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?!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Oh I think you are worrying about something silly,focus on you and not them,especially if they are a patient,do not confront them,they may be performing some duties which we real nurses are doing and feel like they are in the field of nursing,which some are actually not but its not the time and place to have the showdown,just find out as much about what they know and take the teaching from there,never assume even if its a RN that they already know.

I think we're being trolled. This cannot be real.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I do care. When a non-nurse uses the title nurse and does something egregious, it reflects on the profession. And in SC, it's illegal to use the title nurse (and all variations) unless you are a licensed nurse. At the end of the day it isn't about wether they get the same amount in their paycheck or not. It's about integrity and how this can reflect on the profession.

A woman in Upstate South Carolina was a clinical instructor and an ED "nurse" without a license. She was finally caught. She had failed out of nursing school and decided that was enough. The amount of harm she could have caused was substantial, and it did reflect badly on the nursing profession. So does the MA/CNA/Tech who tell people they are the "nurse" and screw up. That is what matters at the end of the day.

It really ticks me off when a "nurse" does something serious that makes the news. Later, it's found out that the "nurse" is an MA/CNA. Of course, news stations never bother to make the correction.

MAs/CNAs are helpful, but the bottom line is they are not nurses and should not pretend to be such.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Oh I think you are worrying about something silly,focus on you and not them,especially if they are a patient,do not confront them,they may be performing some duties which we real nurses are doing and feel like they are in the field of nursing,which some are actually not but its not the time and place to have the showdown,just find out as much about what they know and take the teaching from there,never assume even if its a RN that they already know.

Huh?

I sincerely hope you're not posting under your real name and with your real photo as an avatar. There are some good reasons not to do so. This rambling, run-on sentence post is one very good reason. It's unclear. And it is not silly to be concerned that some people who don't have the knowledge base and education of a nurse are representing themselves as such.

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Huh?

I sincerely hope you're not posting under your real name and with your real photo as an avatar. There are some good reasons not to do so. This rambling, run-on sentence post is one very good reason. It's unclear. And it is not silly to be concerned that some people who don't have the knowledge base and education of a nurse are representing themselves as such.

Unless she's Alicia Keys' twin sister, LOL....it ain't her! Name....probably not either.

As for the rest of her post, it was just too poorly written for me to even understand what it was she was attempting to say. Made no sense. So I scrolled on by... :)

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In my state, Texas, you can call yourself a nurse if you work in a doctors office. You can do this with even wirhout getting a high school education much less any further training. It is an old old loophole the doctors used to use to get inexpensive help in their office. Legally the doctor is responsible for everything they do. And they are working under the doctor's license not their own.

Absolutely every single sentence you wrote indicates you are either mistaken (and being misled by someone without your recognizing it) or you are lying (and I don't believe that to be the case).

Someone told you a bunch of lies and you are believing them. Time to stop, and learn what the Nurse Practice Act actually SAYS about this in your home State, since you are in the dark on the topic ;)

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In my state, Texas, you can call yourself a nurse if you work in a doctors office. You can do this with even wirhout getting a high school education much less any further training. It is an old old loophole the doctors used to use to get inexpensive help in their office. Legally the doctor is responsible for everything they do. And they are working under the doctor's license not their own.

I run into it all the time and I hate it.

I generally respond by asking them for some quote advice on a topic that I am sure they know nothing about. I do this using the biggest most technical terms I can find. I love the look of utter confusion and stupidity they get on their face.

My favorite is "I have a patient with cholecystolithiasis and they're asking for dietary recommendations. And an embarrassingly enough, I am drawing a total blank.

Can you think of any?"

Ummm, I am a nurse herein Texas, and no a CNA or a MA can call themselves a nurse.

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Oh I think you are worrying about something silly,focus on you and not them,especially if they are a patient,do not confront them,they may be performing some duties which we real nurses are doing and feel like they are in the field of nursing,which some are actually not but its not the time and place to have the showdown,just find out as much about what they know and take the teaching from there,never assume even if its a RN that they already know.

Is this a joke? Tell me this is a joke......

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.
Oh I think you are worrying about something silly,focus on you and not them,especially if they are a patient,do not confront them,they may be performing some duties which we real nurses are doing and feel like they are in the field of nursing,which some are actually not but its not the time and place to have the showdown,just find out as much about what they know and take the teaching from there,never assume even if its a RN that they already know.

You joined today and you say it is "silly" to worry if unlicensed people call themselves nurses and "focus on you not them."

Tell me Linda, since you are a "real nurse," where did you receive your basic nursing education and do you work in the U.S.?

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Oh I think you are worrying about something silly,focus on you and not them,especially if they are a patient,do not confront them,they may be performing some duties which we real nurses are doing and feel like they are in the field of nursing,which some are actually not but its not the time and place to have the showdown,just find out as much about what they know and take the teaching from there,never assume even if its a RN that they already know.

The problem, as stated numerous times, is that patients are trusting that they are receiving accurate information from somebody who went to school and obtained a degree.

Even though I am a Registered Nurse, I know only the very basics about, say Neurology. If I had a neurology appointment and was made to believe that the MA is a nurse with a work background in neurology, I'm going to be inclined to listen to and maybe believe his/her patient teaching.

A non-healthcare professional would have no idea to question this patient teaching. That is incredibly dangerous.

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I love the word flouncing.

Flouncy flouncy flouncy!

I can see Louise saying that.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

I walked onto shift today (I work in LTC) to find a patient with a badly blocked catheter. Judging from the 1500mls I drained out of it, once I'd unblocked it, it had probably been like that all night. Overlooked by the night nurse.

This person had substantial haematuria which has since settled however if a registered nurse with substantial training can miss the boat so badly, I have a major issue with untrained people calling themselves nurses and performing nursing cares, providing medical advice that may be completely inappropriate to the situation and causing more harm than good

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I am a proud CNA, 27yrs and CNA 2 for 3yrs in NC. None of us (NA,MA, LPN,RN) are paid what we are worth. I've worked in 3 states, in hospitals, in pvt,state and unionized.Patients (in my experience don't care who takes care of them) really don't know the difference. The person they see the most (CNA) is the nurse and the least is the doctor. Explaining doesn't seem to matter to them. Acute care isn't for everyone. Flippant attitudes are also received from nurses as well.The comments of "what they didn't go to school for". It seems they forgot they had to do CNA work before Nurses' work. I'm that CNA that would remind them of this. Team work is always easier than "me" or "you". Hospitals aides do work too. Nurses sit on their butts as well. Nursing today sucks, too many have forgotton about the PATIENTS. Hoping never to become one of those nurses. I'm sure I won't because I plan on keeping my CNA certification current as a reminder(working as one).

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