MA's being used as "nurses"

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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??

As a lawyer I can definitely find cause to lay a claim that a receptionist is practicing medicine without a license. Yes that is my speciality. I love doctors, especially offices with poor management. They make my job easy!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
i hope your joking!!!!

i am being sarcastic...shame on me...it is too hard to show it through a post..,sorry

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
As a lawyer I can definitely find cause to lay a claim that a receptionist is practicing medicine without a license. Yes that is my speciality. I love doctors, especially offices with poor management. They make my job easy!!!!!!!!

taking ht and wt and doing refills per doctor's order is not practicing medicine

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Yes, anyone can copy something they see in front of them. Monkey see, monkey do. The trick is that a receptionist and an MA for that matter do not understand the rationale behind what they are doing and probably won't spot an error. That is what makes nurses valuable. They have the training. Harder to win a court case when a nurse is involved and she is PAYING ATTENTION (or he). Doctors who relie heavily on MA's and receptionist run the risk of meeting me.

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Doing refills and putting someones else's initials IS!

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What clinic do you work for? I can prove my point!

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Sorry, I am being too aggressive. My point is this. A nurse has a license for a reason. A good nurse can and usually will spot "errors". Receptionists don't get that training when they learn to answer a phone. An Ma doesn't either. They are outside the scope of their training. That puts a doctor at risk! You nurses are worth your weight in gold. Some doctors, practices and hospitals just don't realize it. I try to help.

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My two cents. I am an LPN working 15 years in various Dr's offices.

There has been a number of occasions when I have caught mistakes regarding dosages, allergies, ect the Dr has made BEFORE an Rx was faxed or called in. Will a street person be able to catch those mistakes or will they parrot what they've been told with no thoughts to it being wrong.

I am frustrated that most of the 'nurses' who work in our office now are trained right off the street. Have no knowledge of physiology, even the basics of diabetes or COPD, but yet because they can stick someone with a needle, that makes them somehow competent. It matters not that they haven't a clue what the medication they are injecting is, or what they should look for as an adverse reaction, or what allergies might be in the same family. Its most frustrating.

I too have heard them refer to themselves as a 'nurse'. At this point I am very frustrated with the medical field in general. I sometimes wonder why I went to school....I have discovered that one of the cracker-jack nurses is making more money than I am. :(

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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??

:madface:

Well how bout that, there is another forum in General Nusing discussion, called "What the heck are MA school teaching". There is some really good conversation about this topic. MA's do not ....repeat...do not do the same as a nurse. That is why nurses supervise MA's. If an MA thinks that they do the same as an RN or LPN, read the thread in the forum mentioned. This is a disturbing trend in medicine today. MA's are very valuable, however, they are not RN's. :nono:

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Specializes in US Army.

Orion50, you are my hero. I love your points.

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What clinic do you work for? I can prove my point!

love this, bet who ever wrote the tread that you are responding too won't be too quick to tell you where they work. Just like , the physician won't be too likley to stand behind the ma or receptionist and say, yes , I told her/him to do that. The Dr will most likley run with his/her tail between the legs, leaving the ma or recep. to fend for themself.

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No, your not being aggressive. That's the real world. Ma's recep's, that hide behind the Dr. may be in for a rude awakening unless they are told how it is. I have found that many (not all) ma schools do not go into medical law or scope of practice.

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