Nurse Imposters

Published

Hey there! I'm a nurse from Mississippi. I recently called a doctors office from the nursing home I work at and asked his receptionist to speak with the nurse to relay a message to the doctor in regards to the patient's care. Instead of letting me speak to the nurse she transferred me to the phlebotomist who answered "this is Doctor Bolder's nurse Jamie. Can I help you? I know her personally and am aware she is not the nurse and requested again to speak to the nurse. She replied "this is the nurse" i just ignored it and said ok well can you let the doctor know about this concern. She called me back a minute later a third time identifying herself as the nurse with a new medication order. She sounded confused as she was giving said order bc she said the medications name and gave no further details. I asked what dose? how often? How long? She sounded as if she was making it up as she went. This whole thing has made me uncomfortable. I was wondering your thoughts on this issue. I find it very disrespectful to claim you are a nurse when you have not underwent the amount of training, passed a licensure exam, and all the many other things it takes to be able to call oneself a nurse.

Not in my state. You cannot call yourself "a nurse" unless you are licensed. It's not necessary to use the word "registered" in order to be in violation of the law.

Any examples of prosecutions and penalties for incidents similar to the OP?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Any examples of prosecutions and penalties for incidents similar to the OP?

My BON says they will essentially send what are "ceast and desist" letters to the offending medical practice. In egregious cases, they can notify local law enforcement. But they of course do not have enforcement powers themselves.

The fact that calling oneself a nurse is illegal yet not enforced with any sharp teeth does not make it less illegal, and you are wrong that only nurses care. Patients are not idiots. They don't like being lied to, they just generally don't know or suspect that they ARE being lied to. And when nonlicensed personnel give patients incorrect information, omit to give essential information, etc, the patient doesn't know that they are being misinformed or not properly informed. This isn't good for patients.

It's not just nurses who are "wronged" by nurse imposters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, PACU, CM.
Any examples of prosecutions and penalties for incidents similar to the OP?

I do not know of specific examples, but my state BON states they will seek an injunction against a person misrepresenting themselves as a nurse, and there is a fine of up to $20,000. Since this is a judicial order, it has the force of law.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My BON says they will essentially send what are "ceast and desist" letters to the offending medical practice. In egregious cases, they can notify local law enforcement. But they of course do not have enforcement powers themselves.

The fact that calling oneself a nurse is illegal yet not enforced with any sharp teeth does not make it less illegal, and you are wrong that only nurses care. Patients are not idiots. They don't like being lied to, they just generally don't know or suspect that they ARE being lied to. And when nonlicensed personnel give patients incorrect information, omit to give essential information, etc, the patient doesn't know that they are being misinformed or not properly informed. This isn't good for patients.

It's not just nurses who are "wronged" by nurse imposters.

I agree. As I posted earlier, I have been given truly bad information from a "nurse" that would have been caught by a nurse. And, as an ER nurse when I call a facility to give report, I ask for a nurse. Almost never does the person I am sent to identify herself. So, I have to ask, "and what do you do there?"- Different facilities have different levels, and I need to tailor my report to the level of the person on the other end of the phone.

But, unless this was a concerted effort, I just don't see reports to BON as having much effect. The practice is wrong, and endemic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.

The BON can at least start the ball rolling to the people who can deal with it.

And it's on only legal in 11 states- don't know if that's "a bunch"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
Has it been established that this is in, in fact, one of the states in which this is illegal?

As far as serious consequences- I really doubt it. Or any consequences.

Any of the examples of any prosecution have to do with egregious abuses, like getting hired as an RN without being an RN, that sort of thing. But what the OP's hubby's baby mama did is common practice, happening thousands of times daily.

I just don't see a prosecutor or police force putting a whole lot of effort into this one. "My husband's ex-wife said she is a nurse, but she isn't". I am just thinking that the task force assigned to this case is going to be kind of small. Granted, the sting operation would be easy- just call most Dr offices and ask for a nurse. Or better, go in wearing a wire. Just not happening.

It is annoying, inappropriate, and unsafe. But I don't think anybody, other than a bunch of nurses cares.

And, I suspect, that legally speaking, there is a big difference in identify as a "nurse", as opposed to a "registered nurse".

According to the Cambridge dictionary, the villain in this story is, in fact, a nurse:

"a person trained to care for people who are ill or not able to care for themselves because of injury or old age, and who may also help doctors in treating people:

Yes, it illegal in Mississippi.

Title "Nurse" Protection

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
This is the part I don't get.

The other day I did a lousy job using a drugstore temporary filling in my mouth after convincing myself I was a dentist. If I get a call from the Board of Dentistry telling me I owe them money, I am not paying it.

What authority does the BON have over non nurses?

We are on page 7 of a thread, and unless I missed it there aren't any examples of the behavior cited being disciplined. And certainly no examples of anybody being treated as though they committed a crime.

It is a widespread practice, and the only people who care are nurses.

You can remove your tooth for all that. The problem is when you identify yourself as a dentist to other people. Then you are breaking the law. Whether you actually get prosecuted is another matter. Professional boards are in business to protect the reputations of their respective professions. As such, they often carry legal authority to prosecute imposters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I guess I am confused on how it's illegal. Because, for example, I have a friend who is not an RN or LPN but she's worked for a gastroenterologist for years, and she calls herself "Dr. Reed's nurse." And he refers to her as his "nurse." She has a degree in accounting (doesn't use this degree). If I called that office and asked to speak to the nurse I wouldn't feel it inappropriate if she came to the phone as the nurse. Yet as I posted above about my son's peds office, it's abused in many situations.

That appears to be part of the problem, the MD calling someone a nurse that isn't. Wonder how they would like the shoe on the other foot. I'll call myself a doctor.:yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Each state is different.

Some states protect the title "nurse" and some protect the title "registered nurse" and some do not have protections. There is sometimes also a distinction between title protection and practicing without a license.

Practicing without a license is always a crime that is typically limited to a misdemeanor varying from a substantial fine to a decade in jail. This will largely depend on if there was harm or financial fraud or other issues.

Title protections are also usually misdemeanors that can theoretically carry the weight of fines or jail but I have never read someone actually going to jail for this. It cannot be a common occurrence just because the amount of violations must be low and then the amount prosecuted even lower. I cannot imagine that when threatened with a $10,000 fine that a MA who likely makes $20,000 a year would be so stubborn as to keep calling themselves a nurse.

I imagine that 99% of the cases of inappropriate title use would stem from ignorance and not malice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27887[/ATTACH]"Hello. My name is Trixie. I am your nurse today until 7pm. If you need anything just push your call bell. I'll be right in. Sorry, I have no ID badge today. It got eaten by my dog last night...Oh that thing is just an old name badge I wear backwards so at least I have one on..." :coffee:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 25 years NICU 5 years Telephone Triage.

They key issue is this phlebotomist is practicing outside of her scope of practice. I would report it, too. I don't care if she is someone you don't care for. This doctor should be reported too. He is letting an unqualified person do the work of an educated RN. We have the right to call ourselves "nurse" only if we went to school to become one!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I am just thinking that the task force assigned to this case is going to be kind of small.

Yes, hhern- small... but effective!

Especially the field teams at roadside nursing competency checks!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27889[/ATTACH]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion