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?!

Sorry, what's smys?

Sorry, the Show Me your Stethoscope Facebook page.

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Ah, but we can still read the Best. Post. Ever.

https://allnurses.com/post8692080-num10.html

Thanks for that. How did I miss this gem?

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Specializes in Pschiatry.

This thread truly scares the crap out of me! I think it's called "illusions of grandeur" and it's scary how many people know someone that is trying to pass themselves off as a nurse. Makes me wonder what kinds of things they are doing that are not in their scope of practice. Everyone knows I'm in nursing school and therefore automatically thinks that makes me a nurse and available for medical advice lol. I recently took my dad to the ER and because he was mad at the Dr. he told him that his daughter was a nurse and would be taking care of talking to him. I corrected him without a second thought. I have no problem telling people I'm in nursing school, not a nurse yet.

On that same line, when I was in PCT school, one of my classmates stated she was a CNA but the nurses at the nursing home allowed her to do all kinds of things that she SHOULD NOT have been doing! For example, "The nurses all know I'm in nursing school (not) so they let me put in catheters and give meds". She didn't even pass the PCT program! She then started LPN school and failed out of that. It's a scary world out there folks.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Thanks for that. How did I miss this gem?

Well, it starts out as a "Does the PVT work" kind of thread then I send someone into a tailspin by saying a person is a nurse when the BoN says they're a nurse. Thread is closed now. But it was entertaining. Sorry you missed it.

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Well, it starts out as a "Does the PVT work" kind of thread then I send someone into a tailspin by saying a person is a nurse when the BoN says they're a nurse. Thread is closed now. But it was entertaining. Sorry you missed it.

But I always gots yer back....even if you are an ignorant non-nurse ;)

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
But I always gots yer back....even if you are an ignorant non-nurse ;)

Yupa, yuppa. I B ignert arighty.

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There are some CNA's that I can't ever find and when I do, they proceed to tell me how to do my job, yet when faced with having to do my actual work, freeze up, yet will verbalize how they think it should go. I can't stand it. If they wanted to be an RN they should have went to school to become one. Everyone is a nurse until they have to do the nurses job, including the cleaning people. even some of them will proceed to tell me how to do my job.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
This is driving me crazy on the SMYS page. Protected title, but we are all part of a necessary and important team. But saying "protected title" makes me an elitist. Ugh.

:rolleyes: I think I found some of what you're referring to - OMG. Some people are ridiculous. MAs are NOT part of the nursing "industry" but don't try to educate some of those posters of that. Not even other MAs seem able to convince them they are not in the nursing hierarchy.

SMYS has some neat stuff but that drivel is just obnoxious!

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:rolleyes: I think I found some of what you're referring to - OMG. Some people are ridiculous. MAs are NOT part of the nursing "industry" but don't try to educate some of those posters of that. Not even other MAs seem able to convince them they are not in the nursing hierarchy.

SMYS has some neat stuff but that drivel is just obnoxious!

"Industry"....oh, yeah, you found it ;) I posted several times about the value of all team members, but that "nurse" was a protected title....I think I'm done now. The "heck yeah" replies boggle me.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

^^^ Sometimes attempting to educate these types of people is kinda like trying to put out a roaring fire with a squirt gun. :banghead::banghead:

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.
They do it because they want to take credit for accomplishments they have not earned. Plain and simple.

Yes, and none of the responsibility either.

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When people see me wearing scrubs and ask if I am a nurse I tell them I am a nursing assistant. When a resident or family member at work hollers "nurse" I do stop, tell them I am an aide, and ask what they need. If it's something I can do, I do it. If not, I tell them that I will get the Nurse for them. I won't lie to anyone about what I do. I am at the lowest rung of the nursing profession, but my climb has just started. To me saying that you are a nurse when you are not is disrespectful to those who have earned the title

True that it's disrespectful, but I'm secure enough in myself as a nurse to not be personally insulted.

It does however, irritate me that the general public has no clue what a nurse is or does. On the other hand, I can't honestly say I really know what an architect, engineer...does.

What does bug me is the deception of it to the patient. While most do not know the extent of our knowledge and scope, they at least know we have a degree of medical training. But when one presents themselves as a nurse, patients trust that person more. The case of the baby nurse is the best, and saddest, example.

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