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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,291
Registered: ‎06-15-2015

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

 

 

 

I understand your being ticked off with someone pretending to be something they are not. When it comes to posing as a health professional when they are not? In my opinion, a good doctor would fire that person for lying to one of his patients.

 

Now those with a "Dr" in front of their name? I think many wrongly presume that person is a Medical doctor when they are not. This title preceeds a name, where an LPN or an RN follows their name. Why is that?

 

With all the time I have spent in hospitals since 2002, I've got nothing but the utmost respect and appreciation for nurses. Before being in private rooms, I saw room mates of mine treat them like a servant, and some even worse. I had no problem telling these roomies that these were health professionals and not their hired help.

 

Some just like titles I guess, and many are like me. Nobody needs to preface my name with Mr., just plain ole jj is just fine with me.

 

Hats off to all the nurses out here!!

hckynut(john)
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 77
Registered: ‎03-25-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

A sincere 'thanks' to those of you who understand the importance of Licensed Professional Registered Nurses . And to my fellow Nurses, I salute you for your knowledge, hard work and dedication.
Contributor
Posts: 64
Registered: ‎05-06-2015

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

Well the most egregious is that performer Dr. Dre.  He is neither  a PhD nor a MD.

 

(I am not being unsympathetic - but that performer makes my blood boil.  We are talking about a title that is advanced and takes many more years than a 4 year BS or BA.)

Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,929
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

[ Edited ]

When I worked in dialysis we had a tech who would actually tell patients she was a nurse and would always wear her name tag backwards(like it had accidentally flipped that way). She was warned by management to stop misrepresenting herself. Eventually , when she was caught giving a patient tylenol she was fired as ONLY licensed nurses can administer meds. 

Like all other licensed nurses it would greatly upset me when CNA would either misrepresent themselves to patients or would allow the patients to assume what wasn't true.Where I worked eventually they went to the color coded scrubs system, Nurses were navy blue, aides were green and housekeepers were pink, Doctors were light blue and  any other ancillary staff wore black.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,613
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

I think this is happening in many professions.  Teacher associates, teacher aides, and paraprofessions in schools are calling themselves teachers or if they work in the library, they are called librarians. 

 

Anyone can call themselves a "nutritionist."  Many people think they are registered dietitians (RD).  RD's have a minimum of a 4 year degree plus an internship.  Who knows if a "nutritionist" has any training whatsoever. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 34,525
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

[ Edited ]

There is also a difference between "Medical Technologist" (4 years university +) and a "Medical Technician".
There is also a difference between a PA (Physician Assistant) and an MD.

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~
Valued Contributor
Posts: 868
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

My best friend studied long and hard for her nursing degree and is well deserving of 'RN' after her name. As a nurse, she works very, very hard.  Unless you studied and have the degree, you have no right to pretend to be that which you are not.

Several years ago, I met a woman and we got to chatting.  Not knowing that I have advanced degrees in reading and was employed as a Title I Reading Specialist, she told me she was a reading teacher in a local school district. When I asked where she took her degree she told me she didn't have a college degree. I told her that it's not possible to be employed in a school district as a teacher without having a college degree but she insisted she was.  Come to find out, she was a classroom volunteer and worked with students who needed additional help.  While I commend her for her work, she has no right to call herself a reading teacher.  I worked hard for my advanced degrees and resent people attempting to pass themselves off as something they are not.   Be proud of who you are and what you do but don't pretend to be something you are not.  Just my opinion.            docsgirl

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,341
Registered: ‎04-19-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

Color me amazed.  If someone said "I am a doctor", and wasn't, they'd be fired if not prosecurted.  It is a matter of licensing. 


-- pro-aging --


Rochester, New York
Honored Contributor
Posts: 25,929
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

There is a huge difference between someone at a party telling people they are a professional when they aren't and someone actually misrepresenting themselves at the job as being someone they aren't. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,955
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Fed up of people giving themselves titles they have no right to

This thread is kind of horrifying if you've had the experience of being a caretaker. MANY years ago, nurses wore uniforms, caps, and pins by which they were identified as members of their profession.
Now, since that is no longer so, when you are looking for help for a loved one in a large medical center or nursing home, you often have no quick way of identifying who is which.
I really like the color code idea, but fortunately, I haven't had the necessity of being a patient advocate for a while, but you never know.....anyway, a BIG thanks to all the WONDERFUL nurses and qualified CNAs I knew and dealt with during the last several years!