When is a nurse not a nurse? Situation...

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

I'm a community health nurse but I also teach a medical terminology class to our entry level employees. I had a new employee today who told the whole group "I am a nurse, too!". Her job is a minimum wage, low skill position so I thought it was odd. At a break I took her aside privately and asked what her background was. She had done a semester or 2 in a BSN program and then dropped out. She completed a LPN program but only worked briefly. She surrendered her license a year after getting it. She has not been licensed for 10 years.

I explained to her (still in private) that she can't represent herself as a nurse to her co-workers. This is a job where the line workers need to consult with me on complex health issues and I was afraid they would go to her if she continued to tell them all she was a nurse. Mostly, I was afraid she'd not have any idea how to handle that.

She left and promptly quit. I later had misgivings that maybe I should have let her call herself whatever she wanted. I was professionally responsible but I felt badly. Comments?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with you that she can not call herself a nurse if she has not maintained her license. She could say something like, "I used to be a nurse" or "I went to nursing school," but she should not be representing herself as a nurse. I am pretty sure that would be illegal.

llg

[cannoli]

I think you did the right thing.

[avahsmiles]

I'm a community health nurse but I also teach a medical terminology class to our entry level employees. I had a new employee today who told the whole group "I am a nurse, too!". Her job is a minimum wage, low skill position so I thought it was odd. At a break I took her aside privately and asked what her background was. She had done a semester or 2 in a BSN program and then dropped out. She completed a LPN program but only worked briefly. She surrendered her license a year after getting it. She has not been licensed for 10 years.

I explained to her (still in private) that she can't represent herself as a nurse to her co-workers. This is a job where the line workers need to consult with me on complex health issues and I was afraid they would go to her if she continued to tell them all she was a nurse. Mostly, I was afraid she'd not have any idea how to handle that.

She left and promptly quit. I later had misgivings that maybe I should have let her call herself whatever she wanted. I was professionally responsible but I felt badly. Comments?

You were very professional & wise speaking with her in private, I agree with you on this. She was no longer licensed as a PN, so she shouldn't have said anything about being a nurse. If she still had her license that would have been a little different.

[Jo Anne -OLD]

You did the right thing. You were professional.

license.... calling yourself a nurse.

[Maggie in NC]

You should not feel one bit bad for being honest with her. The truth hurts but, it set her free LOL:chuckle

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

She's got a history there of doing this based on what you've she's told you. Probably not an employee your organization needed. Don't feel bad. She surely would have quit later over something else.

I agree, you did the right thing. A former nurse with no license whose job decription is not a nurse, isn't a nurse and should be calling himself/herself a nurse.

[leslie :-D]

The truth hurts but, it set her free LOL:chuckle

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN]

I think it is illegal to represent yourself as a nurse when you are not. I work with a fellow CNA who calls herself a nurse. But then, she has a few screws loose.

[Limik]

Amen. No license, you can't call yourself a nurse. You did the right thing.

Limik

[Jo Anne -OLD]

What really gets me is when a person who is not a nurse,[but works in a healthcare facility ]who does not have a license, commits a crime and then they are identified as a nurse on TV.

[Jo Dirt]

She was so bad she couldn't even hold on to an LPN license???

Why did she have to relinquish it? That is odd...