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 just don't understand the angst at non-licensed staff being called "nurse". The term has always been a generalization (my opinion). So, to call all the staff "nurses" is to basically say that "we all take care of people".
As long as they perform inside their boundries, I see a nurse as someone who takes care of people.
I just don't understand the angst at non-licensed staff being called "nurse". The term has always been a generalization (my opinion). So, to call all the staff "nurses" is to basically say that "we all take care of people". As long as they perform inside their boundries, I see a nurse as someone who takes care of people.
I can now see a problem with this, especially after hearing from others on this board:
* It's a violation of law, apparently in a lot of states. I assume there is a good reason for this.
* If you had gone through the hell of nursing school, wouldn't you be a little PO'd that others with a lot less training than you were calling themselves nurses?
* Other MA's had no problem correctly identifying themselves. Why can't all MA's, as well as doctors, do the same?
* Now that some former MA's have talked about performing duties that they really weren't qualified to do, this whole thing really makes you wonder. Are doctors trying to give the impression and, actually, mislead the public into believing that they have highly qualified nurses? When, in fact, they're too cheap to hire them but don't want patients to know that?
I just don't understand the angst at non-licensed staff being called "nurse". The term has always been a generalization (my opinion). So, to call all the staff "nurses" is to basically say that "we all take care of people".
As long as they perform inside their boundries, I see a nurse as someone who takes care of people.
Your nursing education is listed as "other" - not sure what that would be. I have only been an RN for a matter of a couple of months. But, I can tell you that from day ONE of nursing school - people were asking me for medical advice. Most people place blind trust in anyone who says they are a nurse. The problem with this, is that those who are not nurses (RN's, RPN's, LPN's), are not only lacking in nursing knowledge, but in the rules and regulations that govern a nurse giving out advice! When someone calls me with a medication question - I refer them to their pharmacist. Why? I could rely on my knowledge of the drug, look it up in a drug reference right? Wrong! I cannot be sure that they are disclosing their entire medical history to me, I am not familiar with their current medications, I am not aware of previous allergies or reactions to medications. A person who is not a nurse, may think that it is okay to just "look it up" and dispense advice, not having been trained to know that there could be a medication interaction that can result in tragedy. I know a CNA who has represented herself in my community as a nurse for decades. She was telling someone that their blood pressure reading should have nothing to do with whether or not they took their daily metoprolol! She was thinking of metoclopramide, not metoprolol! If I hadn't intervened and told that person to speak with their pharmacist, they would have gone on blind trust that a "nurse" (the CNA) told them that it was okay.
By merely stating that you are a nurse, people automatically put you in a position of trust, believe what you say, and follow that advice. THAT is the danger in allowing people (who are NOT nurses), to call themselves nurses.
By merely stating that you are a nurse, people automatically put you in a position of trust, believe what you say, and follow that advice. THAT is the danger in allowing people (who are NOT nurses), to call themselves nurses.
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
Boy you are going to get slammed for this one. There are alot of people who take care of people, pharmacist, aides,tech's or even housekeeping. How would you like to be receiving nursing care from the housekeeper. Not everyone that takes of people are quailified as nurse's. Every month I get a news letter from the BON talking about people impersonating nurses and someone getting hurt as the result. THESE PEOPLE GO TO JAIL ,IT IS ILLEGAL TO EVENTHINK YOU ARE A NURSE WHEN YOU ARE NOT!!!!!!There is a certin level of education that comes with having this nursing license, and it is not so much the act like giving a IM injection but the theory behind it. I have been a MA and I know the distinct difference in the two and it is much more than one could imagine. And I think people who are trying to be nurses dont know there boundries, because they have not been taught what they are. But lets turn the tables here, if you were to receive a IV I would bet money you would want a RN rather a MA. Nurses do more than take care of people, we are educaters, planners, sometimes the difference in life and death. It cant be substituted........
I just don't understand the angst at non-licensed staff being called "nurse". The term has always been a generalization (my opinion). So, to call all the staff "nurses" is to basically say that "we all take care of people".
As long as they perform inside their boundries, I see a nurse as someone who takes care of people.
Boy you are going to get slammed for this one. There are alot of people who take care of people, pharmacist, aides,tech's or even housekeeping. How would you like to be receiving nursing care from the housekeeper. Not everyone that takes of people are quailified as nurse's. Every month I get a news letter from the BON talking about people impersonating nurses and someone getting hurt as the result. THESE PEOPLE GO TO JAIL ,IT IS ILLEGAL TO EVENTHINK YOU ARE A NURSE WHEN YOU ARE NOT!!!!!!There is a certin level of education that comes with having this nursing license, and it is not so much the act like giving a IM injection but the theory behind it. I have been a MA and I know the distinct difference in the two and it is much more than one could imagine. And I think people who are trying to be nurses dont know there boundries, because they have not been taught what they are. But lets turn the tables here, if you were to receive a IV I would bet money you would want a RN rather a MA. Nurses do more than take care of people, we are educaters, planners, sometimes the difference in life and death. It cant be substituted........
MA's that refer to themselves as nurses make me sick! :angryfire I'm an MA for a pediatrician for 15 years. I have never called myself a nurse. Our office has an RN,MA and two receptionist. No one not even the Dr. has called anyone a nurse except for the nurse, becuase she has earned it.Sometimes the parents of our patients will refer to me as a nurse, but I quickly correct them and ask them if they wish to speak to a nurse I will gladly get her.When I am asked questions on the phone by the parents, although I know most of the answers, because after working there so long you kind of know how things are, I still do not take it upon myself to answer, I tell them I will put the Dr.'s nurse on the phone to speak with them. If you are not a nurse, don't call yourself one, if you wish to be called a nurse then go and do it, become one. Otherwise don't give your patients the impression that they are receiving the best possible adive because they assume they are speaking with a nurse. Shame on you!! I am now in school to become an RN. I start classes on Tuesday, I wish to work in a hospital setting taking care of patients, hospitals do not hire MA's, doesn't that tell you something?
Still am not personally bothered by the term "nurse" being utilized as a generalization.
To impersonate a licensed person..that is illegal.
My thinking goes all the way back to nursing school, and my first job in the CCU. We introduced ourselves to patients as "one of your nurses". No one stopped to specify what each staff's education was. We did use the term 'nurse', 'nurses aide', 'house supervisor', and 'unit supervisor', but didn't differentiate between Associate, Certificate, and Diploma or LPN. It was a very team oriented environment. Even the EKG techs were referred to as "one of your nurses", when we introduced them to the patient. Now, 23 years later, it appears that we were, not only politically incorrect, but illegal? Darn, hate old age.
In which states is it illegal to use the generalized term "nurse" unless you are licensed? I haven't worked in any of those states, so perhaps my opinion is based on my midwest experience. Thanks..
Still am not bothered by the term "nurse" being utilized as a generalization.
To impersonate a licensed person..that is illegal.
In which states is it illegal to use the generalized term "nurse" unless you are licensed? I haven't worked in any of those states, so perhaps my opinion is based on my midwest experience. Thanks..
Have you actually checked with your state's licensing board? That isn't sarcastic, or meant to be ignorant or anything. I just have never heard of a any licensing body that did not have a regulation stating that only a registered nurse, registered practical nurse, or licensed practical nurse could use the term "nurse" - otherwise it is impersonation and subject to a criminal charge.
Have you actually checked with your state's licensing board? That isn't sarcastic, or meant to be ignorant or anything. I just have never heard of a any licensing body that did not have a regulation stating that only a registered nurse, registered practical nurse, or licensed practical nurse could use the term "nurse" - otherwise it is impersonation and subject to a criminal charge.
My state Statutes do not specify the term "nurse". (I just looked). They discuss LPN, Inactive, Professional, Advanced, and RN, but the nursing definition statute doesn't mention any illegalities regarding the term.
California State Code states: 2796. It is unlawful for any person or persons not licensed or certified as provided in this chapter to use the title "registered nurse," the letters "R.N. ," or the words "graduate nurse," "trained nurse," or "nurse anesthetist."
It is unlawful for any person or persons not licensed or certified
as provided in this chapter to impersonate a professional nurse or
pretend to be licensed to practice professional nursing as provided
in this chapter.
Which state is it illegal to use the term "nurse"? Not sarcastic, just curious.
The area I was raised in, and worked in... the term "nurse" was used as a generalization. People who took care of their family: "I have been at home, nursing mother", ladies from the church who took care of other people's sick folk: "Mabel is a widow, she works as a nurse"--
Someone would say "I am a nurse", we didn't know the specifics, just that they took care of other people.
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I just don't understand the angst at non-licensed staff being called "nurse". The term has always been a generalization (my opinion). So, to call all the staff "nurses" is to basically say that "we all take care of people".
As long as they perform inside their boundries, I see a nurse as someone who takes care of people.