Ultrasound Tech Telling Patients She is a Nurse

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I work with an ultrasound tech that tells patients and other doctors that she is Dr. So and so's nurse. She functions as his nurse, but she isn't a nurse. I am the only nurse working in the office. I do not want our practice shut down because of her actions. Am I overreacting? Can I be held responsible for her actions?

But is a UAP who simply does not correct people who call them "nurse" (because they don't have the time to explain) really such a big deal?

Now, a MA who purposefully tries to represent herself as a nurse is one thing.

But a MA who has a billion pts to room and get vitals on might not say anything when the pt says "the nurse is going to give me my shot now" I don't blame her in that case.

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Specializes in Oncology.

It takes three seconds to say I'm the aide or I'm the MA. People sometimes ask if I'm the doctor, I say, no I'm the RN. And saying you're something that you're not, well that's just wrong and not okay. I understand sometimes people don't correct and "nurse" seems to be the catch all but then again, when people may complain about the "nurse" later, it may not be the nurse who made them upset, but the nurse gets blamed when the press-ganey scores come in and that makes me annoyed. Then we get the lecture about customer service in our meetings, when I know I was polite to the patient but the aide was not, yet I got blamed.

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My old job, MA's called themselves nurses, and they were backed up by management! Drove me crazy!! Sadly, until the public is truly educated on what a Nurse truly is and does, nothing will change. There are over 600,000 allnurses members...I would think we could change the world.

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I am still not sure what ..exactly.. she is doing ,that you feel only a nurse should be performing?

I agree she should not be referring to herself as a nurse, regardless of what tasks she does.

It sounds like she is too arrogant to stop referring to herself as a nurse and I doubt the doctors would be concerned.

As far as your responsibility to notify the BON,why don't you refer the question to them?

I understand your professional concern with reporting, but as far as getting her to change....

don't think it's gonna happen.. unless the BON tells her to.

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To clarify... She was telling patients... Hi I'm ---- I'm the ultrasound tech. Now she is saying hi I'm --- dr. --- nurse.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Everybody wants to be a nurse until there's a code brown.

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Everybody wants to be a nurse until there's a code brown.
Exactly!!!
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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

at this level, this is an issue that seems to me of causing you more headaches than you deserve for the mere reason that the ones who should be concern (the doctors) are not. therefore, let's say for the sake of argument you would have taken the lead by notifying the bon in your state they would have gotten involved and you wouldn't come out as the bad guy. having said that, i had a similar situation with a unit clerk in the facility where i work, at times i would do my rounds unannounced and i overheard this individual refer to herself "yes this is a nurse can i help you" on this case i simply sat down with the unit clerk and informed her that she was violating her scope of practice as a unit clerk, and proceeded to inform her about the ana ethics code of practice in the state of ga where i was living at the time. consequently, the straw that broke the camels back occur when a couple of new interns overheard her stating that she was a nurse, they began giving her orders to follow through. needless to say, she went on and carried the orders however, she hand herself when she decided to signed rn followed by her name, she was terminated on the spot. in conclusion, i'm more worried about your involvement in this case because once the rabbit is out of the hat you could be looked as the instigator to the rest of the staff, and they could make your life miserable if they choose to. therefore, this a case of darn if you do and darn if you don't. wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors.....aloha~

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Looking at the ANA site there are only 33 states listed. I was sure ALL states had this regulation. Anyone know who's missing?

There are 34 listed on the link that was given. Not sure if its the same as the ANA site. But to answer your question in that list the following aren't listed

Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Washington, DC, Indiana, Iowa,Louisiana, Maine, Mass, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Dakota.

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If you work with her, aren't you the nurse? If her practice involves ultrasounds, isn't she the ultrasound technician? If her scope of practice in the office is limited to what she is registered to do, not sure why she would say she was a nurse when she doesn't do any nursing duties. I am sure you are not doing ultrasounds, and saying you are the ultrasound tech. I would ask if perhaps she could identify herself as the ultrasound technician. If she is calling herself the nurse, and you are the nurse, people are apt to get confused. With that being said, if she is registered to do radiology, then it is her licesnse on the line if she screws up, or acts outside of her scope. Doctors offices are different, however, as MD's can have anyone working in their offices as their assistants, as it is on them if an unlicesned person makes a mistake. Sounds to me though that if the person is "registered" in radiology, they also have a license to protect, and may be working outside of their own scope, and perhaps need to be mindful they are putting their own education on the line.
She does everything I do plus ultrasound. In the vascular field, in MS anyway, the ultrasound tech is the one that assists in endovenous laser ablations and ultrasound guided Sclero because the procedure involves ultrasound guidance. Even when ultrasound isn't used she assists. She even sees patients for their follow up appt after having Sclero without the doctor. She punctures areas with a large gauge needle and drains old blood without the doctor present. My main concern is patient safety. If within an office setting anyone including the receptionist can do whatever the doctor allows them to what's the point in being a nurse? I'm not sure if I have a legal obligation or if I did my part by voicing my concerns to the doctor I work for....
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If she is a registered ultrasound technician, does that mean she carries a license for your state? If so, she may (or may not) be extending beyond her scope of practice. That would be were I would have issue. If she is not licensed, then I would ask your BON if, as the licensed person in the office, you would be held accountable, or just the MD, if in fact one of the "punctures" and "draining" she gets involved with goes awry? Additionally, if one of the patients has some sort of adverse reaction if she is seeing them for their follow up visits. Especially at any point in time you have any responsibility in their care, or you have charted anything in their charts--which gives you some responsibility for follow up. In a great deal of medical offices, MD's are taking big risks allowing unlicensed people to perform procedures far beyond their scope. Doesn't mean you have to. My questions to the BON would be regarding what your responsibility is in regards to all of this, and your BON is where to ask the questions.

Some sort of conversation must have gone on between the MD and the tech to get to the point where she "was" calling herself the ultrasound tech, and now calling herself the "nurse". Just because someone feels they can do all the clinical and teaching aspects of this practice or assist in the same doesn't mean they should.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Calling oneself a nurse is one point.... performing nursing scope of practice, outside of her training specific to your state license should be your priority. As long as you are not delegating teaching, care plans and skills specific to the state nurse practice act, it is semantics in an office, no matter how offensive (although I hate the nurse use myself). As long as she performs in her regulated scope, it's a tougher battle, as to others who are not in our sisterhood, don't understand the true meaning of NURSE.

Because this person is multi-skilled and degreed, you may have a tough battle with the docs over changing her self approved title. She is a huge financial benefit, providing you are there to provide the nursing skills and she never steps over the line.

Me personally, if it bothered me, I would politely start correcting her in front of patients, but allow her to save face...

"hey, I'm sue the doctors nurse",

you reply: "Sue isn't just acting as the doctors assistant, she holds a degree in ......... ", then I'd wink at her and tell her to be proud of her credentials.

Try this a few times over a week when you hear her and then approach her and applaud her accomplishments and explain how you are proud of yours as well, you have a different skill set that completes the practice and she should explain hers.

There is a small chance that with a nurse that supervises "x" amount of duties, she is trying to conform and be one of the team of few because it's easier... give her the chance.

Praise, can work wonders.... if it doesn't than you know where your boundaries are, you just need to follow your gut.

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