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 Trauma Surgery.
:roflmao: I've never understood why people say they are nurses when they aren't. My mom pulled that card five years ago and I gave her the '***** look. I don't get it, definitely one of my pet peeves. Why do you get the privilege of claiming you're a nurse when you definitely aren't one and do not work in the nursing scope of practice. B, please! :nono:
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Who cares! If they are just calling themselves nurses, who cares. If they are calling themselves a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse, I believe that is a legal issue now and should be nipped immediately. Again, if not calling themselves an RN, who cares. . . 3 simple words I try to live by, "let it go."

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Who cares! If they are just calling themselves nurses, who cares. If they are calling themselves a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse, I believe that is a legal issue now and should be nipped immediately. Again, if not calling themselves an RN, who cares. . . 3 simple words I try to live by, "let it go."

Because they aren't nurses...?

3 words to live by: Get a clue.

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She fell just a little short of her goal not to insult but I get goose bumps every time I read it.

Darnit. It won't let me open it to read.

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Darnit. It won't let me open it to read.

Sprinkle some Special Snowflake Glitter on it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Who cares! If they are just calling themselves nurses, who cares. If they are calling themselves a Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse, I believe that is a legal issue now and should be nipped immediately. Again, if not calling themselves an RN, who cares. . . 3 simple words I try to live by, "let it go."

Who cares? I do, for one, and here's why:

When I give pre-op instructions to patients on behalf of Anesthesia and the patients argue with my NPO parameters or medication instructions because "Dr. Surgeon's 'nurse' told me xyz (ignorant and often downright dangerous instructions)." After all, the surgeon is in charge of this surgery, right?:rolleyes:

Yeah, and the surgeon's H&P is accurate and complete. NOT.

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I got a good one for you guys. My girlfriends exfriend who was in MA school claimed to be in medical school to get his MD. 😒

LOL an ex-friend of mine said that too! We hadn't seen eachother in a long time. When we reconnected, she told me she had gone to med school but didn't complete it for financial reasons. When she told me the name if the school, which is a school with an 8 month program to be an MA, I was like...ooook. Turns out it wasn't even for financial reasons that she quit the MA program. It was because she couldn't hack it.

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I reiterate, unless it is a safety and/or legal issue, which should be nipped at the bud . . . who cares!

I am a chiropractor, unfortunately, but leads me to this point. A lot of chiropractors, vast majority actually, refer to themselves as"Doctors." Even when I when I was in chiropractic school, I knew I was not going to become a "doctor." I told them we are becoming glorified, well paid hairstylists! I was only referred to as doctor with my first name only and only in the office. Outside of the office? No way. But the point I am trying to make is, to me, it is a sign of insecurity for chiropractors to call themselves doctors. And we are NOT doctors. Not real ones by any measure anyways. That said, do MDs care that a chiropractor call him or herself a doctor?! From my experience, no. The only MDs, which I can count on one hand, I saw that care are the ones who are doing poorly in practice or are not very good doctors themselves, etc. Because they are insecure. So for me, be more secure! Who cares if they call themselves a nurse.

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I reiterate, unless it is a safety and/or legal issue, which should be nipped at the bud . . . who cares!

I am a chiropractor, unfortunately, but leads me to this point. A lot of chiropractors, vast majority actually, refer to themselves as"Doctors." Even when I when I was in chiropractic school, I knew I was not going to become a "doctor." I told them we are becoming glorified, well paid hairstylists! I was only referred to as doctor with my first name only and only in the office. Outside of the office? No way. But the point I am trying to make is, to me, it is a sign of insecurity for chiropractors to call themselves doctors. And we are NOT doctors. Not real ones by any measure anyways. That said, do MDs care that a chiropractor call him or herself a doctor?! From my experience, no. The only MDs, which I can count on one hand, I saw that care are the ones who are doing poorly in practice or are not very good doctors themselves, etc. Because they are insecure. So for me, be more secure! Who cares if they call themselves a nurse.

Is your last question rhetorical? Because if it isn't, read this thread and you will see that most real nurses care.

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Is your last question rhetorical? Because if it isn't, read this thread and you will see that most real nurses care.

I am in the minority then. I accept it. But again, if it is a safety and/or legal issue, I agree with the majority, if not. . .who cares because to me it is a sign of insecurity to care.

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Okay.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Just to clarify - it is ILLEGAL in many states to refer to oneself as Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), or even just *nurse* if that person does not hold a license as RN or LPN.

Also, doctor is a title, not a profession and I wish our society would say physician when they are discussing and MD/DO. Would make a lot more sense.

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