Post by abryantcna on Aug 9, 2010 15:59:48 GMT -5
I have been a CNA since 1995 and have worked in 4 different doctors offices. I have never had this issue until now. The office I am in is small, 1 doctor, 1 receptionist/billing and me. My office does not have an Rn or LPN on staff. When patients call and ask for the nurse they are given to me. My doctor says we use nurse as a generic term in our office, because none of our patients are going to ask for the CNA. Our patients know that I am a CNA and if I am asked the question are you a RN or LPN I say no and tell them I am a CNA. On occasion I will have a pharmacy or other doctors office ask me what my credentials are and my answer is always the same, I am a CNA. I have always thought I was in the nursing field, after all my certificate says Certified Nurse Aide. So for me to get on the phone when the patient ask for the nurse seemed not a big deal. The other day I get a call from what we thought was our states health department. She asked me if I was the nurse, I said yes. Then she began to tell me that I am not listed as a licensed nurse. When I asked her what this was about and what her phone number was she hung up. Luckily we have caller ID so we were able to get her phone number. I was so caught off guard, I told my doctor that she asked if I was "the" nurse, not "a" nurse. Two little words but they do make a difference. She was apparently investigating me because there had been a complaint about me saying I was calling myself a nurse. Turns out the complaint was from a patient who was denied medication and was mad at me. For those of you who work in a doctor's office. Everything we tell the patient comes from the doctor, but the only person the patient is going to blame when they don't get what they wanted is the person on the phone telling them what the doctor said. The women investigating me was from the state board of nursing. My doctor contacted her and explained how our office works and that I was not intentionally miss representing myself. She told him that I will be getting a letter from them and one from the states attorney general stating I am to longer use the term nurse. I have yet to receive this letter. Since all this came about when patient ask for the nurse the receptionist says I will give you "Amanda." I have worked for this doctor as his only nursing staff for almost 6 years and because of one mad patient it has made me rethink all that I have done for those past 6 years. I was just wondering if anyone else is in my same situation and has any comments or question.
