Do you like being a nurse?

Do you like being a nurse? What's the difference between an RN and a nurse?

• Please only answer if you're a nurse. In California, don't you automatically become an RN when you pass the state's nursing test?

• Answer:

  I'm a nurse at UCI medical center. Nurse = RN At times, I am forced to say I'm an R.N. because nursing assistants, medical assistants, etc. tend to say they are a nurse. No disrespect to them. This profession wants a change to where the term "nurse" should be said with pride. I have answered questions to what I do and a follow up question is, "Are you a full-blown RN?" My argument is that a nurse is an R.N. So, the answer to your question is a nurse is an R.N., but you may want to ask if they are a CNA (certified nursing assistant), LVN or LPN (licensed vocational nurse or licensed practical nurse), or an R.N. (registered nurse). We, nurses, want that term back, so that we can say it again with pride. We went to a lot of schooling for this and it upsets me when I hear a non-R.N. say they are a nurse.