Credit Check

I finished the whole "corporate orientation" requirements today, which ultimately means I am allowed to start my actual "job" tomorrow. At 6:15 AM tomorrow morning, I will officially assume the role I was hired for.

As for today, one of the speakers at orientation made a huge error in my personal opinion in characterizing nurses. First of all, if you do not have the letters R.N. behind your name, you are NOT a nurse. No exceptions. I am an RN. I am also a Nurse Practitioner, once I take my boards. I earned those two letters behind my name through completing an intense program at Vandy and passing the RN boards. At orientation, the speaker called a nurse's aide a "Nurse."

People throw around the word "nurse" and many people self-proclaim themselves a "nurse." I know I may be stepping on people's toes, but I am proud of what I have accomplished and I have earned the right to call myself a nurse. There are some nurse's aides working in clinics and hospitals who do not even hold a college degree and they are calling themselves "nurses." No. You are a nurse's aide and you should introduce yourself to the patient by that title. End of discussion. In many states across the country, it is a felony to represent or call yourself a certain professional if you do not hold the appropriate credentials and certifications.

It's the same across the board in any profession. For example, 4th year medical students. I admire any medical student due to the rigorous and emotionally challenging program they put themselves through for at least 8 years of their lives. My brother just started medical school and I couldn't be prouder. The amount of stress that he and his fellow classmates are put under is sometimes unbearable. Also, one of my best friends is an upcoming 4th year med student, who is about as brilliant as they come. But, a 4th year medical student is not a doctor until they pass boards and graduate. So, they should not call themselves a doctor until they have met all of the requirements to receive that title. If I am the patient and an individual walks in and introduces himself/herself as Dr. Awesome, I expect to see the letters M.D. behind "Awesome." Period.

Another example: Ministers. Two of my best friends, Dalton and Stacey Rushing, are in their final year of seminary at Emory University. What can I say? I have some unbelievably smart, brilliant friends. Anyways, once they graduate and begin their jobs as ministers, youth ministers, or whatever they feel God is calling them to do, they have earned every bit of their right to their title. I'm sure they would feel offended or perturbed if an individual began self-proclaiming himself/herself as a minister, which people may believe, and they did not complete the appropriate requirements to earn that title.

So, just because a person dresses up like a nurse (RN) and may carry out some of the duties a nurse may do (i.e. blood pressure checks, Vital Signs, etc.), they cannot complete all of the duties a Registered Nurse (RN) can. Don't get me wrong, hospitals and clinics need as much as help now than ever and Nurse's Aides, LPN's, and the like are a major reason why many hospital floors are staying afloat. Just be honest...with yourself, your patients, and your co-workers.

I'm sure I've ranted on long enough and I'm sure I've probably lost a few friends by now, but this is just one of those things that gets under my skin. I respect everyone for what they have done with their lives, but do not take credit if credit is not due.

Knowledge is Power. And once you have knowledge, no one can take that away from you.