1 a: a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurse
b: a woman who takes care of a young child : dry nurse

2: one that looks after, fosters, or advises

3: a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health

Isn't it strange that the first definition refers to wet nurses?
And if you go by the second definition a person who is say, a nanny or a babysitter could claim they are a nurse.

Semantics are a peculiar study.

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~Jo RN
Endocrinology/Infertility
formally Internal Med Hospital nurse.
http://jodaya.blogspot.com/

In the UK we have health care assistants (HCA) and Nursing Assitants and they always have to work under the guidance of a nurse. It is the qualified nurse who delegates tasks and who is ultimately responsible for what they do.

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Julie
http://www.lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com

Yes. We've been advised by all of our instructors and all of our clinical sites to always refer to ourselves as RN's (after graduation, of course) for this very reason. And, if nothing else, it's also for everyone else's convenience because the other person will know if they're speaking or delegating to an appropriate employee.

Yeah, what exactly does "public hearing" mean - sounds like she is pretty specific in her description - 30 year OB/GYN nurse?

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Kim
http://www.emergiblog.com

This topic kind of struck a nerve with me, since I've witnessed this sort of behavior first-hand, and I've seen how that kind of attitude can affect patient care.

I'm currently only qualified as a NA, planning on going into nursing school next year, and nothing irritates me more than NAs who try to pass themselves off as something they aren't. Not only does it make RNs & LPNs look bad, and not only is it rather insulting towards those who have worked hard to get where they are, it also makes other NAs look bad.

I worked with a few NAs who seemed to think that, just because they'd watched a few procedures and knew basic anatomy, they were "practically nurses", to quote a particularly annoying girl who I worked with. The reason that attitude bothers me is that it tends to be the know-it-all fake-nurse NAs who are the least knowledgeable about anything aside from emptying bedpans and changing beds, as they're too arrogant to humble themselves and actually bother to learn anything. This always resulted in crappy patient care on their part.

None of them ever claimed to be a nurse or tried to give out medical advice to patients (at least, as far as I know), but their "I'm better than this" attitude definitely affected their ability to do a good job.

You are so right m_rizzle, NAs are a necessary part of the work force and have so much to offer to patients in terms of the basic nursing care and also time that they can give to patients. It is really sad that these silly individuals have to act in this way and by so doing risk destroying the very reputation that they could and should have.

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Julie
http://www.lifeinthenhs.wordpress.com

People really should not represent themselves as someone or something they are not. I have a similar example.

I recall an eminent Consultant who provides one of my most favourite tales of nursing.

Unfortunately, this Consultant passed away and of course, being of eminence, made his way to the great Pearly Gates.
To his dissatisfaction he noticed a huge great queue ahead of him and, in his eminent way, began to make forth to the front of the line amidst booming tones of “Excuse me, I'm a Consultant, excuse me, let me through, Consultant here”.
On presenting to the Pearly Gates, St Peter halted the man and said, “I'm sorry sir, there is a queue.”
“I see that,” he replied in assertive yet pleasant manner, “but I'm a Consultant you see and really I've never been made to wait and...”
“I'm sorry sir” St Peter halted him, “but we are all equal in God's eyes and you will just have to queue and wait.”
Much ranting and fuming did nothing to sway St Peter and the eminent Consultant eventually resolved himself to the back of the queue.
Two days later, as the Consultant neared the Pearly Gates towards the front of the queue, from beyond him he heard a voice booming out “Excuse me, I'm a Consultant, excuse me, let me through, Consultant here”. Of course the eminent Consultant looked and gave a mumbled "grrmmph" at the audacity of the man who he knew would be sent packing by St Peter.
However, and to his great surprise and anger, as the man approached the Pearly Gates, St Peter greeted him with a smile, bid him good morning and swung wide open the gates for the man to walk through.
The eminent Consultant, next in line, trotted up to St Peter and could not but help himself; “One moment young St Peter!” he demonstrated, “not two days ago did I come through this line and present myself to you advising I was a Consultant to which you sent me back to the great long queueu – so what in great gajeebies do you think you are doing by allowing that other Consultant through before me?”
“Oh I'm sorry sir” humbled St Peter, “but I'm afraid you're mistaken. That sir is God. He just thinks he's a Consultant”.

As for your fake nurse – it all depends on whether she pronounces herself as 'nurse' with a capital N.

Mr Ian. Me likes story muchly.

I realize this is slightly off topic but can someone please clarify the titles and experience for America's and UK's nurses please, I'm unsure of how a RN differs from a LPN, NA, etc.

Thanks

After writing a paper on APN position I have found an interesting point. The title 'Nurse' is a protected title under legislation (check your state legislation to make sure). It is thus an offense to represent yourself as a nurse if not qualified.

We have patient care attendants in Australia, who are unlicensed workers in hospitals. It is thus an offense for them to say that they are nurse.

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'Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiselingand scraping and polishing. - BC Forbes'