suspended license

Homecare Worker · May 13, 2006

Thank you for your calm and rational reply. Love your alias. (or are you THE Nurse Ratched?)

... you may call yourself a nurse when you have completed an appropriate course of study and passed a qualifying exam ...

Legally and professionally speaking, of course, you are correct. But as a joke?!

It was not my intent to purport creation of a new professional standing. I was attempting, in a brief and what I thought cutsie fashion, to convey the level of skill and responsibility which I often apply in the course of my work.

Besides: there is no course to instill, nor certificate to attest, the most essential qualities of nursing care. I can appreciate the desire to defend one's degree; but it is not the degree which makes good nurses. Sadly, there is no scientific way to quantify compassion nor is there any license to assure good bedside manner.

You may post forever and will not likely ever convince a board full of registered and licensed nurses that calling yourself one without the education and license is OK.

Did I say you guys need to lighten up?

So far, only tencat seems to give a darn about the real issues brought forth in my original post, and NO ONE, so far, has dared consider the validity of my criticism of what passes for literacy and terminology in this forum. By contrast, my tongue-in-cheek expression is not about to destroy the world.

rn/writer, RN · May 13, 2006

It was not my intent to purport creation of a new professional standing. I was attempting, in a brief and what I thought cutsie fashion, to convey the level of skill and responsibility which I often apply in the course of my work.
Besides: there is no course to instill, nor certificate to attest, the most essential qualities of nursing care. I can appreciate the desire to defend one's degree; but it is not the degree which makes good nurses. Sadly, there is no scientific way to quantify compassion nor is there any license to assure good bedside manner.

To be a good nurse requires BOTH the art and the science. Neither can be omitted without compromising the quality of care and the credibility person offering it.

What I read between the lines of your posts is that you are frustrated (and perhaps angry) that you offer your patients good compassionate care and sometimes do not receive due respect. Seems as if you are also unhappy to see people who have licenses, but don't necessarily possess kindness and caring, given greater regard.

The solution isn't to dis the nursing establishment or make credentials and caring sound like an either/or proposition. In your case, the solution might be going back to school and getting licensed.

Before you reject the idea, consider the following. I read your age, but so what? There is a small, but growing, contingent of nursing students over the age of 50 and most of them do very well. A one-year LPN course ought to be quite doable for someone with your extensive exposure to things medical AND your obvious ability to handle the written word.

It could be that the intensity of your frustration is an indication of just how well this idea could work. Maybe you NEED to be a nurse and your spirit isn't satisfied in your current situation.

Certainly something to think about.

Now, to address your other criticism regarding the literary skills and terminology used on this board.

As you can see from my screen name, I am a writer. I also do a lot of editing, which means that I have to chew on my fist from time to time to resist becoming a member of the grammar police. It helps me to remember that the main purpose of this board is to allow nurses to connect with each other to learn, to teach, to have some fun.

I do wish that good communications skills were more valued and practiced than they seem to be lately. Text-message English has NOT improved the landscape. The reality is that people in any profession find themselves limited by inadequate written and verbal communications skills. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer people who understand this concept.

As for terminology, I'm sure some are trying to avoid bumping into the prohibitions contained in the Terms of Service. Some are being modest. Some are trying to be cute. Who knows about the rest.

It's the nature of a board like this to end up with an eclectic collection of topics and posts. I have learned to tone down my inner editor regarding form and focus mainly on content. As a moderator, I will contact a poster or edit a message where I fear questionable wording affects the poster's intent. And I will do the same if I feel lines of propriety and respect have been crossed. Other than that, I have to walk away.

The ability to communicate well is one of the biggest hurdles to returning to school. You seem to have abundant ability in this area. I'd encourage you to give nursing school some serious consideration. (There are a number of threads on the topic of older students. Use the search feature if you're interested in looking them up.) The concensus on this boards is that it's never too late.

I wish you well.

Homecare Worker · May 14, 2006

and, to add to this excellent post, here is the link to the oregon state board of nursing:
http://egov.oregon.gov/osbn/pdfs/npa/ors.pdf#search='the%20title%20of%20nurse%20in%20the%20state%20of%20oregon'

not exactly the board of nursing but thanks for the link anyway.

here is the part i think relevant to our discussion:

(8) ... "practice of nursing" includes executing medical orders as prescribed by a physician or dentist but does not include such execution by a member of the immediate family for another member or execution by a person designated by or on behalf of a person requiring care as provided by board rule where the person executing the care is not licensed under ors 678.010 to 678.410.

by this definition one might do exactly what the "nurse" would do under the same circumstance, but cannot, in the legal sense, consider it to be a "practice of nursing."

also, surely, you realize there is more than one definition of nurse.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/nurse

etymology:

middle english norice, nurse, wet nurse, from old french norrice, from vulgar latin *nutr

cia, from late latin n

tr

cia, from feminine of latin n

tr

cius, that suckles, from n

tr

x , n

tr

c-, wet nurse; see (s)n

u- in indo-european roots

calling oneself a nurse is not a crime unless one does so in order to fool the public: i.e. for the purpose of engaging in a "practice of nursing," as defined by law.

penalties

678.990 penalties. (1) violation of any provision of ors 678.010 to 678.410 is a class c misdemeanor.

doesn't seem strong enough does it?

TazziRN, RN · May 14, 2006

The more I read this post, the more I see a bitter, unhappy person. What difference does it make if I referred to "the poster" rather than "the moderator"? And you tell us to lighten up, yet you have put us all on the defensive with your words. Methinks you do not know how to play nice.

Homecare Worker · May 14, 2006

Dear rn/writer.

Wow!!

I am touched by the pia mater. I knew you had to be out there somewhere: all wise and understanding. You have struck a chord; pushed a button; rung a bell. Elicited an emotional response. :cry:

Oh yeah. I've been in awe of nurses from an early age. It was fear at first sight and for good reason I thought; and also a good thing, strangely enough. But that was long ago, when they wore all white dresses and those funny caps with wings like the fins on a '57 Chevy. God I miss that costume. Nowadays you can't tell the nurses from the tourists. Well, maybe the smocks aren't really Hawaiian shirts; and maybe the new ten dollar bill isn't really Monopoly money, but I think you know what I mean.

Miranda is it? I am flattered and inspired by your elegant and oh so smooth delivery. I'm a guy, just so you know. And I'm in love, temporarily at least. I'll get over it. Extreme literacy is a big turn on for me (in women, I mean). Oh yeah. Need it. Want it. Gotta have it. Can't help myself. Drawn to the light. :bowingpur

Let us rejoice in semantic supremacy. Today the forum. Tomorrow the World!

Thank you once again.

Sincerely,

:typing

Ben

tencat · May 14, 2006

Thanks for clarifying your legal position. I was just confused.

As far as calling one's self a nurse......historically nursing has had to fight long and hard for the respect it deserves as a profession, and while things have gotten better, there's still A LOT of room for improvement. It IS a big accomplishment to become a Registered Nurse (or LPN) because it takes a lot of hard work to earn the right to be a Registered Nurse (or LPN). If just anyone at all calls themselves a nurse it seems to imply that it is not a title that is worthy of respect because just anyone can decide to use it. It perpetuates the stereotype that nursing isn't really a profession that requires training and special skills and knowledge.

You are not too old to be in nursing school. There is a woman in my class who is in her late 50's and she's almost earned her BSN.

BRANDY LPN · May 14, 2006

Homecare Worker,

You did do the right thing by having the daughter sign the narcotics out and you don't say but I hope that you also had her sign any that remained back in. You did this to protect yourself, to insure a correct narc count for your agency/facility/??. The daughter's attitude REALLY has no bearing on the complaint and while it is fine to vent about what a rotten, horrible and irritating person she is here, it will not help you in court. You need to hire an atty. one who is familar with the healthcare industry, you can find RNJDs at you state bar association's website. I understand the financial situation, but consider how much worse it will be if they do win.

Who exactly is the complaint with? Is it a civil suit? With the BON? Contact an atty BEFORE you speak to anyone from any agency contacting you about this complaint, then let your atty speak for you. Be cooperative, not defensive, simply state that you would like to cooperate fully and that you will have your atty contact them ASAP.

rn/writer, RN · May 14, 2006

Dear rn/writer.
Wow!!
I am touched by the pia mater. I knew you had to be out there somewhere: all wise and understanding. You have struck a chord; pushed a button; rung a bell. Elicited an emotional response.
Oh yeah. I've been in awe of nurses from an early age. It was fear at first sight and for good reason I thought; and also a good thing, strangely enough. But that was long ago, when they wore all white dresses and those funny caps with wings like the fins on a '57 Chevy. God I miss that costume. Nowadays you can't tell the nurses from the tourists. Well, maybe the smocks aren't really Hawaiian shirts; and maybe the new ten dollar bill isn't really Monopoly money, but I think you know what I mean.
Miranda is it? I am flattered and inspired by your elegant and oh so smooth delivery. I'm a guy, just so you know. And I'm in love, temporarily at least. I'll get over it. Extreme literacy is a big turn on for me (in women, I mean). Oh yeah. Need it. Want it. Gotta have it. Can't help myself. Drawn to the light. :bowingpur
Let us rejoice in semantic supremacy. Today the forum. Tomorrow the World!
Thank you once again.
Sincerely,
:typing
Ben

Aw, Ben. You crack me up.

So . . . whaddya think about going back to school? (Couldn't resist the slouchy English.)

I'm serious in making the suggestion.

I think you mentioned you had been in home health care for twelve years. What did you do before that? If you have previous schooling, that might give you a head start. You may also be able to test out of some courses.

I am now officially intrigued by the possibilities.

Trauma Columnist · May 14, 2006

Hi there. I took the time to read this thread. Your original post about having a client's family sign for narcotics seems weird to me though. This patient receives her narcotics from YOU? Or...she has them in her household? Or...is she is some type of institution? Thanks for the clarifications.

BRANDY LPN · May 14, 2006

Hi there. I took the time to read this thread. Your original post about having a client's family sign for narcotics seems weird to me though. This patient receives her narcotics from YOU? Or...she has them in her household? Or...is she is some type of institution? Thanks for the clarifications.

Whoa! Excellent point, if she is in some sort of facility you did the right thing, if she is at her own home, or the home of her daughter, then you didn't.

We commonly had family sign for meds in the LTC setting to cover ourselves as well as covering the facility. It is the only way to make sure the pt still has their meds and your narc count is right. We always had them sign the actual narc log.

Homecare Worker · May 14, 2006

... If just anyone at all calls themselves a nurse it seems to imply that it is not a title that is worthy of respect ...

I agree. But then I'm not "just anyone."

Thank you for your response.

Homecare Worker · May 14, 2006

The patient's daughter, who lives out of state, had been attempting, for about a year, without success, to get me dismissed from her mother's case but her mother was satisfied with my service and refused to comply with her daughter's wishes. The daughter "has control issues," her mother says, and her brother tells me "she's a control freak."

Prior to departing on their interstate journey, the daughter made it clear that she intended to control administration of her mother's medication throughout the journey. The daughter requested that I prepare, for her convenience, a duplicate supply of meds: one week's worth of morning and evening doses in a daily box. (I attempted to comply with the daughter's wishes but was ultimately unable to do so for various reasons). I requested that she procure another daily med box and retain the included cardboard sleeve to reduce the likelihood of spillage in transit. She'll put the box in a plastic bag, she says. I suggest that the bag is a good idea in addition to the sleeve. She then produced the box but defiantly disposed of the cardboard sleeve. I've seen the efficacy of that method of transport and in anticipation, I transcribed the physical description of all dozen medications onto the patient's med sheet. Thus, should the box open in transit and the contents become confused, the daughter might be able to re-establish the order of it. (although I doubted her competency in this regard)

Remember: this woman had been trying to get rid of me for some time. What better opportunity than this to get me out of her way? Don't imagine that I didn't consider the possibility that she would take that initiative. She was well aware of how carefully I tracked her mother's percocet. She knew that I would get rid of any caregiver whom I believed to be diverting it. And she could not help but know that all she had to do was accuse me of diverting it myself, and she would get what she had been working for all these months.

But wait. I had no intention of going out on trumped up drug charges. Problem is I just didn't realize that from her perspective, any trumped up charge might do the trick.

___________________________________________

It's not paranoia when they really are out to get you.