MA's being used as "nurses"

[Jeanbean]

Hello all! I work in a private practice office in which I am the only RN. There are several MA's and one LPN. My concern is that the MA's are referred to as "nurses". The patients often do not know that their "nurse" really isn't one. We all have the same job descriptions and duties, and I was told shortly after starting work (by a non-nurse office manager) that they consider MA's, LPN's and RN's to be the same (it is interesting, though, that I am paid an RN wage). We all are responsible for phone triage one day a week. The team leader for the "nursing staff" is also an MA!! Has anyone else run into this type of situation??

[Nurserton]

If a medical assistant has the same amount of education as a nurse then what is the problem?

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Nursing assistant

Well first off, they are not taught nursing *philosophy* which is what makes a nurse a nurse to freakin begin with!!!!!!!

Medical assistant = task oriented.

Nurse = care oriented.

HUGE difference IMO. Nursing is a calling, Medical assisting is a doggone job.

[Nurserton]

I really cannot STAND when MA's call themselves nurses. I always say to them, "Oh, you're a registered nurse?" and the reply is always, "Well, no, I'm an MA." Nursing is an art, science, and philosophy and so much more multi-dimensional than being a Medical Assistant. I worked as a medical assistant for a very short time while I was in nursing school and I always corrected patients and my coworkers when they were referred to as nurses. I could go on and on about this. It's really aggravating to me. I worked so hard to make it through nursing school with very good grades (successfully) and pass my boards. People who don't go through this educational process don't deserve to call themselves a nurse. Alright...I'll get off my soapbox now.

PREEEAAACCCCHHHH!!!!!!!

[WannabeFlight]

I am an MA in a family practice setting. My license is as s CNA, but I operate under my Nurse manager and Medical Director. I do wound care, office procedures, sterile set up, stitch/staple removal, phlebotomy, injections, immunizations, EKG's, IV's and so on and so on. I have been "In- Office" trained and take pride in my work.

NEVER do I allow my patients to refer to me as a NURSE!!! NEVER EVER! I will always correct my patients and the residents that I work with. I am awaiting acceptance into Nursing school. I have 26 medical providers in my office and often get to "train" residents on how to do simple things like Strep tests.

I understand your distaste with MA's, but most of us are looking to advance in Medical and find this as a valuable learning experience. I have been there several years and can honestly say that I am the one people call for when they cant get a vein for blood draw or an IV. That includes the LPN's and RN's I work with... I never act above or beyond my training and am very comapssionate about what I do.

I will agree that there are people who abuse the titles and perception of the job, but they do it because noone has ever told them differently.

:bowingpur

[WannabeFlight]

Oh and under NO circumstances are we allowed to do Phone Triage because we have not been properly trained to do so.

I honestly believe alot of these issues extend from personally bad run in's with medical facilities that dont really understand that legal actions can be taken against them in not following certain restrictions like Triage...Does that make sense?

But you will always find those people who think they can cure the sick without ever checking with a doctor and those are the people I steer clear of. I am very Black and White when it comes to my job...I f I dont know, I ask, If I am not supposed to do it...I DON'T!!!!

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

Again I want to say that it is a lot easier to correct visitors and families as to what your title is but many residents don't really care what they call you when they need something no matter how many times you correct them.

[WannabeFlight]

NOPE!!! When I have corrected them, of course, I am completely nice about it and explain it well enough where the next time they address us to a patient, they have caught themselves and stated Assistant instead of Nurse. They do try...of course might depend on your residents, but ours are wonderful and understanding.

[Jim562]

I am a BSN, RN. But before I was an RN I did other things in life and I am always amazed at how most RNs (most of whom have never really done anything in their life besides be an RN) think that they are more important than they really are. When a pt is sick, they come to the clinic to see the provider (MD/DO/FNP/PA-C, etc.). Someone who can diagnose and fix the problem. Most Pt's I see really do not care what the qualifications are of the person that checks their v/s or draws their blood or does their EKG. To the general public a nurse is a nurse.

Another point is, ever wonder how the military, as huge as it is, gets by with so few nurses (per capita)? FYI, most (if not all) of the "task oriented" things are being done by medics, corpsmen and techs? There are LOTS of these former military medics and corpsmen getting out of the military these days and most have loads of training and certifications and usually a lot of combat experience. Will a 2 years college degree from 'Po-dunk Jr College' compete with that? Most will likely get their RN training via Excelsior College and most will likely sail through the process (as I did). When they finish they will also be RNs and in the market to take the places of nurses who really havent done anything or been anywhere and more importantly dont cry over a silly name. I wonder who is more marketable?

If I had it to do over again, I would not have gone to nursing school as most "nurses" seem to have an VERY over-inflated opinion of themselves and their worth not to mention of their general lack of integrity and honor, and just generally being cry babies about things when people do not give them the attention they think they need. This entire thread is a 15 page testament to my point.

I was reading an article recently that some docs are starting their own private practice and having NO support staff except 1 person up front to answer the phone and other admin stuff. These docs do not accept insurance and deal on a cash (or debit card) basis only. The Doc himself does his own vitals, draws his own blood, gives his own injections, etc. Some docs seem to prefer this as they consider this really practicing medicine (similiar to the way they did it wayyy back when.) and not just being a computer on legs. So be aware. In fact, I agree that most clinics only need MAs.

If they dont watch what they do, nurses (RNs, LPN and any other form of "nurse") will be an extinct species if they continue to be over-priced and whine about little things.

Contrary to what some might think, the healthcare industry does NOT revolve around nurses. It revolves around Patients and the medical providers. Everyone else is just a helper to the provider.

Florence Nightinggale had a good idea in the beginning, but too many nurses got involved with nurses and now it is all messed up.

[PNCC2001]

"Jim562;3121774]I am a BSN, RN. But before I was an RN I did other things in life and I am always amazed at how most RNs (most of whom have never really done anything in their life besides be an RN) think that they are more important than they really are. When a pt is sick, they come to the clinic to see the provider (MD/DO/FNP/PA-C, etc.). Someone who can diagnose and fix the problem. Most Pt's I see really do not care what the qualifications are of the person that checks their v/s or draws their blood or does their EKG. To the general public a nurse is a nurse. ..."

Wow, interesting post.

[Jim562]

I am glad you liked it. :-)

[Bean79]

I am an RMA (registered medical assistant) I actually work in an outpatient clinic through a local hospital as a float MA. I am also in the process of starting nursing school. There are three of us that are MAs and the rest of the "nursing" staff are all LPNs and RNs. I never call myself a nurse to patients, however the actual nurses refer to me as a nurse to patients and physicians. I thought this was very strange when I started there because I am NOT a nurse, they know I am an MA and although our job descriptions are identical, I respect their license and realize that their scope is technically much broader than my own. I just wanted to point this out because in my experience, Nurses often refer to me as a nurse (this includes my boss whom has an MSN). Anyway, my personal observation.

[Sean 91]

You call from your hospital unit to the dr's office and a non-nurse calls back with the T.O.V.

[fracturenurse]

I believe in Texas, the Texas Nurse's Association helped get legislature passed that only a LPN or RN can be referred to as a "nurse." Saw it in my last newsletter...