"I'm an uncertified medical assistant"

[Freedom42]

I had a curious encounter at the doctor's office today. When I went in for my physical, a woman in scrubs came in ahead of the doc. She was wearing scrubs but no name tag. We hadn't met before, so I asked if she was a nurse. Yes, she replied.

I then presented her with paperwork outlining the shots I needed for school. As she looked over the paperwork, she volunteered that she was not a nurse but, in fact, a medical assistant. Oh, really? I replied. Where do you go to school for that? (I was genuinely curious.)

Well, she replied, she didn't go to school. She wasn't a "certified medical assistant," in her words, but "had a lot of experience." In fact, she'd been a CNA for 16 years, but this particular medical practice, as she explained it, "isn't like a hospital and doesn't care if you're ceritified." Hmm. Later on, the doctor sent her back to draw blood.

What would your reaction be? Obviously, she called herself a nurse, and she isn't one. (I wonder if she would have volunteered that info had she not seen my paperwork.) She called herself a medical assistant, then volunteered that she wasn't credentialed. I know nothing about MAs. Is that kosher? And what level of license does someone have to hold to be allowed to draw blood? (For what it's worth, this is the only person I've dealt with in many years at this doctor's office who wasn't wearing a name tag with credentials. Is there any kind of identification requirement?)

[Xbox Live Addict]

By the way, can someone even tell me the difference between an MA and a CNA? What can one do, that the other cant?

"MA" is a catchall term for physician office staff trained in routine tasks from paperwork to phlebotomy, probably for much cheaper than an actual nurse would work for. As long as the physician is willing to train them, they don't even have to have any kind of certification.

CNAs are state-certified, and in most states, they MUST be state-certified to work in facilities that receive state or federal monies. CNAs generally do basic ADL tasks, although some CNAs can become AUAs (advanced unlicensed assistants) and perform such tasks as finger sticks.

[CarrieH]

"MA" is a catchall term for physician office staff trained in routine tasks from paperwork to phlebotomy, probably for much cheaper than an actual nurse would work for. As long as the physician is willing to train them, they don't even have to have any kind of certification.

CNAs are state-certified, and in most states, they MUST be state-certified to work in facilities that receive state or federal monies. CNAs generally do basic ADL tasks, although some CNAs can become AUAs (advanced unlicensed assistants) and perform such tasks as finger sticks.

In most states an MA must be certified or registered to give injections regardless of how much the physician trained them.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Sometimes our medical students introduce themselves as "Doctor".

They only do that once in front of me.

I don't blame you.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

not true , states do not regulate the practice of ma's. a doctor can train anyone to give injections and then let them loose. the only regulation may come in with facility policy. most places like ma's to be certified or registered to document a certain level of training but ma's can still gain employment without it.

in most states an ma must be certified or registered to give injections regardless of how much the physician trained them.

[CarrieH]

not true , states do not regulate the practice of ma's. a doctor can train anyone to give injections and then let them loose. the only regulation may come in with facility policy. most places like ma's to be certified or registered to document a certain level of training but ma's can still gain employment without it.

"the states of new jersey, california, arizona, north dakota, and washington require mas to meet certain educational and/or credentialing requirements in order to be delegated to perform injections." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4040/is_200601/ai_n17184588/pg_2

"in several states unlicensed health care providers, including medical assistants, are required to have an authorization by the state in which they reside to perform needle injections; such as allergy testing, purified protein derivative (ppd) or mantoux skin tests, and venipuncture.[6] some states require that medical assistants who draw blood for lab tests are certified, and have passed a practical examination as part of their phlebotomy training.[7] in other states mas need permission from the state to expose patients to x-rays.[8"

http://www.answers.com/topic/medical-assistant-3

"under the laws of new jersey and north dakota, certified medical assistants must be current to be delegated certain types of injections. in north dakota, cmas can be disciplined by the state if they are administering injections and their cma credential is not current."

http://www.aama-ntl.org/cmatoday/archives/publicaffairs/details.aspx?articleid=392

in my opinion, all states should require credentialing for mas to perform injections... maybe cmas and rmas would get more respect.

[10ACGIRL]

In most states an MA must be certified or registered to give injections regardless of how much the physician trained them.

I get an unsettled stomach even when I give a blood level b/c of my medication. Do I have to learn to draw blood or just be willing to give in jections. Injections I can do, drawing blood is a different story but, I gues I eould just have 2 get over my fear. I eould rather be in a Specialty office and I really wouldn't have that worry.

[NatashaFromOregon]

My daughter is taking a CNA class through ROP; in the beginning she would tell me about her "nursing class"........."In my nursing class we learned (fill in blank)". I set her straight very quickly.

I'm not going to get entrenched in this debate....but I came across this particular post and wanted to comment.

You daughter is taking classes to become a nurse's assistant. These classes teach basic, fundamental nursing tasks and procedures (ADLs, vitals, etc.), right? I mean, it is my understanding that you also learn these skills at the beginning of nursing school. The skills CNAs acquire are the basics od bedside nursing and I feel it's a little harsh to "correct" her. True, she is not in nursing school, but she is taking a nursing class.

[NatashaFromOregon]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

SO SORRY! I didn't realize this post was so old! Whoops! Feel free to bury it once again......:imbar

[medical assistant3]

I have an associates degree,, I was trained in phlebotomy,medical terminology, and more...I am a MEDICAL ASSISTANT NOT A NURSE. i MAKE 15 AN HOUR HERE IN OHIO. why do people hate MA's i love my job and I am very good at it.

[LovebugLPN]

If you aren't calling yourself a nurse and understanding you are not a nurse I don't think anyone hates you or has a problem.

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

if you look at the origination date you'll see this thread is over a year old

[wearingyourtattoo]

One the best and most-respected hospitals in my region of Indiana offer a three-four week on-the-job training courses to become a MA or NA, not certified. My boyfriend's mother just this spring went through month-long training classes and clinicals to become a CNA through a training facility. She is state certified.

Now, in our area, if you didn't go through traing, you are a MA. If you did, you are a CMA or QMA. That's how I've always understood it, anyway. And I know for a fact that CMA's are qualified to draw blood. Why wouldn't an MA be able to, if taught properly? I mean, this place has trained MA's to do it for YEARS and no one's died from it, and if somebody did, I'd consider it to be the MA's fault, not the facility's, if they've had no other occurences and the state knows about it.

I don't get it, what's the big deal?

Just my opinions.