I may be overly sensitive, so tell me what you think. My sister in law, who attended an 8 week medical assistant course tells everyone she is a nurse. This includes presenting herself at public hearings and in class reunion books as a 30 year experienced OB/Gyn nurse. She has no nursing license. Having myself been through a grueling BSN program, taken the NCLEX and got my license - I resent her saying that she is a nurse. I don't know what they think she is at her job at doctors office in Virginia. I can hardly speak to her anymore. What do you think?

It's against the law to represent yourself as a nurse. (PERIOD)

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

Have you talked to her about this?

Ah I just love how one can call themselves a nurse after an 8 week course.

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code blog

In most states, it is a felony to represent oneself as a nurse. You could notify the state board, and they will take it from there and leave you out of it. As it stands, you may be jeopardizing your own license, since you are aware of her behavior. You could be charged with failure to protect the public. Time for a stern talk. With a lawyer.

Good luck

I don’t think that it is illegal to say you are a nurse unless you are trying to get a job as an RN. I wouldn’t go to jail for claiming to be the Queen of Great Britain, but they would take me away in hand cuffs I tried wearing the Crown Jewels. I think that your sister-in-law has low self-esteem, and that’s why she is claiming to be a nurse. I don’t think her behavior is appropriate, and I think that it’s a sign of that she has deeper issues.

I wonder why she insists on doing this and why if she wants to be a nurses,as she so obviously does she hasn't completed the necessary training. However, if patients are being put at risk because someone who is treating them isn't appropriately qualified then as a nurse yourself I would say you have a duty to do something. It is very difficult though if you don't live near her and aren't close to her in other ways.

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

Mother Jones, you are always the voice of reason. You're right, it's probably not "illegal," in the legal sence of the word. Your interpretation is probably more accurate...she just wants to be something or somebody she's not.

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

Sorry. I misunderstood the reference to public hearings to mean that she was representing herself as a nurse to patients.

There is always the possibility, however, that she is misrepresenting herself at her place of employment. I know from experience that many physician's offices do not verify licensures or check with state boards. It's a slim chance, I suppose, but it is possible.

I never knew until I started nursing school how much you could resent a person for misrepresenting themselves. I have run across a few people since then who claim to be nurses and are not, and it's absolutely infuriating. Especially because most of them were idiots, and it made the rest of us look bad.

Deep breaths please nurses.

I agree with Mother Jones, RN (as mother is always right). In Australia we have a number is divisions of nurses, 1,2,3,4. Div1 are RNs (BN or BNSci), Div2 are EN (18month course and practice under an RN at all times), Div3+4 are being phased out (psych nurses which are now RNs and midwives also now RNs both with additional endorsments). Other to this we have PCAs (Personal Care Attendants) who are un-registered and un-regulated. They are not allowed to handle patients in hospitals without the nurse initiating it, but they work in a lot of the nursing homes independently, and are not responsible or accountable for many of their actions. They are not particularly liked by nurses, but they do a lot of the grunt work of nurses (most of the beds, uncomplicated patient feeding).

If she wants to say that she is a nurse let her, but eventually someone will ask about her qualifications and if she says that she is an RN that is misrepresentation. If places of employment are not checking qualifications, it is on their heads when the law suits come in, as the 'so called nurse' may not be seen to be responsible or accountable for their actions .

I suggest re-enforce your qualifications when talking to people around her, rather than just a nurse, say that you are a registered nurse with a BNSci.