You are so funny daynette. I agree totally with you. When I first became introduce into the medical profession, I didn't know it was so much diversity among the many types of nursing. I thought It all mean one thing, we all are a team. As long as the patient needs are met, everyone is breathing after a shift is over, that's all matters. I love nursing to death, but I can't deal with is all the egotisitcalism that the nursing profession always bring to it's participants, or potential nursing students.

i agree with the majority here..... right now, i'm at the bottom of the totem pole, i'm only a CMA( cert. med. asst) and i'm currentlt a nursing student... i dont dare to call myself a nurse(YET)... at the Dr.s office, pt.'s address me as nurse, It makes me a little uncomfortable, but i do correct them, "i'm not a nurse yet" (hence my screen-name)..
in about 3 years i can legally call myself a nurse..

PittNurse, you sure did open up a can of worms! I have worked in all three capacities: CNA, LPN, RN. I have to say that CNAs should identify themselves as nurses' aides. However, like ButterflyWings said, sometimes a correction is not necessary. As far as LPNs, they are nurses. They are Licensed Practical Nurses. I don't see anything wrong with them introducing themselves as such, because the word NURSE is in the title given to them by their respective state when they pass their boards. As far as different colored scrubs, I worked somewhere that employed that policy. I thought it was more so that staff could differentiate who is who. After all, most patients did not know what the colors meant. I read an article once in the paper that said wearing a brightly-colored badge with just the letters "RN" in large bold print increased patients' feelings of safety in the hospital. After all, with all the staff that come in and out of a patient's room, it can be kind of hard to keep track of who is the RN. In essence, every role is important in the delivery of healthcare, No one is "just an aide" or "just an LPN" or "just an RN". We each have a vital function, which is more easily fulfilled if we honor and respect our respective roles.

Hi Madeline,

I think it's cute how you use the LPN (lowest paid nurse.) Do you mind if I start using that?

Thanks,
LPN

I AM NEW TO THIS SITE & I READ ALL OF YOUR COMMUNICATION @ THIS DEBATE, BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER? HELL WE ARE ALL HERE IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR ONE THING: QUALITY OF CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, PATIENTS WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL THEM!

IF WE ALL SPENT THIS MUCH TIME IN THE WORKPLACE MAKING A DIFFERENCE VS ALL THSI NONSENSE ONLINE ON THIS TOPIC, WE'D BE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO QUALITY OF CARE VS DEBATING WHAT DOESNT REALLY MATTER ANYWAY!

BIGNURSE said:

I AM NEW TO THIS SITE & I READ ALL OF YOUR COMMUNICATION @ THIS DEBATE, BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER? HELL WE ARE ALL HERE IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR ONE THING: QUALITY OF CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, PATIENTS WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL THEM!

IF WE ALL SPENT THIS MUCH TIME IN THE WORKPLACE MAKING A DIFFERENCE VS ALL THSI NONSENSE ONLINE ON THIS TOPIC, WE'D BE ALL CONTRIBUTING TO QUALITY OF CARE VS DEBATING WHAT DOESNT REALLY MATTER ANYWAY!

I'm glad someone has finally brought up this issue. Working as an RN I have quite frequently came across this as an issue, same as "Katherine" posted, when I had to clarify or correct a patient that had recieved erroneous information from an aide or tech. If people believe you are a nurse they will take anything you say at face value, with the understanding that you are given them sound medical advice. Working in all areas of health care, from MA, LPN and RN has given me a good rounded experiencing in health care. Years ago I would have agreed with some of the people's posts.....that everyone in from CNA to RN was a nurse. I'm sorry but that isn't true. Both LPN's and RN's go through a much much more rigourous schooling and have a much more extensive knowledge base to draw from in medical situations. Wearing scrubs no more makes you a nurse than wearing a lab coat makes you a Doctor. That said though, I am so thankful for the immensly important role that CNA's fulfill in this industry. Not a day goes by that my aides haven't made both my day and my patients much better. Being an Aide should be given much more respect than it is, it is a hard demanding job that you have to have quite a heart to do.

What I would do in that situation, and always in that type of situation. Go inside the patient room, and say may I assist you with anything. I am not your nurse, but can i help you with anything besides medication!!!!. I would never wander off and do anything else, even when the patient wasn't assigned to me.

rottlda said:

I am a little confused.....if your a CNA..don't call yourself a nurse..right? Even though "nursing assistant" is part of your title... Does calling oneself a nurse, automatically mean your a RN or a LPN ? I will always remember what my nursing assistant instructor (whom was and "RN") said when our class graduated... "We are all one of the same now, I will always treat you as one of my peers.... Thank God....someone doesn't need to attach a TITLE to notice we all are here to do the same... Nurse...a person who is educated or trained to take care of the sick or disabled...

Well, in the first place, the person did say she or he was not the nurse. Maybe you should of as them what was their title. You can't imposed this on everyone that comes in a person room with scrubs on. This was a different situation, from someone calling out NURSE.!!!

Nrubi said "if you think about it the definition CNA is: certified NURSING assistant right? " According to this line of thinking a PHYSICIAN Assistant should be able to refer to themselves as Physicians, correct? I have to say that opinions are great things to have, but are factually irrelevant in this discussion. You are legally and ethically obligated to refrain from referring to yourself by a state licensed title which you did not attain. Be proud of what you are, regardless of title, but do not misrepresent the legal authority of a state licensed nurse. I'm with CDnurse. I'm done with this thread.

Hey there Gang, You are all dedicated and professional nurses and cna's, I hope that I don't get so jaded in the future as to get hung up on a title and forget the real reasons I turned to the medical field. I am giving back and helping because I can.

Okay... as a brand new (I start my classes tomorrow!) nursing STUDENT, I am pursuing my diploma as an LPN and at the same time taking the required classes to receive an Associates Degree (in Health Sciences). Will I go on to bridge to an RN? Frankly, I don't know. At 55, I'm coming into the profession at the back end of my earning years, but frankly, the money isn't even a consideration. I'm encouraged to read that the RNs here acknowledge the contribution made by LPNs (Let's Play Nurse?) and hope that at some point in the coming years I will be a contributing part of a nursing TEAM who will make the quality of life for patients better.

I had to phone a doctor's office for an appointment and the Medical assistant referred to herself as the Dr.s nurse. Wrong! I call myself LPN.

This thread has changed from calling oneself a nurse, when they are not, to respecting the other coworkers. I worked hard to get my degree as an RN. I deserve to be called an RN and I don't think that it belittles the other coworkers around me. That is what I went to college for and that is what I am proud of. Patients need to know who their RN is for the day and who the other healthcare members are. CNA's are not nurses, they do not have the education nor the training. They are assistants. Their job is hard but so is mine along with others in the field. Everyone has their 'scope' of responsibilities to handle when caring for patients.
LPN's are nurses, but they are not RN because they again do not have the education and training that I have had to endure through college to become an RN. LPN's can do most of what I do, but they can not do all that I do. That is why I am the RN. Nothing is wrong with being an RN, LPN, CNA, etc.. But you should not call yourself a nurse when you know and I know that you are not. Doing that belittles my education and training to become an RN. It can cause confusion and mistrust with the patients. The nurse-patient relationship is essential in providing the best care. Every member of the healthcare team works in collaboration. One can not function as effectivley without the other.
Every job description is important when caring for the patient. I do not think that RN should first be a CNA or LPN. That is like asking a Dr. to first be a tech, then nurse, then whatever. It is the personality of the specific person on how or why they treat other members differently. I do not; that is not right but anyone can get treated poorly in any working atmosphere.
When I was a nursing student, I was proud to say that. I walk into a patient room, I would say loud and clear with confidence I am your nursing student. Here to care for you. I worked in the hospital as a housekeeper to help pay for my education. I wore 'scrub' like clothing. Some patients would ask me to do things and I could not. I couldn't even do the things I was being taught in school because I was a housekeeper not a nursing student with an instructor. Their jobs are hard. They get mistreated on occassion. It is all in how you handle yourself and know about yourself. Some nurses were mean, some nice, same goes for the doctors and other housekeepers.
Being able to call myself an RN is one of the greatest gifts I have ever given to myself.