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?

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

granbury texas huh...lol how funny i live just north of there and have been working at one of your local ltc via agency...small world

i love granbury! we have only been here since july! i work for family care home health agency here! where are you working? send me an im if you want! i am always looking to make new friends!

and i live a little to the north of all of you in a little hick town called plano

[crackerjack]

In the vein of those calling themselves nurses who do not hold a license I'm wondering about one I got last week. I was checking in a patient for surgery and at some point the one of them states "we're in nursing, we're both cna's" . I just never was sure whether or not I was ok with that statement or not. Granted they immediately clarified they were cna's but the idea of riding the coattails of nurses leaving the uninformed that they were nurses and unable to decipher the cna acronym. Of course, I knew but it would be easy for someone who didn't to just nod and smile and assume it meant they were nurses of a specific flavor. I dunno. It bothered me but I wasn't sure whether or not I was bothered rightfully or just overreacting.

Thoughts?

To the OP: please post back and let us know how this plays out if you can. I do hope you're able to get the attention of the BON and school board to put a stop to this. I shudder at the thought of the dammage this gal could do to her next patient errr victim.

[SaraO'Hara]

During CNA instruction, I always had it hammered into my head that I am not allowed to adjust oxygen settings, give out meds, even so much as an aspirin, or give any kind of medical advice. CNAs simply do not have the training necessary.

I'm startled that a school district would not take the 5 minutes necessary to find out that CNAs are unqualified to do the sort of work required of a school nurse.

[JennyMac]

Here's something that bothered me the other day:

I was talking to my mom and noticed she had two little plastic cards that said NURSE on them. I asked her what they were for and she said, "A police officer friend gave these to me and dad to put on out dashboards so if we get pulled over we can get out of tickets." I was like, mom, you can't go around telling people you're a nurse if you're not! I know it's not the same as giving out medical advice without a license, but it still bothers me that people think it's OK to claim to be a nurse, but would never dream of posing as a doctor or other professional!

[gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP]

Texas is not in the process of enacting a law protecting the title Nurse - it is already protected in the Texas occupational code. It is illegal to call yourself a nurse in Texas if you do not hold a license as an RN or LVN. Period. No ands, ifs or buts.

Call the board of nurse examiners. Dont mess with the school district. Report this "wing"nut

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Recently posted this info:

Laws Protecting the Title "Nurse" (2007)

[shisalion]

I think there is a school district in TX that is lo oking for a lawsuit or two. I would not let this slide, if I were you. You can write a letter to the authorities who certify nursing assistants and to the Board of Registered Nursing, detailing this individual's lack of competence. If no action is taken, it wouldn't hurt to get the media involved. What will it be next time?

You might add in that letter the CNA is practicing medicine without a license. The last time I checked, NP's are licensed to diagnose and treat illness. Impetigo vs. ring worm... big difference. If this brazenly incompetent individual is allowed to keep her job, what will she misdiagnose next time? What will it cost her next victim? I guess nobody will pay attention until a patient gets hurt and then the finger-pointing will commence.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Here's something that bothered me the other day:

I was talking to my mom and noticed she had two little plastic cards that said NURSE on them. I asked her what they were for and she said, "A police officer friend gave these to me and dad to put on out dashboards so if we get pulled over we can get out of tickets." I was like, mom, you can't go around telling people you're a nurse if you're not! I know it's not the same as giving out medical advice without a license, but it still bothers me that people think it's OK to claim to be a nurse, but would never dream of posing as a doctor or other professional!

Oh, wow, that's unreal. I always thought those obnoxious "friends of the PBA" stickers and cards were ridiculous in that at one extreme you have someone who actually uses them and gets out of a well-deserved ticket and at the other end you have those who get nothing but laughed at (privately, later) for trying to pull it.

The "NURSE" cards I'd never heard of and am really bugged by that idea. How, exactly, did your mother GET those cards? I know she was given them by a cop friend, but....SHE'S not a nurse, so presumably she got them because YOU'RE a nurse...? Very bad policy to have them printed and distributed, and very bad form to use them.

[ZootRN]

I had a patient's wife saying to me that it's been a few years since she is out of nursing. On my question, is she a nurse, she answered she is medical assistant. What's up with the idea that everyone can call himself a nurse?

Why don't you call yourself a pharmacist because you know Tylenol is for fever and headache, or a doctor because you know how to look up "arthritis" on the Google?

[hogan4736, BSN, RN]

In the vein of those calling themselves nurses who do not hold a license I'm wondering about one I got last week. I was checking in a patient for surgery and at some point the one of them states "we're in nursing, we're both cna's" . I just never was sure whether or not I was ok with that statement or not. Granted they immediately clarified they were cna's but the idea of riding the coattails of nurses leaving the uninformed that they were nurses and unable to decipher the cna acronym. Of course, I knew but it would be easy for someone who didn't to just nod and smile and assume it meant they were nurses of a specific flavor. I dunno. It bothered me but I wasn't sure whether or not I was bothered rightfully or just overreacting.

Thoughts?

To the OP: please post back and let us know how this plays out if you can. I do hope you're able to get the attention of the BON and school board to put a stop to this. I shudder at the thought of the dammage this gal could do to her next patient errr victim.

Our hospital is taking nominations for "Nursing excellence awards"

those eligible:

nurses

CNAs

techs

[DeLana_RN, BSN, RN]

This is one of my pet peeves :angryfire And sadly, patients usually have no idea that the non-nurses are self-important liars (or why else would they say that? I don't call myself a doctor!)

DeLana

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Our hospital is taking nominations for "Nursing excellence awards"

those eligible:

nurses

CNAs

techs

Perhaps you should suggest a new award, the "Dietary Excellence" award, and have as eligible nominees not only the kitchen staff cooks but anyone who eats in the cafeteria.

How about this one: "Management Excellence" awards, and everyone who "manages" to get to work on time is eligible for nomination.

Someone should clue whoever in your administration is in charge of stupid awards that only nurses actually DO nursing, so awarding someone who does not work in that capacity an award for excellence in that capacity makes them look ridiculous. And ticks off the actual nurses even more, which is bad for recruitment and retention....