I am a nurse

I am a nurse.

More specifically, I am a registered nurse. I completed prerequisite coursework, applied to nursing school, worked my butt off, graduated, passed the NCLEX-RN exam, and can rightfully call myself a "nurse". I earned that privilege and right, along with all of the responsibility that goes along with it. Yes, I am a nurse and very proud of it. And one thing that really chaps my rear is to hear someone proclaim themselves to be a nurse, or allow themself to be perceived as such, and no right to be identified as such. That just sends the wrong message about what a nurse is, and moreover, who we allow "nurses" to be.

For example, it bothers me that some school districts have "nurses" render care for their students, when these "nurses" may only be CNAs...if that. That's pretty bad. But what is even worse, in my opinion, are these receptionists and nursing aides or medical office assistants that identify themselves as a nurse. That, to me, has far reaching ethical and legal implications not only for the individual, but potentially for the physician and his/her practice. Some may think this is no big deal, it happens all the time, and there's no harm caused by such practices. Really? Try referring to yourself as a "doctor", or lead others to believe you are...see how far that goes. Not the same comparison, you may say? I beg to differ. There would be real ramifications if you were providing medical advice or offering diagnoses or treatment only a licensed physician could provide. The same is true for nursing. It is a "licensed" profession, which means it is regulated and must abide by legislated rules and regulations set forth by a governing body.

It's a public health and safety concern first and foremost. Giving medical, or nursing advice, in person or over the phone should only be done be persons with the education, training, and license to do such. To have a receptionist triage phone calls or phone in prescriptions is absolutely intolerable, and physicians should not knowing allow it, and nurses should not knowingly, or passively, allow it either. It's not legal because it's not safe. Period.

Switching gears a little, and climbing down from my soap box a step or two, I'd like to share my thoughts on what a "nurse" is to me.

After you move past the legal mumbo jumbo about who has the legal right to call him/herself a nurse, you get down to the actual practice of nursing, and what it entails. Nursing practice is based on the diad of science and art...kind of like left brain and right brain concepts. It is important to have both aspects because there are infinite scientific, statistical, and methodological factors that contribute to nursing practice. Likewise, there is an abundant amount of emotion, self-exploration, and creative ability that is unique to the profession. It is the overall concept of quantifying and qualifying the practice of "caring" that is challenging. How do you capture "emotional and spiritual connectedness" on paper, or in a graph? How can you explain the intuitive sensation that overwhelms you when a patient is about to crash? Why do we have theorists whose life work surrounds such concepts as "expanding consciousness" or "unitary human beings"? Because nursing is more than the sum of it's parts: we are part of something that is greater that all of us, yet we are each an essential component. Nursing is as abstract as it is concrete.

I went to nursing school to learn how to start IVs, administer medications, perform assessments, and provide patient care. And that is what differentiates us from the rest of the the healthcare team. We are taught the importance of practicing the blend of science and art each day. I can care for a train wreck of a patient, code the patient when the body gives out, using all the science and evidence I have learned to try and save a life. And when my efforts ultimately succumb to the will of a much higher power, I will walk over to the patient's window and open it a little when they expire. Is it because the literature tells me that it is best practice? Is it because there is a scientific foundation behind it? No. It's because I know that underneath the tubes and wires that remain after our science has proven its limitations, there is a human being with a spirit that must be treated with dignity and respect. By opening the window, I feel I am somehow facilitating the spirit's peaceful transition.   That's what sets us apart from the others: care of body and spirit.

No matter where I go, what I do or how I do it, I will always be a nurse, and the patient will always be my focus. I worked hard for that privilege, and so did you. Take pride in what you do, stand up for what is right, and keep the patient at the helm of what drives your practice.

Thank you.

Steve