Ok, we've just switched doctors under our medical plan. So I go in for a routine checkup, etc. at this clinic. They tell me the nurse will be with me shortly. Of course, since I'm a student, I always ask nurses how they like their jobs etc. So I ask: You're a nurse, right? She nods. How do you like the job ... blah, blah blah ... Not once did she correct me. Then I ask where she went to school. When she names the school, I'm confused because I've never heard of it.
That's when she says, "Oh ... I'm an MA."
Then the doctor comes in, and tells me "the nurse will be with you shortly." I'm like ... what nurse? Then I find out that everybody at the "Nurses Station" is actually an MA, but everyone, from the receptionist to the doctors, are referring to these MA's as nurses. My husband, who has to go in fairly frequently, says they told him the same thing ... that these MA's were nurses.
Now, I don't know if there's actually anything wrong with this, and maybe this isn't a big deal but, it seemed really weird to me. I've been to other doctor's offices where the staff was very careful to tell me they were MA's, not nurses. Especially when I asked if they were a nurse or not.
Any thoughts? Is this allowed? Why would even doctors refer to MA's as nurses?
I am a student and would be really PO'd if some one who wasn't licensed claimed to be a nurse. I would be even more PO'd if i were the patient. However, i would say that the general population does not know the difference among PCA, NA, LPN, RN, HUC-they think everyone is a nurse. I know as a fact, i didn't know there was a difference between RN and LPN. If some one said they were a nurse, i assumed they were an RN.
Boy, have I learned a lot since those days-and i am only a first semester LPN student!!
I vaguely remember the whole refering to caring for some one as "nursing" them. However, they always refered to it as "nursing" so-and so, not that they WERE a nurse. But that was back in grandma's day, 70 years ago! Yep, things have changed!
Anyway, in the great state of MN-you can not practice nursing w/o a current license. So, i would assume that if you told someone you were a nurse-you would be commiting a crime.
OUCH. I am older than I thought. There are parts of the country that change much slower than others.
OUCH. (Actually, my people do tend to live in the past..hillbilly thing)
However, i would say that the general population does not know the difference among PCA, NA, LPN, RN, HUC-they think everyone is a nurse.
Well, maybe it's because all of these people are running around saying they're nurses when they're not.
Who knows? Maybe if everyone from the doctors to the receptionists DID correctly identify the staff, the general population (or, at least, a good portion of it) WOULD know the difference.
As it stands now, they're only perpetuating the confusion.
Thanks. This doesn't outlaw the TERM "nurse", but it, and the other practice acts, do indicate a trend toward shutting down use of "nurse" unless licensed. Isn't it amazing how vocabulary changes.
Thanks. This doesn't outlaw the TERM "nurse", but it, and the other practice acts, do indicate a trend toward shutting down use of "nurse" unless licensed. Isn't it amazing how vocabulary changes.
Actually, I believe it does. If in that state and not a nurse, I definitely wouldn't want to find out by getting caught impersonating one. I put "use any title" in bold because that is the part that gets you. The general public understands a nurse to be either an RN or an LPN. To use the title "nurse" you are using a title that leads people to believe that you are an RN or LPN.
Personally, I think it would be nice if the various state boards would standardize on this one. I think KY and AR have the right idea. Spell it out, in no uncertain terms that saying you are a nurse when you are not is illegal and that action will be taken against you if you are caught doing so. I take the defrauding of the public very seriously. Even if the person does not mean any harm and just wants to puff him/herself up, it is still fraud and it is insulting to those of us that have earned the title.
I am curious PJA2004. If you are not an RN, not a LPN, and just a ER clerk (your words), why are you registered on a nursing site? Or are you a nursing student?
:imbar I am not a nursing student and have no immediate plans of going into "nursing". A friend at work told me about this site, and I checked it out. It had some interesting and funny post, so I thought it would be a fun site to join.
I did not think it would offend anyone and I did not join with bad intentions. As you can see, I registered as "other". Most of my friends are nurses or work in the medical field, so I did not THINK it would be a problem.
At the hospital I am employed, we work as a team and I am not use to being treated any different than my co workers. This site apparently is not for me, because I do not have RN, OR LPN behind my name. I will no longer post on this site.....
:imbar I am not a nursing student and have no immediate plans of going into "nursing". A friend at work told me about this site, and I checked it out. It had some interesting and funny post, so I thought it would be a fun site to join.
I did not think it would offend anyone and I did not join with bad intentions. As you can see, I registered as "other". Most of my friends are nurses or work in the medical field, so I did not THINK it would be a problem.
At the hospital I am employed, we work as a team and I am not use to being treated any different than my co workers. This site apparently is not for me, because I do not have RN, OR LPN behind my name. I will no longer post on this site.....
I am a nurse, registered as "other" also, just to prevent some of the prejudice that I have seen. Not all posters have that prejudice, but I have seen some posters who ......um........"know it all".
My very best friend it a ward clerk. I treasure her advise and opinions more than any person I have met. Brightest, wisest, common sense...
Some posters here will attack any opinion stated. Let it go.
Nursing is team work, one of the reasons I never was offended by the term "nurse".
(If offended by this thread... never, never, NEVER go to the current events site!!)
Actually, I believe it does. If in that state and not a nurse, I definitely wouldn't want to find out by getting caught impersonating one.
Understand what everyone is saying. Had no idea.
Still talking about two different things. Using the term "nurse" broadly, and impersonating one are two different things. This is what I am referring to as "illegal".
It is not illegal for any person to say to the 7-11 clerk: "i am a nurse at the hospital", as this is a broad term (some states), and they are not impersonating an RN, LPN, etc...
However, to say "i am an RN" IS illegal.
I thought this thread was talking about the term "nurse".
(remember... old woman here... gotta be specific.... didn't feel old prior to this thread... 'kids said I was, but what do they know???)
The problem with telling the clerk at 7-11, "I am a nurse at the hospital" is that the clerk now perceives you to be an RN or LPN and BELIEVES anything that you say. The problem with that, is that unless you are an RN or LPN, you do not have the knowledge and education to A) dispense medical advice, or B) know when it would be inappropriate to dispense medical advice and refer the person to the appropriate person. When you say, "I am a nurse", it automatically elevates you to a level of trust in the general public's eye. The general public will not be suspicious of what type of nurse you are - general or registered. The general public will not ask, "Are you an RN or an RPN or do you take care of Grandma on the weekends?" The general public will assume that when you call yourself a nurse - that you ARE a nurse. There is an inherent danger in allowing just anyone to run around calling themselves a nurse.
Another example. Man wants to quit taking all of his meds because of the side effects. He asks his neighbour if she thinks this would be okay. Neighbour says yes. A couple of days later the man suffers a devastating CVA. Why? Because a few of his meds should not have been discontinued abruptly - because any changes in dosing should be done under the supervision of your doctor. The man assumed his neighbour was a nurse because she worked in the local LTC. What he didn't know was that she worked in the office and had zero health care training. He is in a wheelchair despite several months of rehabilitation in a stroke hospital. True story. This is what happens when someone THINKS you are a nurse and follows your advice. The only people who should be using the identifier "nurse" are those who have the education and training that goes along with it.
If I offended anyone by saying that my grandma reffered to caring for people as nursing and that was years ago. What I was trying to say is that i have heard of the term being used loosely.
I forgot to add that I distinctly remember seeing everyone in the clinic with a name tag that identified their certifications of nursing LPN/RN-i don't think the receptionists had tags-I don't remember seeing any on the MA's. But the LPN's and RN's had tags.
The problem with telling the clerk at 7-11, "I am a nurse at the hospital" is that the clerk now perceives you to be an RN or LPN and BELIEVES anything that you say. The problem with that, is that unless you are an RN or LPN, you do not have the knowledge and education to A) dispense medical advice, or B) know when it would be inappropriate to dispense medical advice and refer the person to the appropriate person. When you say, "I am a nurse", it automatically elevates you to a level of trust in the general public's eye. The general public will not be suspicious of what type of nurse you are - general or registered. The general public will not ask, "Are you an RN or an RPN or do you take care of Grandma on the weekends?" The general public will assume that when you call yourself a nurse - that you ARE a nurse. There is an inherent danger in allowing just anyone to run around calling themselves a nurse.
QUOTE]
The problem is obvious. However, perception and assumptions do not equal unlawfulness. So, it is not UNLAWFUL to say you are a nurse, it is UNLAWFUL to impersonate an RN, LPN, etc...
If I offended anyone by saying that my grandma reffered to caring for people as nursing and that was years ago. What I was trying to say is that i have heard of the term being used loosely.
No offense here. I am tickled that it isn't only me who has heard the term referred to somewhat generally (nurse..nursing..) Thanks
As far as my opinion goes on this, I'll keep it brief:
MA's operate in the MEDICAL field. Nurses work in the NURSING field. They use different models of patient care. Physician's assistants and nurse practitioners also have similarities, but come from completely different fields and approaches to patient care. Doctors, PA's, NP's, nurses, MA's, CNA's are all part of the healthcare team--but each serves a unique function on that team.
mscsrjhm
646 Posts
OUCH. I am older than I thought. There are parts of the country that change much slower than others.
OUCH. (Actually, my people do tend to live in the past..hillbilly thing)