Non-Nurses calling themselves a Nurse

[sarajasmine]

The school district my child goes to has a CNA in the school clinic, who refers to herself as "The school Nurse". I thought she was either an LVN or RN until last week when she had me come pick up my child from school. She had a little nausea but, she said she needed to stay out for two days due to a small rash on her face that she diagnosed as "Wingworm"! She told me to get an over-the-counter anti-fungal and treat for two days when she would be allowed to return to school! (I think that is practicing medicine w/o a license?!) I asked did she mean ringworm-she said no, wingworm...so, I had her write that down on the standard form they use when children are sent hm. Maybe the school board is exempt from following the law?!

Well, I took her to our family Doctor who said, she doesn't have ringworm-it's impetigo and prescribed bactriban.

My beef is that the teachers even refer to her as the school nurse-I wonder if

they even know the difference between an LVN or RN and a CNA? I sent a letter to the Assistant Superintendant for the district but, have not heard a reply. I think I am no different than most of you who have worked hard for your RN or LVN license and earn the respect of being called a "Nurse". I was a CNA before I was an LPN and have now been an RN over 20 yrs. As a CNA, I knew my place and my limits of practice. Any other parent or Nurse concerned about this?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

This is an issue that hadn't really come up for me, as in Canada there is no such thing, but with integration of children with various disabilities and illnesses it really is necessary.

Canada doesn't have school nurses anywhere?? To whom do the children go for medications that must be taken during school hours....who compiles and keeps updates on medical records, including vaccinations? If a child feels ill during school hours, to whom do they go for temperature and check-over?

[dbowens02]

Thank you. Well said.

[dbowens02]

Must be really hard to walk around with that huge chip on your shoulder. NO one was taking shots at CMAs...only at those professing to be nurses who are not. Time to get over yourself...jeesh

:nuke:

Being confident in our abilities has no correlation with MA's. Not all MA's pose as nurses but there is a vast majority who do call themselves nurses. They are not nurses and that is against the law. No matter how you slice it. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.

It is not fair for people to call themselves or function as CMA's who do not go to school either. There are alot of them that do.

RN's do diagnose. We have the knowledge to interupt the patients s/s and labs. We phone the physician and he accepts our assessment and he orders meds or tests accordingly. If the physician had to come over everytime we called them in order to validate our assessment they would never be able to leave the hospital.

I know they do at the hospital or in home health.A good hospital nurse makes the doctors lives a lot easier. It's just different in a clinic. A horse of a different color if you will. My husband is cardiologist

so I know how it all works.

In HH it's the same. If I call a physician and tell them that a patient is having a CHF exacerbation and I think they could use 80 mg of Lasix IV. You bet the physician will order it and I'll give it.

Yes, they depend on great nurses, no one said otherwise. It's just different in a clinic setting. Also they were talking about a school nurse.

That is an unprofessional statement. Your post comes across lke you have a real problem with nurses. Like nurses don't agree with MA's calling themselves nurses and you being a CMA don't give merit to nurses because you feel as though you are just as qualified as a nurse. You have an associates. I truely do think that's a good thing. I wish all MA's had to be certified but certified does not = nursing degree. You will be getting your BSN this year. I bet a year from now you'll feel differently about MA's who call themselves or consider themselves nurses. That's what is is all about

"Non-Nurses calling themselves a Nurse" it's not about your qualifications to do a good job in the clinic. Not a single nurse has a problem with competent MA's. The problem is those who use the legally protected title

"Nurse".

I have a problem with those people now. If you will reread the posts you will see that. Its wrong for them to call themselves nurses. I don't know of any that do that. But is is also wrong to call themselves an MA if they have no formal education. Most of my friends are nurses and APN's. Therefore I have no problems with nurses. Like I said, I will still be the same even after I have my BSN. Then I will be an APN. My husband has a CMA and an RN. They are both great. I only have a problem with people who look down on others. Most CMA's, Nurses and APN's had to work hard to get where they are. So yes, I have a big problem with people walking in off the street and calling themselves nurses or cma's. They did not have to pay their dues of schooling and and sacrifice like everyone else. But there are some nurses that are just plain mean to Cma's, lab and x-ray techs, etc. I have seen a lot of hatefulness that is unnecessary. i guess that is why it upsets me so much. I don't care what people say about me on these posts. I just laugh. I know who I am. Actually I never have problems with people.:nuke: It just bothers me for the others that are mistreated and may not have the opportunities to further their education for what ever reason. I am sure none of you do this but it happens a lot. Thats all I am saying.

[dbowens02]

The fact of the matter is an associates degree is not required to attain the certification of CMA. It is great that you are rounding out your education, but the educational pathway for CMA is not required to be AA/AS. You particular school may only offer the certification as part of an AA program but that is not the norm or the requirement. This is a field that needs a lot more regulation. This doesn't mean that a CMA can't be a respected member of the team, but the difference in the level of knowledge taught to a nurse vs a CMA is vast. There should be no mistaking the twowhich is what this thread is about.

It may just be in our state. Our clinic only hires associate degree cma's. Except in the lab they can be a RMA.

[sanctuary, BSN, MSN, RN]

:confused: CMA=Certified Medical Assistant? RMA??? Medication Aide is what I thought CMA is.

Anywhoo, ain't none of them nurses.

And to the OP, was your daughter there when she used the term "nurse"? There is your second witness.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

:nuke: I have a problem with those people now. If you will reread the posts you will see that.

Thank you for having the honesty and integrity to come back, read carefully, learn and let us learn too. Far too many can only see their point of view and nothing else and if they do see a different point of view wouldn't dare admit it. That's admirable. Thanks!

[dbowens02]

Thank you for having the honesty and integrity to come back, read carefully, learn and let us learn too. Far too many can only see their point of view and nothing else and if they do see a different point of view wouldn't dare admit it. That's admirable. Thanks!

Now meaning I have always had a problem with it. My sister works at a clinic as a nurse and guess who the DON is? The office manager! She is not a nurse and has only a high school education. Now that is just wrong! So I see all points. Thanks for your post! Have a great day!

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

Now meaning I have always had a problem with it. My sister works at a clinic as a nurse and guess who the DON is? The office manager! She is not a nurse and has only a high school education. Now that is just wrong! So I see all points. Thanks for your post! Have a great day!

The DON is not a nurse??? OMG! You're absolutely correct; that's just wrong. It's kind of like a paralegal being Chief Justice.

It's great that your sister is a nurse, too. One of my sisters is a nurse, and she's been a huge help to me in school!

[99RosesRN]

at schools i have also heard people who are there to help the teacher refer to themselves as teacher. i know this is not against the law, but i find it disgraceful for someone to let people think they have accomplished something they have not (like go to college to become a teacher).

i would be very angry as a parent if this happened to me.

I agree it is a shame that people don't have the good sense and respect necesssary to refrain from representing themselves as something that they are not. However representing yourself as a Nurse (RN) is not only disrespectful, but illegal (in my state at least)

[sarajasmine]

Now meaning I have always had a problem with it. My sister works at a clinic as a nurse and guess who the DON is? The office manager! She is not a nurse and has only a high school education. Now that is just wrong! So I see all points. Thanks for your post! Have a great day!

That's about as bad as my situation or WORSE! Can you turn HER into the BON for imposters? That's just scarey! How did she come to that title? The doctor could be facing charges as well!!

[dbowens02]

The DON is not a nurse??? OMG! You're absolutely correct; that's just wrong. It's kind of like a paralegal being Chief Justice.

It's great that your sister is a nurse, too. One of my sisters is a nurse, and she's been a huge help to me in school!

She (the "DON") only has a high school education. They can't keep help. She is so mean to the nurses. Her best friend at the clinic is one of the "Johnny off the street" people who call themselves nurses (the ones that I do have a problem with). Anyway, the friend who is the fake nurse, if you will, did a digital block on a patients toe. The doc was going to take a toenail off so she goes in and does the digital block. ( I thought you had to be a doc to do those). Anyway she leaves the door open so the patients in the shot waiting area could see her in action. Now we all know that is a HIPPA violation! Not to mention all the other laws she is breaking!

I just can't believe that she gets by with that stuff! It makes the real CMA's that went to school, like me, look bad. Stuff like that is why a lot of nurses hate CMA's. But it is stuff like that everyday at that clinic. If any of the nurses complain it's too bad because she is best friends with the "DON". This "DON" has those docs wrapped around her little finger. I have been trying to get my sister to come to our clinic to get away from that mess, but she likes the doc she works for. I told her to report that stuff to the nursing board but she is afraid to. If it was not for my sister, i would call. Well I have rattled on too much. Have a great evening!

[LUVyourCNA]

I am an LPN and i was just wondering do RN's consider an LPN to be a nurse?