Protecting the Title "Nurse"

Protecting the Title “Nurse”

Protecting the Title “Nurse”

There are many ways that society uses the term “nurse”—nurse, licensed practical nurse, office nurse, school nurse, clinical nurse specialist, registered nurse, parish nurse, certified registered nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, …. Palatnik discusses how society uses the term “nurse” for so many different people and professions (2012). With various members of the workforce using the term, how do we know the training and education they have and what their credentials entail?

By Definition…

By definition, a “nurse” is “a person formally educated and trained in the care of the sick or infirm” (Nurse). This term should be reserved for individuals to use that have completed educational and training requirements and have passed the state licensure exam within their state in order to protect the public from unethical, unscrupulous, and incompetent practitioners. The term “nurse” should only be used by professionals who fulfilled the requirements for licensure as outlined in their state’s nurse practice act.

The Nurse Practice Act in at least 39 states define either the restricted use of the title "nurse" to only those who are licensed or restrict the use of any words implying the individual is a licensed nurse if they are not (“Title “Nurse” Protection, 2014).

The Problem with the Term “Nurse”

The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (“What is Nursing,” 2014). Nurses, licensed practical nurses, office nurses, school nurses, clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, parish nurse, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, … all have the potential to fulfill the definition of nursing. Without...