Non-Nurses calling themselves a Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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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?:nono:

Specializes in 6 years of ER fun, med/surg, blah, blah.
"wingworm" - That's a new one...others I've heard from "nurses"

"infantigo"

"sugar diabetes"

"O2 stats"

Using a "bamboo bag" to resustitate a pt.

:nono: are you serious?

omg !! omg !! we had to call a doctor today for a patient inr of 58.

yes 58! the "nurse" said that's ok, just check it again in one week. omg!

my care manager asked "ma'am are you an rn or lpn?".

neither, i'm a ma.

care manager: "can i please speak with the doctor directly?"

ma: "no he's busy, you can take my order he'll back me up".

care manager: "no you're not qualified, i demand to talk to the doctor".

ma: "no i told you he's busy and i'm in charge".

care manager: "you're dangerous is what you are sweetie".

we sent the patient to the er. ffp x 3 units. spending the night in the hospital. it will be interesting to see how this one ends. with the ma, not the patient, the pt is now safe.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Uhhh, sorry; no. It is neither the same nor is it comparable.

You misunderstood the premise of my argument: you can have fourteen "degrees" and still be an incompetent idiot.

Meaning? Just because you have an "RN" or an "MD" after your name - doesn't make you "competent" or "excellent" to do your job.

How many of us here complain about "incompetent docs" or "scary nurses" ?

1. I am an RN, BSN.

2. It never ceases to amaze me how much professionals think they are "entitled to" just because they have "xxx, yyy, zzz" after their name.

3. I'm not dismissing the concept of "recognizing titles" - but I do not think that "the title defines the person". In other words, there is more to being a professional than the title after your name.

You are bringing completely unrelated subjects to the discussion - but given your posting history and constant never-ending advocacy for "entry level BSN", I don't find this surprising in the least bit.

Oh and for the record - I am philosophically against "State mandatory licensing" anyway ---- but that is a whole different day and a whole different thread.

Classic Reductio ad absurdum.

I could just as simply respond by stating "So the next time you are faced with a major medical situation, I hope that you are satisfied with the health care provider who has 4 degrees but has not a month worth of experience. After all, education matters, not experience; right?"

Please re-read my original post and apply it to context.

cheers,

Roy

EDIT PS: I still don't see how/why this has anything to do with LPNs/LVNs and whether they are "nurses or not".

:yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat: :yeahthat:

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
:nono: are you serious?

absolutely! scarey stuff! i'm not finished with this, not by a long shot. in process of contacting the bon.

Specializes in pure and simple psych.

Along the lines of the original post, was at the VET's and after a "well baby" check, he said, "He is fine, really great shape. I'll send in the nurse shortly to give the vaccines." The ##***++@# VET calls his assistant a NURSE!!!!!:trout: :nono: :uhoh21: :nono: :trout:

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Along the lines of the original post, was at the VET's and after a "well baby" check, he said, "He is fine, really great shape. I'll send in the nurse shortly to give the vaccines." The ##***++@# VET calls his assistant a NURSE!!!!!:trout: :nono: :uhoh21: :nono: :trout:

:nono: What on earth are these doctors and nurse imposters thinking?!

None of my kids have ever had a nurse there, they have something called a "health tech" whatever that is. Well, I guess they do have a visiting RN that visits schools in the districts to do hearing screens and I don't know what else...

This is why I no longer refer to myself as a "nurse", whenever I am asked what I do, or about my job, I describe myself as an RN or Registered Nurse. I find that just saying "nurse" could be just about anything nowadays.

Specializes in pure and simple psych.

Same thing as CNN, continually referring to the wife of the bodyguard as Anna Nichole Smith's "nurse." They are so ignorant!!!

(woops. This responds to the post by dutchgirl)

This is why I no longer refer to myself as a "nurse", whenever I am asked what I do, or about my job, I describe myself as an RN or Registered Nurse. I find that just saying "nurse" could be just about anything nowadays.

I'm with you. I used to say "nurse"; now I say "RN". Everyone seems to know what that is, without my having to say "Registered Nurse", but I'm prepared to if necessary. :)

I don't wish to be confused with the "baby nurse", "vet nurse" or whatever the heck else is walking around in a nurse costume.

Specializes in OB, critical care, hospice, farm/industr.
I am an LPN and i was just wondering do RN's consider an LPN to be a nurse?

Absolutely! You get an education, have 'nurse' in your name and pass boards, don't you?

Specializes in OB, critical care, hospice, farm/industr.

Ok, I have a slight tangent here: my son's principal has a PhD and insists on being addressed as "Doctor". I'll do that and jump through her hoop, but what should I have her call me? Nurse Dub? Sister Dub? Matron?

Help me out here...

Ok, I have a slight tangent here: my son's principal has a PhD and insists on being addressed as "Doctor". I'll do that and jump through her hoop, but what should I have her call me? Nurse Dub? Sister Dub? Matron?

Help me out here...

Your son's principal has earned the right to the title "Doctor" as an academic title. There's really no equivalent in nursing, EXCEPT for a doctorate in nursing. So, I'd ask to be "Mrs. Dub" if that's the case, or "Ms. Dub", and leave the nurse part out of the equation.

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