why do many MAs and CNAs call themselves nurses?

ixchel · Oct 14, 2015

The nurses I know do not want the title nor the responsibility of a doctor. And undermining? Look at the one who is undermining titles. YOU are by saying CNAs should become nurses. If one wants to be a life time CNA, there is nothing wrong with that. Should they continue learning within their scope as changes occur? Absolutely. But I know some CNAs that would love to pick a fight with you on your thoughts of remaining a CNA.
CNAs are part of the nursing department because they work directly under the supervision of nurses and are delegated to by nurses. Being a CNA within the nursing department, does NOT make one a nurse!

One of our "lifer" techs says quite clearly, "I don't want to be a nurse. You guys have too much responsibility and I get to clock out at 7." lol

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 14, 2015

Wow lets not get ugly and say CNA or MA is not part of the nursing realm it's a step towards becoming license I'm continuing to achieve my LVN , AND I encourage CNAs and MAs to do the same if they wish but come on lets not be ugly and undermine those of us who do respect the TITLE done people like cops become badge heavy same with ALL professions and yea there are nurses who think they should be doctors cuz of the responsibility they endure yet do not have the TITLE either way just keep striving for better and know who you call friend

Feeling compelled to correct a common misconception. Obtaining a CNA certificate by whatever means does not contribute to educating yourself as a nurse. CNA work will definitely be helpful in the Foundations of Nursing Clinical portion of the nursing education. However the didactic portion of your nursing education has not yet remotely begun. Performing nursing tasks are not the sum total of being a nurse, as I have often seen (mis)represented here. Just as ancillary personnel observe a nurse "sitting on her butt" and have no awareness of a licensed nurse's charting, evaluation & assessment legal requirements, CNA's may well believe that nursing tasks are the sum total of a licensed nurse.

It it all goes back to "you just don't know what you don't know." And every.single.day, RN/LPN staff are fighting the good fight to "prove" to the ancillary personnel they are pulling their weight. Simply put, I don't think that we should have to battle daily to prove our worth.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2015

I never knew midget phobia was a real thing but there's a girl who has it in our program. It's the most unusual thing. People have phobias about literally everything.

There was a woman on Dr. Phil once who was terrified of cotton balls-absolutely TERRIFIED of them.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 14, 2015

Wow lets not get ugly and say CNA or MA is not part of the nursing realm it's a step towards becoming license I'm continuing to achieve my LVN , AND I encourage CNAs and MAs to do the same if they wish but come on lets not be ugly and undermine those of us who do respect the TITLE done people like cops become badge heavy same with ALL professions and yea there are nurses who think they should be doctors cuz of the responsibility they endure yet do not have the TITLE either way just keep striving for better and know who you call friend

An MA is not part of the nursing profession. They are educated under the medical model, not nursing. A CNA, while very helpful to nurses, is not part of the nursing profession.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 14, 2015

You people need normal, well-adjusted, reasonable phobias. Like midgets/dwarves and identical twins.

I'm afraid of clowns, spiders, mimes, heights, enclosed spaces, and Donald Trump's hair.

Girlafraid13 · Oct 14, 2015

Did you ask it on fb? Would love to see her reply lol.
I can just imagine putting on fb that I'm a doctor, and my entire family responding with a bunch of raised eyebrow emojis. I'm laughing just thinking of it.
I mean does your fb friend really think everyone on her friends list will believe that? On the one gand, laughable. On the other....so so illegal

She did reply and said she's a CNA getting ready to start her lvn. Now I'm starting to wonder if she tells her pts she's a nurse. Hmm

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 14, 2015

I never knew midget phobia was a real thing but there's a girl who has it in our program. It's the most unusual thing. People have phobias about literally everything.

Every time I see that Geico commercial with the golf commentators who say, "I believe that's a Kraken" I think of you.

Girlafraid13 · Oct 14, 2015

I'm afraid of clowns, spiders, mimes, heights, enclosed spaces, and Donald Trump's hair.

I don't understand people who aren't afraid of clowns! Just thinking about them gives me anxiety.

Gacy the killer clown sends me into hyperventilation mode.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 15, 2015

I wouldn't say I have a phobia of clowns. I certainly hate them and think that they are the creepiest things ever, but not to the extent of a phobia. I HATE spiders though. If one was on my windshield while I was driving, I might crash. No joke.

One night when I was working in the ED, I went to walk into the med room, when all of a sudden this spider bungee-cord dropped right down in front of my face. I started screaming, and the ED doc came bolting out of the doctors' lounge yelling, "What happened!" I said, "A spider dropped down in front of me!"

If looks could kill. He said, "I thought someone was out here killing you!" Then he had the audacity to ask me where the spider was. I said, "I stomped it!" He got mad and sad, "I would have released it outside if you hadn't killed it."

To this day I believe he cared more about that stupid arachnid than me nearly dying from fright.

ETA:That is probably the most exclamation point filled post you'll ever see from me.

chevygirl1987 · Oct 15, 2015

One night when I was working in the ED, I went to walk into the med room, when all of a sudden this spider bungee-cord dropped right down in front of my face. I started screaming, and the ED doc came bolting out of the doctors' lounge yelling, "What happened!" I said, "A spider dropped down in front of me!"
If looks could kill. Then he had the audacity to ask me where the spider was. I said, "I stomped it!" He got mad and sad, "I would have released it outside if you hadn't killed it."
To this day I believe he cared more about that stupid arachnid than me nearly dying from fright.

What a jerk. Release it outside? Um...no, it needed to die.

Makes me think of that scene in Ruthless People when he scoops the spider on a piece of paper and takes it outside. Then decides he is ticked off and squashes it.

Girlafraid13 · Oct 15, 2015

One night when I was working in the ED, I went to walk into the med room, when all of a sudden this spider bungee-cord dropped right down in front of my face. I started screaming, and the ED doc came bolting out of the doctors' lounge yelling, "What happened!" I said, "A spider dropped down in front of me!"
If looks could kill. He said, "I thought someone was out here killing you!" Then he had the audacity to ask me where the spider was. I said, "I stomped it!" He got mad and sad, "I would have released it outside if you hadn't killed it."
To this day I believe he cared more about that stupid arachnid than me nearly dying from fright.
ETA:That is probably the most exclamation point filled post you'll ever see from me.

ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚ I'm vegan and a total animal rights activist but get a spider in front of me and I go 0 to 100 real quick. Sorry spiders.

shedevilprincss · Oct 15, 2015

There was a woman on Dr. Phil once who was terrified of cotton balls-absolutely TERRIFIED of them.

I wouldn't say I'm terrified of them (I was not on Dr Phil haha) but cotton balls are pretty terrible. I hate the way they feel and sound (if you don't believe me, rub one together next to your ear. YUCK).