NA that lies about being a nurse will get caught up eventaully because they won't have all the nswers that the nurse has to give to a patient when they start asking questions. I am a CNA/ PCT, AND A MA and I have NEVER identified myself as a NURSE!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Cardiac Telemetry, Pulmonary.

lol, really?! yet, nurses turn to techs for everything but you think it's laziness!!!??... ok.

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