"Don't get too worked up about it"

[JaneyW]

OK, it happened to me today. I just started at a new MD office and was there for my first appointment. I sat in the waiting room for almost an hour so had a very good earful of the staff at the desk. One of the girls kept referring to herself as Dr. X's nurse and also spoke to patients about the other doctor's nurse. I heard her on the phone tell several patients, "I am Dr. X's nurse." Very clear. I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

After the MD and I were finished with the appt, I asked him if the girls in his office are nurses. He told me no. I told him that they are calling themselves nurses and that it is illegal to do that in Ca. He got a little sheepish and told me that maybe they slipped and maybe people just assume they are. I told him that people do not think they are nurses because they assume, they think they are nurses because they are telling them that. I then pointed out that they are misrepresenting themselves to his patients and that it is illegal. That's when he told me, "Don't get too worked up about it."

I explained to him that nurses work very hard for their licenses and that his girls should refer to themselves as Dr. X's Medical Assistant. This seemed to be a whole new idea for him. We'll see if anything changes.:stone

I didn't love this doctor, but I will get my physical and maybe switch after. The office girls were very nice and seemed very competent, but it is sooooo annoying!

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

Thank you for bringing this to his attention....we all need to do that when we encounter that type of situation. You are sooo right, we do work hard to get the title nurse and it should not be tossed around so casually.

How many nurses portray themselves as Drs??? Doesnt happen. At least lord I hope not!!!

[kristenncrn]

I'm not sure I'd stay with a HCP who says something like "don't get too worked up about it!"

And while I know plenty of techs, CNAs and MAs that are as intelligent, as trustworthy and/or as knowledgable as many RNs that I work with, I still also feel strongly that is it not okay to say you are a nurse unless you are a nurse. How cool are you for standing up!

I'm very brave, I know how to drive, I have a set of handcuffs (okay, not really)and I do have some knowledge of the law, but I can't go around saying I'm a cop, now can I?

:idntdt:

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

I then pointed out that they are misrepresenting themselves to his patients and that it is illegal. That's when he told me, "Don't get too worked up about it."

I bet he was thinking more about his wallet than how upset you might get

My doctor hires MA's and they refer to themselves as medical assistants. I asked him one day when he was up on the floor about his office staff. He told me I can't make myself pay for a nurse when I can get an MA for 2/3 less the hourly rate but I'm not stupid about it, I know they are not nurses and they know it too. If I hear them say nurse they are out the door

[Nurse_Hagatha]

I wonder if this MD would get "worked up about it" if a PA or NP said "Hello Mr. Patient, I'm Dr. X." I'm just sayin. :omy:

[Uptoherern, RN]

I had an emergency with my dog and took her to the vet office. When I got there, the girl at the counter got on an overhead speaker and called for the "triage nurse".

!!!

I asked if she was really a "nurse", and the girl at the counter said no, that's just what they call them. I wasn't very happy about this, and she sort of ran away.

A vet tech = a nurse. Puhlease.

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Good for you for saying something. I've known a few people who've told me "Oh my aunt's a nurse" or "My MIL is a nurse" and I have to wonder if these people really are licensed nurses or if they're in "similar" jobs that may be mistaken as nursing jobs, therefore they start using the title. I worked with a CNA who allowed herself to repeatedly be called "nurse" by the patient without correcting it, and have also met a mental health aide who referred to herself as a nurse.

It is annoying to me because I think it takes away from what licensed nurses do. It only enforces the image that nurses have a simple job or that we don't need a whole lot of knowledge to do our job when we are misrepresented by MAs, CNAs, HHAs, assisted living med-passers (don't know what else to call em), or whoever else may pass themselves off as a nurse. I'm not trying to be condecending, but it takes a lot to get a license, and those of us who have one will be spending the rest of our career defending it in one way or another. Unlicensed personnel will never understand the weight of that until they themselves obtain one.

On the other hand, I'll play devil's advocate by saying a lot of people don't know the title "nurse" is protected by law, and no one likes to be made a fool in front of others. You were discreet in talking to the doctor instead of confronting those girls head on.