Nurse practicing without license?

[sensweet]

I am a BSN student graduating in May. While I was in my rotation at a middle school I was with two school nurses and sometimes a substitute nurse who substitutes for when one of the other nurses are gone. During that particular day the substitute nurse was giving me and another student case scenarios and asking what we would do in the situation, she was really irritating. A student came in that day and had stomach pain, but it was more up into his chest. She laid him down and proceeded to do an assesment on him and determined that he had possible appendicitis and called his parents. The other nursing student and myself did not think it was the case at all as he did not have any of the symptoms of appendicitis. Anyway I said all of that to say later in the day I asked the substitute nurse how long she had been nursing and she preceded to tell me that she hasn't had her license for years because she decided years ago to not renew because she had lost respect for the healthcare system. I am wondering why she substitutes and is this legal. I am angry that she was quizzing me and assessing students when she has not practiced nursing in years except subbing at this school.

[MomNRN, BSN, RN]

In some states you can be hired as a "health aide" without a nursing license. You usually work under the supervision of a RN or certified school nurse. It makes me wonder whether she is just a health aide passing herself off to you as a RN.

I worked for 4 years as an RN in a school. We were required to give a copy of our license upon hire and when our license was renewed.

I have a strong suspicion she is a health aide. I am not saying what she did is right, but probably an attempt to make herself look better in your eyes.

[Katnip, RN]

Was this nurse hired as a healthroom aide or a nurse?

In our school district the nurses go from school to school supervising aides. The aides basically call parents when kids have a problem and to come and get them.

Either way, what this nurse is doing is wrong and illegal. If she is presenting herself as a nurse or was hired as such, then she and the school are a danger to the students.

If she was hired as a nurse but taking it upon herself to carry out nursing duties then she's still a danger.

And since she's teaching nursing students, I'm sure your school will want to know that they are sending their students to be taught by someone who is not a nurse.

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

The schools where I am also hire health techs (or whatever they're called) This is probably what that woman is which is why she doesn't need a license. She shouldn't be presenting herself as a nurse though. Hope she get busted big time.

[MissJoRN, RN]

I'm betting on the health aide angle. Here, to truly be called a "School Nurse" one needs an RN, BSN, and post BSN certificate (not a specialty certification, there is a school nurse course offered at several colleges)

An RN or LPN can practice as a nurse in the school health room, though, just can't legally be called a "School Nurse" Often they substitute, work FT doing tasks as delegated by the School Nurses or work in health rooms.

And my pet peeve, (I'm not a School Nurse or nurse in school, but do accompany private duty special needs kids to school.) Any one can come in for OJT and be a "health aide" check sugars, give insulin, give nebs and abx, triage and "assess" injuries and medical complaints. Everyone on the teaching staff, etc, refers to this aide as "the school nurse" I feel it's out of my place to give legal lectures while I'm a "guest" in their school, but can't wait to take this head on when my kids start school in my district! It is illegel, unethical, and dangerous... not so much the employment of the aide, but the misrepresentation. She just may have had a nursing license years ago, left the field and then found out the loophole to working in a nursing related field again. She still can't call herself a Nurse. I'm tempted to wonder the real reason she no longer has a license, though, if that's the case?? If she's disillusioned with the field why isn't she in cosmetology or teaching or computer programming? She apparently likes healthcare? Does she already have a BON disciplinary action??

But they will try their way around this... she's not practicing w/o a license, she's a health aide. No, you misunderstood, SHE never called herself a nurse. If someone else accidentally called her that, then that was their mistake, she can't help what other mistakenly call her, right?? Sighhh