Would you do anything about it?

Nurses General Nursing

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I met someone today at a friend's house who said, "I've gotta get back to work. I work at (name of facility). I'm a nurse." I replied with, "oh, I was told you were a nurse's aide." She said, "no, I'm a nurse." I left it at that but I know two different people have said before that this person works as an aide and tells people she's a nurse. By the way, she didn't know that I am a nurse.

When I got home, I looked her up on our State Board's site and she is not listed there and neither is any name close to hers. My state is one of the states that says it's illegal to call yourself a nurse if you do not hold a license as RN or LPN.

Another thing...this friend we were both visiting has the flu. I had gone there to pick up their child so they could rest. While we were there, she told the friend, "make sure you take that Z-Pak I brought you." The friend looked at me and said, "(name of doctor) told me not to take a Z-Pak". So I said, "that's because it's for bacterial infections and the flu is viral". This nurse imposter said, "we give it all the time where I work to our patients with the flu". The sick friend said, looking at me, "so the flu is a virus and not a bacteria". I said, "right, but if you end up with something like a sinus infection secondary to the flu, it may work for that". Sooooooooo, the other thing this woman did today is dispense prescription medication (that she probably stole from work) without a license.:nono:

Would you let these two things go or would you do something?

She didn't identify herself as a professional nurse. She didn't claim she is an RN, LPN or LVN. Check the definition of the term "nurse". Any definition you google will be a broad one. Answers.com defines a nurse as "A person who is educated and trained to care for the sick and disabled." That covers a lot of territory. Think of the MA who works at a doctor's office. How often is she/he referred to as the "nurse"? These people have received education and training to care for the sick and disabled. The MD is usually the one who makes that representation. Does the BON intervene? The same holds true for the CNA. That's why we have exams and titles backed up with licenses. There is no professional designation of simply "nurse". I don't see where any laws are broken. I do think that the public's perception of nursing is changing as older generations die out. There is a stronger awareness and respect for what it takes to become a professional nurse. Sorry for the rant. I may have gone a little off point.

I guess I wouldn't be so concerned that she casually refers to herself as a nurse on the outside. I would be very concerned if she does it while she's on the clock at work.

Wrong. She stated she was a nurse and when I told her I was told she was a nursing assistant, she said, "no, I am a nurse". This is one of the states that it's illegal in to identify yourself as a nurse. It says so everytime they mail out the form to renew your nursing license in and this is what I found on the internet from the State Board of Nursing in our state...

SECTION 40-33-30. Licensing requirement; use of title "nurse"; exceptions; establishment of policies to cover special health care needs.

(A) A person may not practice nursing without an active license issued in accordance with this chapter. A South Carolina license as an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse is required for a person located in another state to provide nursing services to a recipient located in this State at the time nursing services are provided. A licensee located in this State who provides nursing services to a recipient located in another state must be properly licensed in this State and comply with any applicable licensing requirements where the recipient of nursing services is located at the time the services are provided.

(B) It is

unlawful

for a person to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse in this State, or to use the abbreviation "APRN", " RN", or "LPN" or any variation or subdesignation of these, or use any title, sign, card, or device to indicate that the person is a nurse, or that the person is practicing as a nurse, within the meaning of this chapter, unless the person is actively licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

©

A person may not use the word "nurse" as a title, or use an abbreviation to indicate that the person is practicing in this State as a nurse, unless the person is actively licensed as a nurse as provided for in this chapter. If the term "nurse" is part of a longer title, such as "nurse's aide", a person who is entitled to use that title shall use the entire title and may not abbreviate the title to " nurse".

This does not prohibit the use of the title "nurse" by persons who hold a temporary permit pending licensure by endorsement from another jurisdiction, and it does not prohibit the use of the title "nurse" by persons enrolled in a board-approved refresher course for the purpose of obtaining an active South Carolina license.

P.S. She also illegally dispensed prescription medication.

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
When I worked in a pediatric office, we weren't required to log anything out of the samples closet.

If she works in a mental health center, it is almost certainly supported by state and/or federal funds and is not a private office. If that is the case, then they are almost certainly under regulations that require a log be kept.

A private office may not be required to keep a log. Publicly funded clinics don't have the same leeway.

Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
Wrong. She stated she was a nurse and when I told her I was told she was a nursing assistant, she said, "no, I am a nurse". This is one of the states that it's illegal in to identify yourself as a nurse. It says so everytime they mail out the form to renew your nursing license in and this is what I found on the internet from the State Board of Nursing in our state...

SECTION 40-33-30. Licensing requirement; use of title "nurse"; exceptions; establishment of policies to cover special health care needs.

(A) A person may not practice nursing without an active license issued in accordance with this chapter. A South Carolina license as an advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse is required for a person located in another state to provide nursing services to a recipient located in this State at the time nursing services are provided. A licensee located in this State who provides nursing services to a recipient located in another state must be properly licensed in this State and comply with any applicable licensing requirements where the recipient of nursing services is located at the time the services are provided.

(B) It is

unlawful

for a person to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse, a registered nurse, or a licensed practical nurse in this State, or to use the abbreviation "APRN", " RN", or "LPN" or any variation or subdesignation of these, or use any title, sign, card, or device to indicate that the person is a nurse, or that the person is practicing as a nurse, within the meaning of this chapter, unless the person is actively licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

©

A person may not use the word "nurse" as a title, or use an abbreviation to indicate that the person is practicing in this State as a nurse, unless the person is actively licensed as a nurse as provided for in this chapter. If the term "nurse" is part of a longer title, such as "nurse's aide", a person who is entitled to use that title shall use the entire title and may not abbreviate the title to " nurse".

This does not prohibit the use of the title "nurse" by persons who hold a temporary permit pending licensure by endorsement from another jurisdiction, and it does not prohibit the use of the title "nurse" by persons enrolled in a board-approved refresher course for the purpose of obtaining an active South Carolina license.

Was she wearing a name tag such as "F. Nightengale, Nurse"? Did she give you a business card with the title "Nurse"? Also, your friend is apparently acquainted with her. Does your friend think she is a nurse? There is a difference between saying you are a nurse to acquaintances, and professing to be a nurse in advertisements, a sign on an office door, or when you charge someone for services. Does she do private duty work and tell people she's an RN or LPN? If she's not doing any of these things, where has she broken the law. She might be delusional or just engaging in wishful thinking.

Also, if your friend didn't accept the antibiotic, the woman didn't dispense any medication.

Specializes in Lie detection.
she didn't identify herself as a professional nurse. she didn't claim she is an rn, lpn or lvn. check the definition of the term "nurse". any definition you google will be a broad one. answers.com defines a nurse as "a person who is educated and trained to care for the sick and disabled."

i guess i wouldn't be so concerned that she casually refers to herself as a nurse on the outside. i would be very concerned if she does it while she's on the clock at work.

wrong.. google and answers.com do not legally define the term "nurse" for most states. for many states it is a legally protected title and you do not have to say professional in front of it. simply put, you cannot say you are a nurse if you are not, including ma's,cna's,pct's,or any other initial's.

[color=#483d8b]i'm glad, i know it peeves me to hear anyone say they're a nurse because they have pt. contact. i busted my hump going to school and working ft to get this title. i do tell people that misrepresent themselves the facts.

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Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
As I stated above, she works in a mental health facility and the meds were samples left by drug reps. They aren't kept in a pyxis there. I know they are samples because she said so.

True, MDs do sometimes prescribe antiobiotics for nonbacterial infections, but they are cracking down on that. The ones who do (at least around here) usually only do so because of pressure from the patient, and even then most still do not unless it's bacterial. Any nurse who is giving the Celebrex or other meds as you described is dispensing medication without a proper license to do so. It is illegal any way you want to describe it.

I think you are going to worry yourself sick & raise your blood sugar over this. For your own wellbeing, you need to relax, take a deep breath, and let it go. I'm sorry you feel so threatened by this woman's actions. If your friend accepted the Z pak knowing the woman's real status, then she should bear some culpability as well under your way of thinking.

My biggest worry over this post is that you will consider me a totally unreliable person because I don't agree with you in this situation, and that you will disregard advice to find someone to treat your DM more aggressively.

Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I learned something new. Thanks for pointing out where I am mistaken. Still, I think it's one thing to say you're a nurse in idle conversation and quite another to be practicing nursing without a license. If you think she's actually practicing without a license, and that could include giving patient education and backing it up with the title "nurse", then you should be proactive and do something. But first I'd be real sure of my facts and make sure she's not really a nurse. If she really isn't a nurse, would you feel comfortable just letting her know that you're on to her and she needs to stop?

Not a nurse so just curious. If the OP were to call this facility would they even answer her in regards to what this woman's title was?! I would think they would be leery of giving any info like that over the phone if they don't know the person calling.

It seems perhaps this woman is very insecure in regards to what she truly does for a living. Maybe at work she is known by her title as she should be. Sounds like a whole lot of wishful thinking is going on. Did your friend take the meds?! That would worry me a bit as you are a licensed nurse and if anything were to happen to her I don't know if you would have any legal responsibility given the situation.

Could your friend discuss your concerns directly with this woman?! Let her know that you were worried about her giving meds and advice that wasn't accurate?! Perhaps that would be a good start.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.
I don't think I would waste any time on this lady. She'll do herself in eventually. I often remind my daughter that she's not the "policeman of the world," and it's not her responsibility to turn in everyone she sees breaking rules. So what does she do? She gets a job at the airport working for TSA!
I don't agree with this post. I think you need to whatever you can to stop this woman. If she keeps giving out medical advice and medications, someone is going to get hurt. I would not call her place of work, they may only warn her. I would call your BON and ask them what you should do. Good luck.:smokin:
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