why do many MAs and CNAs call themselves nurses?

[murseforever]

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?!

[SlickSouthpaw]

Quite often I get called "nurse" at my old job and it just was far too troublesome, tedious, and time consuming to correct a patient every single time because of my workload. Now I'm a rehabilitation tech at a hospital and patients just call me "aid" which is a relief because it felt weird to be called "nurse."

Good portion of the patient populace barely spoke English to begin with...

Most times it was a tech/aid question they had but if they were in pain I would tell them I would get the nurse for them.

[Pinkpenny]

Maggie - Here is a direct quote copied from the last paragraph of that post:

Also when we are talking terms of legality - I think that means deceptive practice/ malpractice i.e. Putting someone's life in jeopardy by posing as someone you're not and assuming & performing tasks you are not legally authorized to do

Also, please go back & re-read the first couple paragraphs of that particular post. See below, I copied & pasted EXACTLY what I said:

I'm in agreement with the chiropractor whose post is quoted above & will echo what she says "Unless it's a safety/legal issue" it seems like a sign of insecurity to make such a fuss over it.

To be realistic - No one can get a job as an RN, LPN, BSN, ADN or whatever without having their license & in most cases experience verified.

And no facility (that I'm aware of) will tolerate an MA or CNA deceiving patients by making them believe they're a nurse & allowing them to perform duties they aren't capable or qualified to do, since the definition of that is malpractice & I doubt they want a lawsuit.

What's in bold & underlined is what I posted; I'm not sure how it could have been misconstrued. If you return to the previous page, you will see that post was never edited; so nothing added or taken away.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Maggie - Here is a direct quote copied from the last paragraph of that post:

Also when we are talking terms of legality - I think that means deceptive practice/ malpractice i.e. Putting someone's life in jeopardy by posing as someone you're not and assuming & performing tasks you are not legally authorized to do

Also, please go back & re-read the first couple paragraphs of that particular post.

It is still illegal in many states to represent yourself as a nurse if you aren't one.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I quoted your first paragraph. What's your point?

[OCNRN63, RN]

Back to the point though about nursing assistants calling themselves nurses, yes there is a legal issue, but if we can do what we can to let them understand what we are doing and why and what our role is then hey, cool. What harm is there in that? We are a TEAM. Without the nurse aid there is no NURSE. Without the nurse there is no doctor etc.

While I agree we are a team, there are many units that function without nursing assistants. Without nurses, there would be no nursing assistants, since it takes a licensed nurse to supervise the CNA.

CNAs are definitely helpful, but licensed professional nurses can and do function without them.

[Pinkpenny]

Maggie - Read my entire post both original & recent. I CLEARLY pointed out that it's illegal AND why. I don't think I can be more clearer.

Now, if you are speaking to the insecurity observation, then take from it what you will. Unless it directly applies to you, then you shouldn't be offended. Case-closed. I don't know how I can make myself anymore clearer than I already have.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Maggie - Read my entire post both original & recent. I CLEARLY pointed out that it's illegal AND why. I don't think I can be more clearer.

Now, if you are speaking to the insecurity observation, then take from it what you will. Unless it directly applies to you, then you shouldn't be offended. Case-closed, as I don't know how I can make myself anymore clearer than I already have.

"Make myself clearer" or "Make myself more clear." Either choice is awkward but preferable to "make myself anymore clearer"

[DoGoodThenGo]

you all take yourselves way too seriously

Starting with Florence Nightingale and ever since "trained" or "professional" nurses fought major battles to distinguish themselves from the various other sorts of women (mostly) that claimed to be "nurses". Everything from harlots and floozies to well intentioned but largely uneducated amateurs.

The idea behind using trained nurses to provide care was to ensure the public was getting someone who had completed a rigorous course of instruction and passed examinations certifying at least some baseline of ability to practice safely. Long story short someone who knew what she was doing and not winging it based upon old wives tales and whatever.

Back in the day you darn well *EARNED* your student nurse cap and every stripe or extra that came along with it. While caps are largely gone you still are expected as a professional nurse to have a certain baseline of competency and be able to practice based upon scientifically proven methods. Today things have gone even further in that a RN is not only expected but must constantly analyze what is going on with her or his patient and adjust care accordingly. So you've spent three or four years in nursing school, taken and passed a licensing exam for the right to be legally called a "nurse" and you want to hand that title over to someone who has taken a six month course?

Unlicensed/trained personnel have always had a place in the nursing profession. Mainly because there weren't enough trained/professional nurses to go about. However nursing is probably the one healthcare profession that accepts/allows title creep by unlicensed personnel.

You don't see these sort of arguments much in the medical profession. Try calling yourself a physician when you aren't and see what happens. Indeed until rather recently (and for all one knows may still go on in some places) any nurse who mentioned "nursing" as part of the medical profession in the presence of a physician got slapped down rather quickly. There were doctors and there were nurses, period.

Early advanced practice nurses went to hell and back over things such as writing scripts, making diagnoses and so forth, all things that are accepted today. However back then physicians by and large weren't having a bit of it. A "nurse", someone with a diploma or a undergraduate college degree getting their hands on a script pad? There was more to it than that but far as doctors were concerned the idea of a bunch of women who fluttered around in white dresses and funny hats moving into their territory was more than they could endure.

In properly patient focused care everyone has their role to play; physicians, nurses, UAPs, etc... No one disputes that fact. However neither the patient or general public is served by persons pretending and or representing themselves to be something they are not.

Finally to bring this on home you have to wonder about the mental stability of someone who continuously misrepresents themselves. I'm sorry but it is one thing to put on a cap and uniform for a fancy dress party, but someone who calls themselves a "nurse" and or holds themselves out to be such to the public knowing fully well they aren't at the very least has some self esteem issues.

[Pinkpenny]

Whatever, talk about petty?!? Grow up. This is the internet, not English class. How old are you women?...I pray none of you EVER have to take care of me. I've never seen such childish behavior coming from a bunch of so-called professionals.

[Pinkpenny]

Then again, I guess it's easy to behave that way when you're hiding behind a computer screen.

[DoGoodThenGo]

I wear street clothes at my job. If I didn't wear a lab coat I wouldn't have any place to put my BP cuff, pens and phone.

Per the picture I posted above IIRC those "action back" uniforms had pretty roomy pockets.

[Pinkpenny]

Peace out ✌