No distinction of image for R.N.s Problem?

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 1, 2005

Hi, I am currently a LPN in ga since 1996, and happy to finally be in school for my BSN.
It bothers me that R.N.'s only have a name badge to distinguish them from everyone else. Some doctors offices in Ga have let their R.N.'s go to use Medical assistants. These MA's call them selves nurses when they have had very little education and are not nurses. I am not saying we should go back to the caps. But, I think it would be better for our profession if we were more easily recognized as nurses.
How do others feel about this?
Ed

Hello, farcluun,:balloons:

Welcome to Allnurses.com

In my state if the individual is not licensed as a nurse, such as MA, and, refer to themself as a nurse, they are in violation of the Nurse Practice Act.

Our BON requires only the licensed nurse have proper identification and the name tag is sufficient. MA's who wear the tag with the word "nurse" on it is practicing nursing without a license.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2005

I guess I am lucky...our badges state our certifications or licenseship. CNA's, LPN's, unlicensed caregivers (just caregiver) and RN's all have it printed on their badges..and nice thing...first name last initial as well.

Which is good for me...for some reason I am the youngest looking of all the nurses..and people keep thinking I am a CNA..not an RN...like age matters! I have to correct people much of the time..even with my badge..LOL! I just pull the old badge and say "yeah..did that whole pesky Licensed Nursing State Board thing..."LOL! That usually gets a laugh or two!

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 2, 2005

Yeah, very illegal...to hold one self out as a nurse without a license.

DusktilDawn · Nov 2, 2005

Hi, I am currently a LPN in ga since 1996, and happy to finally be in school for my BSN.
It bothers me that R.N.'s only have a name badge to distinguish them from everyone else. Some doctors offices in Ga have let their R.N.'s go to use Medical assistants. These MA's call them selves nurses when they have had very little education and are not nurses. I am not saying we should go back to the caps. But, I think it would be better for our profession if we were more easily recognized as nurses.
How do others feel about this?
Ed

I had been an RPN/LPN for about 10 years also before enrolling in school to become an RN (received a Diploma in Canada). Congrats.

The mandatory name badges where I work have our first and last name and our job title: Dawn -----------

Registered Nurse

I wear it proudly.

When I worked as an RPN/LPN, I wore a similar name badge, except underneath my name was Registered Practical Nurse. I also wore this badge proudly.

I also worked as a houskeeper in a hospital and am proud of that too. Also had a badge with my name and underneath "Cleaner I" was (the category I was under in the Enviroment Services department).

RNs at the facility I work at now wear ceil blue, CNAs wear burgundy, RTs wear hunter green, dietary wears navy blue, housekeeping wears purple, transporters wear royal blue. Housekeepers and Transporters have "Housekeeping" and "Transportation" embroidered on their shirts. I think educating the public upon entrance to hospital would be a start. What I mean is explaining what the RN will be responsible for when you are admitted, what the LPN is responsible for, what the CNA is responsible for, see where I'm going here? Name badges with the title large enough to see. I don't understand why only RNs wear a badge that distinguishes them where you work.

It sounds like the real issue you have is MAs referring to themselves as nurses. As previously stated by Siri and Thunderwolf, it is illegal to hold oneself out as a nurse when one is not. The rest of this post is not a flame toward you Ed, but the issue of MAs being represented as nurses.

In some states the actual word/title "nurse" is protected and the only people who are entitled to use the word/title "nurse" are RNs and LPNs. I work in Michigan and this is case there. You will find that the use of titles such as RN, LPN, APN, PN, etc are protected by state laws. As an RN, I cannot state or imply that I am a Doctor, CRNA or FNP, or have a BSN or MSN, etc unless I actually have those credentials, and state laws will reflect this. The same as when I was an RPN/LPN, I could not represent myself as an RN, although I could still use the word/title "nurse." The term "nurse" is associated with RNs and LPNs by the general public. When MA's use the title nurse, allow themselves to be called nurses, represent themselves as nurses, or even allow others to assume they are nurses, they are perpetuating a fraud IMHO.

It doesn't matter if a doctor (whether or not you work for him/her) refers to an MA as a nurse, state laws will tell you otherwise. It is not about what we feel we deserve to be called, or what we allow others to call us, if you don't have the credentials required you are not a nurse. Statements such as "I function just like an RN/LPN" or "I do the same job as an RN/LPN" are inaccurate and false, it also gives a false idea of what an MA really is and what they are qualified to do when such statements are made. Unless an MA has obtained or held the credential of an RN/LPN, and worked as RN/LPN, MAs really don't have any idea of what those jobs are.

I don't think it is a mistake when most Doctors refer to MAs as "their nurse," in most cases I think it is a deliberate attempt to mislead IMHO, some see nothing wrong in referring to MAs as nurses:uhoh3: . There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being an MA. What is so difficult about a Doctor saying "This is my Medical Assistant." What is so difficult in taking pride and saying "I am a Medical Assistant."

If any MAs take offense to this post, I apologize it is not meant to offend. I realize that there are MAs who are very proud to be MAs (and rightly so) and will call themselves Medical Assistants.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2005

I had been an RPN/LPN for about 10 years also before enrolling in school to become an RN (received a Diploma in Canada). Congrats.
The mandatory name badges where I work have our first and last name and our job title: Dawn -----------
Registered Nurse
I wear it proudly.
When I worked as an RPN/LPN, I wore a similar name badge, except underneath my name was Registered Practical Nurse. I also wore this badge proudly.
I also worked as a houskeeper in a hospital and am proud of that too. Also had a badge with my name and underneath "Cleaner I" was (the category I was under in the Enviroment Services department).
RNs at the facility I work at now wear ceil blue, CNAs wear burgundy, RTs wear hunter green, dietary wears navy blue, housekeeping wears purple, transporters wear royal blue. Housekeepers and Transporters have "Housekeeping" and "Transportation" embroidered on their shirts. I think educating the public upon entrance to hospital would be a start. What I mean is explaining what the RN will be responsible for when you are admitted, what the LPN is responsible for, what the CNA is responsible for, see where I'm going here? Name badges with the title large enough to see. I don't understand why only RNs wear a badge that distinguishes them where you work.
It sounds like the real issue you have is MAs referring to themselves as nurses. As previously stated by Siri and Thunderwolf, it is illegal to hold oneself out as a nurse when one is not. The rest of this post is not a flame toward you Ed, but the issue of MAs being represented as nurses.
In some states the actual word/title "nurse" is protected and the only people who are entitled to use the word/title "nurse" are RNs and LPNs. I work in Michigan and this is case there. You will find that the use of titles such as RN, LPN, APN, PN, etc are protected by state laws. As an RN, I cannot state or imply that I am a Doctor, CRNA or FNP, or have a BSN or MSN, etc unless I actually have those credentials, and state laws will reflect this. The same as when I was an RPN/LPN, I could not represent myself as an RN, although I could still use the word/title "nurse." The term "nurse" is associated with RNs and LPNs by the general public. When MA's use the title nurse, allow themselves to be called nurses, represent themselves as nurses, or even allow others to assume they are nurses, they are perpetuating a fraud IMHO.
It doesn't matter if a doctor (whether or not you work for him/her) refers to an MA as a nurse, state laws will tell you otherwise. It is not about what we feel we deserve to be called, or what we allow others to call us, if you don't have the credentials required you are not a nurse. Statements such as "I function just like an RN/LPN" or "I do the same job as an RN/LPN" are inaccurate and false, it also gives a false idea of what an MA really is and what they are qualified to do when such statements are made. Unless an MA has obtained or held the credential of an RN/LPN, and worked as RN/LPN, MAs really don't have any idea of what those jobs are.
I don't think it is a mistake when most Doctors refer to MAs as "their nurse," in most cases I think it is a deliberate attempt to mislead IMHO, some see nothing wrong in referring to MAs as nurses:uhoh3: . There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being an MA. What is so difficult about a Doctor saying "This is my Medical Assistant." What is so difficult in taking pride and saying "I am a Medical Assistant."
If any MAs take offense to this post, I apologize it is not meant to offend. I realize that there are MAs who are very proud to be MAs (and rightly so) and will call themselves Medical Assistants.

Beautiful post.

Like the penquin too!

pedinurse05 · Nov 13, 2005

I had been an RPN/LPN for about 10 years also before enrolling in school to become an RN (received a Diploma in Canada). Congrats.
The mandatory name badges where I work have our first and last name and our job title: Dawn -----------
Registered Nurse
I wear it proudly.
When I worked as an RPN/LPN, I wore a similar name badge, except underneath my name was Registered Practical Nurse. I also wore this badge proudly.
I also worked as a houskeeper in a hospital and am proud of that too. Also had a badge with my name and underneath "Cleaner I" was (the category I was under in the Enviroment Services department).
RNs at the facility I work at now wear ceil blue, CNAs wear burgundy, RTs wear hunter green, dietary wears navy blue, housekeeping wears purple, transporters wear royal blue. Housekeepers and Transporters have "Housekeeping" and "Transportation" embroidered on their shirts. I think educating the public upon entrance to hospital would be a start. What I mean is explaining what the RN will be responsible for when you are admitted, what the LPN is responsible for, what the CNA is responsible for, see where I'm going here? Name badges with the title large enough to see. I don't understand why only RNs wear a badge that distinguishes them where you work.
It sounds like the real issue you have is MAs referring to themselves as nurses. As previously stated by Siri and Thunderwolf, it is illegal to hold oneself out as a nurse when one is not. The rest of this post is not a flame toward you Ed, but the issue of MAs being represented as nurses.
In some states the actual word/title "nurse" is protected and the only people who are entitled to use the word/title "nurse" are RNs and LPNs. I work in Michigan and this is case there. You will find that the use of titles such as RN, LPN, APN, PN, etc are protected by state laws. As an RN, I cannot state or imply that I am a Doctor, CRNA or FNP, or have a BSN or MSN, etc unless I actually have those credentials, and state laws will reflect this. The same as when I was an RPN/LPN, I could not represent myself as an RN, although I could still use the word/title "nurse." The term "nurse" is associated with RNs and LPNs by the general public. When MA's use the title nurse, allow themselves to be called nurses, represent themselves as nurses, or even allow others to assume they are nurses, they are perpetuating a fraud IMHO.
It doesn't matter if a doctor (whether or not you work for him/her) refers to an MA as a nurse, state laws will tell you otherwise. It is not about what we feel we deserve to be called, or what we allow others to call us, if you don't have the credentials required you are not a nurse. Statements such as "I function just like an RN/LPN" or "I do the same job as an RN/LPN" are inaccurate and false, it also gives a false idea of what an MA really is and what they are qualified to do when such statements are made. Unless an MA has obtained or held the credential of an RN/LPN, and worked as RN/LPN, MAs really don't have any idea of what those jobs are.
I don't think it is a mistake when most Doctors refer to MAs as "their nurse," in most cases I think it is a deliberate attempt to mislead IMHO, some see nothing wrong in referring to MAs as nurses:uhoh3: . There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being an MA. What is so difficult about a Doctor saying "This is my Medical Assistant." What is so difficult in taking pride and saying "I am a Medical Assistant."
If any MAs take offense to this post, I apologize it is not meant to offend. I realize that there are MAs who are very proud to be MAs (and rightly so) and will call themselves Medical Assistants.

Great post! MA's should be proud of their accomplishment and identify themselves appropriately. We all work for our certification/degrees and we should be proud no matter what our title is!

Missy