When people say they are nurses but not...

[Jacobero]

Does it bother you?

The sister of my SIL is in nursing school, graduating soon (I think) but since she started taking nursing courses, the entire family- including this girl talk like she is a nurse.

It drives me insane. Yes, you are in nursing school, and this is great, but you do not have a licence to practice, you have not passed the NCLEX,you are restricted on what you can do in clinicals, and your expirience is limited to what you have seen in school. Therefore, you are not a nurse, and in fact have alot of learning to do once you do graduate. Please stop telling people and letting other tell people that you are a nurse.

IMO, being a nurse is a privledge and sometimes even an honor. Many people respect nurses of our knowledge. To let someone think that you are a nurse is deceptive.

Just curious if others feel the same way, or if I just have bigger issues on board

[mscsrjhm]

http://www.needlestick.org/gova/state/2003/titlenurse.pdf

This is all I have found, but perhaps someone can find a site more current.

[mscsrjhm]

mar 18, 2007, 03:09 am

nrskarenrn

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laws protecting the title "nurse" (2007)

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[color=#cc3333]protecting the title nurse

background

ana has been working with state nurses associations through its nationwide state legislative agenda to promote state legislation that protects the title nurse. this legislation amends state nurse practice acts, which outline licensure requirements of nurses including entry requirements, practice standards and codes of conduct. the intent of licensure requirements is to protect the public against unethical, unscrupulous and incompetent practitioners. the regulation of nurses offers some assurance to the public that a nurse is competent to provide services in an effective and safe way. the intent of protecting the title nurse is to protect the public from individuals who are not nurses, yet deceitfully lead the public to believe they are nurses and are able to provide certain services that only nurses are qualified to provide.

activities/actions

in 2006,"title protection" legislation was passed in both nyand co. nyamends education law, prohibiting anyone from using the title "nurse" or any other title or abbreviation that would represent to the public that the individual is authorized to practice nursing unless otherwise authorized by statute, while co legislation makes the unauthorized practice of nursing and other professions a class 2 misdemeanor for the first offense and a class 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense.

legislation that protects the title nurse has now been enacted in 19 states including: az, ca, co, fl, hi, ky, id, md, mn, ne, nm, ny, nc, nd, ri, sc, tn, tx, wa, and wi.

ana article lists specific language:

laws protecting the title "nurse" (2007) map (2007)

(thank you nrskarenrn-this was copied from another thread in the healthcare/activism section).

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

why does it matter if it's illegal in 19 states or 50 states? it is unethical in any state. no one has the right to call themselves a nurse if they are not.

if you are the patient you deserve to have a fully licensed nurse doing assessments, making decisions, holding your life in their hands.

anyone who is not a licensed nurse does not deserve to use the title nurse no matter how much they think they know.

[nyapa, RN]

why does it matter if it's illegal in 19 states or 50 states? it is unethical in any state. no one has the right to call themselves a nurse if they are not.

its illegal here. and its unethical anywhere internationally...

i am a nursing student and i completely agree with you. however i have noticed that since i am in school for nursing everyone comes to me with their health questions and i'm like i don't know and then i feel like i should know. but i would never try to 'treat' someone. i just wish people wouldn't think that i have all the answers. maybe that is what is happening and she feels pressured to know everything. i would never call myself a nurse until after i am one i just think of even more people who would want be coming to me to diagnose them. i wish people would realize i am not a nurse! yet anyways

yep, yep, yep, and yep. it only gets worse once you finish. people really do think you have all the answers. don't feel like you have to know it all - life isn't like that. nursing isn't like that...

[chicagobsn]

Its a major pet peeve of mine! I busted my chops in school and cried and wanted to pull my hair out some days being a nurse. I will overhear people all the time say...these are your nurses..and its me and a few techs. I always clarify that I am their nurse and their the aides/techs/pct's. In Illinois, it is illegal and unethical to impersonate a nurse.

I agree on never giving any advice! I get phone calls a lot, (it got much worse after school, they think you know everything) but I just tell them..I think you should write all your concerns down and go to talk to the doctor about it.

[mscsrjhm]

Some people do not think it is unethical- and this is because of their CULTURE. In my CULTURE, the term is one of respect, and designates a person who cares for others in the health field, whether it be home nursing, clinic, etc.

I, and others of this CULTURE, abide by the law, but see this issue differently.

It is simply an example of different environments, cultures, societies. I do not have to agree with others, and may not be able to see their point, but I do not ridicule or belittle.

As there are laws re impersonation and fraud, I see these regulations as a big waste of time and money.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

it is simply an example of different environments, cultures, societies. i do not have to agree with others, and may not be able to see their point, but i do not ridicule or belittle.

as there are laws re impersonation and fraud, i see these regulations as a big waste of time and money.

you must likewise realize that others do not have to agree with you. we do not see laws re impersonating and fraud as a waste of time. to inform someone that it is illegal and unethical to call themselves a nurse when they are not is not ridiculing or belittling, it's just the truth.

[mscsrjhm]

you must likewise realize that others do not have to agree with you. we do not see laws re impersonating and fraud as a waste of time. to inform someone that it is illegal and unethical to call themselves a nurse when they are not is not ridiculing or belittling, it's just the truth.

i do not see laws regarding impersonating and fraud as a waste of time. these laws already exist, so i do see laws defining the term "nurse" as a waste of time.

one cannot legally call themselves a "registered nurse", or "licensed nurse" if they are not. this is illegal. every state has laws regarding this type fraud and impersonation. pretty sure every one agrees this is a very good thing.

i personally do not believe it is unethical for anyone to call themselves a "nurse". this is based on my "raising". we also heard from a lousiana nurse who had the same take as i do.

the truth is: not all people have the same ideas. do we laugh at others because of their culture, environment, raising? that would be belittling and ridiculing.

if you tell someone that you believe it is unethical. that is fine.

but, that person may have other ideas.

[chicagobsn]

As I understand your point, the fact is..for me personally..when someone like a tech is telling a pt that they are the nurse, the pt now has a different type of expectation out of that person.

What if the tech takes it to far and gives out advice...bad advice at that? Im am very protective of my pts (Im sure we all are) and want them to know that it is me, not the tech, that they need to come to for care, help, advice, explanations etc.

I completely understand the culture differences. Yes it is customary in some cultures to think like that, but we are the nurses who are responsible for our pts and making sure they get the best care. I think that anyone who does not have the educational background in NURSING should never introduce themselves to a pt as their nurse. (outside the hospital is different, cus really who cares what they call themselves)

Legality and pt. care wise, they are not held to the same standards as we are.

We are all educated, caring people, there is no reason to ridicule or belittle anyone. I simply inform them of my reasons as to what I do and why I do it.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

i do not see laws regarding impersonating and fraud as a waste of time.

as there are laws re impersonation and fraud, i see these regulations as a big waste of time and money.

respectfully, these are contradictory statements.

if you tell someone that you believe it is unethical. that is fine. but, that person may have other ideas.

it's not that i simply tell someone that i believe it is unethical. it is unethical. it is breaking the law which is unethical. that other person may have other ideas but illegal is still unethical.

as there are laws re impersonation and fraud, i see these regulations as a big waste of time and money.

let's pray that you don't end up eating those words.

[mscsrjhm]

I sure didn't make myself clear, did I. There are currently laws re impersonation and fraud. A person cannot say they are a Registered Nurse or Licensed Nurse if they are not. THIS is illegal. I think that legislation making it illegal to say you are a "nurse" when you are not licensed or registered is a waste of time.Outlawing the term "nurse" is what I was attempting to say. It is not illegal in some states to call yourself a "nurse" if you are not licensed.I personally do not believe it is unethical for anyone to call themselves a "nurse". It is very unethical and illegal to call yourself Registered or Licensed if you are not.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

i agree that it is unethical as well as in many states, illegal for those to call themselves nurses if not licensed as such. in my state, it is illegal and i certainly support this for all states.

even at allnurses.com, it is in the tos:

using professional titles:

members cannot call themselves by professional titles, if they do not hold that title. ie. members cannot call themselves "doctor, dr., rn, lpn, lvn, nurse, cna, rt, ma" etc, unless they are actually licensed and/or certified as such a thing. if you have chosen a user id name that reflects an unearned professional title, please contact administration, admin help desk, and submit three (3) names for consideration. an administrator will get back with you regarding your name.