MAs call themselves Nurses at my office..opinions please?

[lisaannjamRN]

Hi,

I have been an LPN for 2 1/2 years and am a new Grad-RN since 9/2011. I got a job working at a Dermatology Office last November. It's the only job I could get, and I am making the best of it. They have me training to work with all the providers...general pathodermatologists, cosmetic dermatologists and the Moh's Cancer surgeon. It was not my first choice, but I am very grateful for the opportunity and grateful to all who are helping train me.

My question is this...while I have the GREATEST respect for the Medical Assistants who work there and really know their stuff, they refer to themselves as nurses to the patients in person and when making phone calls to patients. I have to say, as someone who worked SO hard for my RN, this really bothers me. I'll reiterate...I respect them, BUT they are not nurses. I wouldn't even think of referring to myself as a PA or MD. One of the MAs said it just makes it easier to refer to all of us as nurses.

May I have your opinions on this matter? I don't want to rock the boat as a newbie. There are other RNs who work in the office. I haven't asked them if it bothers them. Would it bother you? Thanks!!!

[slasher]

You are talking about the word "nurse" that happens to be in your title vs. the idea people get when you use certain terms. I think it is safe to assume no one caught on to that.

[nursel56]

I had a feeling this wasn't going to go anywhere. I didn't insult anyone. There was no attitude. SaoirseRN, you simply repeated what I already stated. It is possible they may be doctors...they may be astronauts also. Both "they may be" scenarios are beside the point. ColleenRN2B, Ha!, you got me! I had no clue they were nurses. It will serve you well to comprehend what you read before you work side by side with these professionals. Bringonthenight, I am serious. You, like everyone else, took my comment out of context. When people hear the word "nurse" LPN is not exactly what they have in mind. It does not mean an LPN is not a nurse. Did you people read my comment? Did you read it and not understand what I meant? Did you read it, comprehend it, and decide to get emotional anyway? You are the one's who get straight A's on tests but don't have any people or communication skills aren't you? Please, please if you are going to comment further, read my original comment again and try to digest it before flipping out and getting crazy. If someone says they are a doctor the first thing that comes to mind is M.D. Not someone with a Ph.D in (insert profession here). They are both doctors. They are different however.

Where do you get the idea that people mean RN when they think "nurse"?

Making at the very least an abrasive comment and demurring with "not trying to insult" doesn;t mean anything if you proceed to insult LPNs by saying you will feel irritated if someone refers to them as a nurse. I've never heard anybody say LPNs aren't nurses in 25 years. We hear it from BSN students occasionally.

[SaoirseRN]

I had a feeling this wasn't going to go anywhere. I didn't insult anyone. There was no attitude. SaoirseRN you simply repeated what I already stated. It is possible they may be doctors...they may be astronauts also. Both "they may be" scenarios are beside the point. ColleenRN2B, Ha!, you got me! I had no clue they were nurses. It will serve you well to comprehend what you read before you work side by side with these professionals. Bringonthenight, I am serious. You, like everyone else, took my comment out of context. When people hear the word "nurse" LPN is not exactly what they have in mind. It does not mean an LPN is not a nurse. Did you people read my comment? Did you read it and not understand what I meant? Did you read it, comprehend it, and decide to get emotional anyway? You are the one's who get straight A's on tests but don't have any people or communication skills aren't you? Please, please if you are going to comment further, read my original comment again and try to digest it before flipping out and getting crazy. If someone says they are a doctor the first thing that comes to mind is M.D. Not someone with a Ph.D in (insert profession here). They are both doctors. They are different however.[/quote']

You said it annoyed you when LPNs call themselves nurses. They are nurses and have every right to call themselves nurses. It does not matter what people picture, an LPN is a nurse. Similarly, an NP who has obtained their doctorate has every right to call themselves doctor, so long as they don't mislead people to believe they are

Physicians. You would do well to lose your attitude. It will not take you very far in your career.

[slasher]

Ok, let's try this one more time.

-The original point I was making, pertains to the point originally made on this thread: giving the same title to everyone even though the skills/education is not the same.

-Nurseel56, I will answer your question with a question. Since when do people think "LPN" when they hear someone say they are a nurse? The hospital, the clinic, etc. where everyone has a similar understanding of the term?

-If an LPN and an RN are standing side by side in a patients room and the LPN tells the patient, "we're the nurses that will be taking care of you." The patient will think they are both of equal "status" when in fact they are not.

-People verbally beat on BlueDevil about MA's being called a nurse and then began to give reasons why. I then explained that everyone throwing the stones have not taken a look at themselves. LPN's and RN's are both nurses. I get it. Because the term nurse is in the title everyone thinks they are the same. They are not. If MA's had the word "nurse" in their title everyone would still be crying because their education, training, etc. is not the same.

[slasher]

SaoirseRN, please stop with the "lose your attitude", I never had an attitude. Did you read all the posts of this thread? I suppose anyone who disagrees or doesn't side with you or the majority have attitude problems. With your train of thought, I figure I will last as long as you if not longer in my career. If an NP with a doctorate answered the phone and said, "this is Dr. so and so", would the M.D.'s not think in the same manner as everyone here posting about MA's being called nurse? Bottom line, MA's, LPN's, and RN's are 3 separate titles. The skills required increase at each level. Did this clear up anything? LPN's are nurses. Ok, I get the point being made. Nurse is in the title so they are a nurse. Are they the same as an RN? No they are not. NP's with doctorates are doctors. Are they MD's? No they are not. I will make the assumption we all understand each other's perspective's now.

[nursel56]

Ok, let's try this one more time.

The original point I was making, pertains to the point originally made on this thread: giving the same title to everyone even though the skills/education is not the same.

-Nurseel56, I will answer your question with a question. Since when do people think "LPN" when they hear someone say they are a nurse? The hospital, the clinic, etc. where everyone has a similar understanding of the term?

If you work in a hospital where it's commonly understood that "nurse" means only an RN they are a) very unusual and/or b) located in an area or hospital that is heavily influenced by the doctrinaire educators and perhaps managers whose primary goal is to get rid of ADNs, LPNs and diploma nurses.

Let me ask you a question. What do all those like-minded people at your hospital do when they need her assistance with something. "I will get your ------" ?

[slasher]

"...when they need her assistance..." So all nurses are female? No, the majority are however which is why, instinctively, you used the word "her". Being a male, I am not offended, and understand. This is the point that I was making. When someone thinks "nurse", they think more along the lines of RN. You work with LPN's day in and day out so the perspective is much different. Just like if you said, " your nurse will be with you", they probably visual a female as opposed to a male. The fill in the blank quiz you just gave me is irrelevant to the point being discussed. What does getting a nurse to assist have to do with what this thread is about. LPN's refer to themselves as nurses which is a term, outside the work area is very specific. When someone says, "I'm a doctor", nobody thinks, "Oh, you're an NP with a doctorate." They think, "Oh, you're the MD." No one had a problem dishing it to BlueDevil but their seems to be an issue when it is being dished upon yourselves. I see the perspective of everyone else. If you don't see mine, you are: A) lying and just want to keep the thread alive or B) You don't have the sense to understand what you are reading.

[slasher]

The only other thing I want to know is how do I get a smiley face that flicks it tongue, like BlueDevil has, on my posts?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Holey carp. What was this whole ridiculous mess about anyway?

[slasher]

I know CrunchRN, I am going to have to word things very carefully from now on. At least I diverted the attention from BlueDevil for a while.

[SaoirseRN]

SaoirseRN please stop with the "lose your attitude", I never had an attitude. Did you read all the posts of this thread? I suppose anyone who disagrees or doesn't side with you or the majority have attitude problems. With your train of thought, I figure I will last as long as you if not longer in my career. If an NP with a doctorate answered the phone and said, "this is Dr. so and so", would the M.D.'s not think in the same manner as everyone here posting about MA's being called nurse? Bottom line, MA's, LPN's, and RN's are 3 separate titles. The skills required increase at each level. Did this clear up anything? LPN's are nurses. Ok, I get the point being made. Nurse is in the title so they are a nurse. Are they the same as an RN? No they are not. NP's with doctorates are doctors. Are they MD's? No they are not. I will make the assumption we all understand each other's perspective's now.[/quote']

Actually, your post was the only one that struck me as particularly irritating and yes I did read the whole thread. I quoted you because your attitude came across in your posts as negative and offensive. I can agree to disagree quite happily with most people. Have a great day.

[slasher]

So...we agree to disagree?