"I'm an uncertified medical assistant" - Page 21

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  1. Jun 23, '07 by
    Quote from KellNY
    I live in NY, and yes, one of the community colleges (that I know of) on the island offers an associates in MA. I know 3 people who got their degree this way, and ALL of them are very proud of being medical assistants. None of them try to "pass as a nurse". They chose Medical Assisting as their career. They don't want the title (and responsibilities) of being an LPN or RN, they're happy doing what they do, and proud to have a college degree.

    Why would they go to the CC instead of a vo/tech?

    In this case, the CC's degree is cheaper to get than if they went to a vo/tech (other than BOCES). The lab facilities are much nicer (more new technology, more equipment, better stocked, etc). The CC has stricter requirements of it's instructors.

    It also takes only 2 years (4 semesters) and can sometimes be shorter if they take 2 PT summer semesters. Anyone who has their associates in nursing or knows someone else who does, knows that the nursing program is longer than that from begining to end.

    Why would you assume the worst (that they're trying to look like a nurse)? I really don't get that.
    THANK YOU. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER SAID THAT I THOUGHT I WAS A NURSE. OR THAT I HAVE EVER TRIED TO 'PLAY' NURSE.
    I TOO WENT FOR TWO YEARS FOR MY ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN APPLIED SCIENCE FOR MY MA. MY REASONING WAS THAT THE WAITING LIST FOR RN SCHOOL WAS THREE YEARS. I DIDN'T HAVE THREE YEARS TO WAIT TO START SCHOOL FOR ANOTHER TWO OR MORE YEARS. BUT I LOVE WHAT I DO. I DO PLAN ON GOING BACK FOR MY RN IN ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AFTER MY DAUGHTER IS OLDER AND I HAVE MORE TIME TO PUT INTO THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF IT. BUT FOR NOW I AM HAPPY DOING JUST WHAT I DO AND BEING JUST WHAT I AM, A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.
  2. Jun 23, '07 by
    Would you please stop shouting.

    Thank you.
    anie10 likes this.
  3. Jun 23, '07 by
    Quote from KellNY
    I live in NY, and yes, one of the community colleges (that I know of) on the island offers an associates in MA. I know 3 people who got their degree this way, and ALL of them are very proud of being medical assistants. None of them try to "pass as a nurse". They chose Medical Assisting as their career. They don't want the title (and responsibilities) of being an LPN or RN, they're happy doing what they do, and proud to have a college degree.

    Why would they go to the CC instead of a vo/tech?

    In this case, the CC's degree is cheaper to get than if they went to a vo/tech (other than BOCES). The lab facilities are much nicer (more new technology, more equipment, better stocked, etc). The CC has stricter requirements of it's instructors.

    It also takes only 2 years (4 semesters) and can sometimes be shorter if they take 2 PT summer semesters. Anyone who has their associates in nursing or knows someone else who does, knows that the nursing program is longer than that from begining to end.

    Why would you assume the worst (that they're trying to look like a nurse)? I really don't get that.
    Maybe it's not a problem in your area, but it is in mine.
  4. Jun 24, '07 by
    Well worded. I also believe that while medical assistants are not trained to be nurses, we cannot deny that they are task oriented and contribute a great deal to the medical profession.

    I like what you said about Florence Nightingale not being an LPN, RN, or whatever...she was a NURSE. I fight with the same issues being an LPN. I see how many post that 'only LPNs and RNs can call themselves nurses' however, I have been told as an LPN that I am not nurse enough. Our title evolved from World War 2, I believe; and that was also done to fill in a desperate need since most of the RNs were assisting soliders in battle. Before all of the fancy skills, ALL nursing was basic skills and nurturing. Medical assistants should not apologize for what they do anymore than LPNs, and the good ones should be proud of what they do.
    LITTLEWITCHGIRL likes this.
  5. Jun 24, '07 by
    Quote from pagandeva2000
    Well worded. I also believe that while medical assistants are not trained to be nurses, we cannot deny that they are task oriented and contribute a great deal to the medical profession.

    I like what you said about Florence Nightingale not being an LPN, RN, or whatever...she was a NURSE. I fight with the same issues being an LPN. I see how many post that 'only LPNs and RNs can call themselves nurses' however, I have been told as an LPN that I am not nurse enough. Our title evolved from World War 2, I believe; and that was also done to fill in a desperate need since most of the RNs were assisting soliders in battle. Before all of the fancy skills, ALL nursing was basic skills and nurturing. Medical assistants should not apologize for what they do anymore than LPNs, and the good ones should be proud of what they do.
    THANKS. I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU ARE NOT NURSE ENOUGH. THAT IS VERY DISRESPECTFUL. I'M SURE YOU WORKED HARD FOR YOUR NURSING DEGREE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TAKING CARE OF YOUR PATIENTS. I THINK ANYONE WHO HAS CHOSE TO GET INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD HAS DONE SO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE. AT LEAST THAT IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO. I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET OFF TRACK AND LOOSE SITE OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT...THE PATIENT!! WE ARE ALL NEEDED IN THIS FIELD AND WE ALL HAVE VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE DELIVER CARE TO THESE PEOPLE WHO COUNT ON US WITHIN THE SCOPE OF OUR EDUCATION, NOT ENDANGERING THEIR LIVES TRYING TO BE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT. GOOD LUCK..
    pagandeva2000 likes this.
  6. Jun 24, '07 by
    i have been in dr's offices where the MA's say they are the nurse and the doc calls them a nurse.. it really makes me mad that they are called nurses .. i even called a MA school that had a televison commerical that had nurses caps on the mA's and called them nurses in their stupid so called commercial.. ooh i was so mad at that.. everytime i see that commercial i fume.. something should be done about this , because they are not nurses.. they can barely take a B/P .. is there anything that can be done about this? can you contact the board of nursing? because they really are misrepresenting themselves..excuse my spelling i just got off a very stressful 14 hour shift ... horrible day .. keep up the great posts
  7. Jun 25, '07 by
    reading through this thread it burns my bum. we have seen this type of post before when a person misrepresents themselves as a "nurse". it truly bothers me that the term nurse is thrown around so loosely. you don't see people walking into your room saying "i'm your doctor.", when really they are the ma, na, cna, etc. they would get reammed a new one plus be in so much trouble for misrepresentation. why is it that way? we as nurses protect lives, saves lives, comfort, care for, and etc, etc, but yet our title is spewn about as easily as someone says their own name.
  8. Jun 25, '07 by
    Quote from mom2bears
    reading through this thread it burns my bum. we have seen this type of post before when a person misrepresents themselves as a "nurse". it truly bothers me that the term nurse is thrown around so loosely. you don't see people walking into your room saying "i'm your doctor.", when really they are the ma, na, cna, etc. they would get reammed a new one plus be in so much trouble for misrepresentation. why is it that way? we as nurses protect lives, saves lives, comfort, care for, and etc, etc, but yet our title is spewn about as easily as someone says their own name.
    it is called, "practicing nursing without a license". unfortunately, the state boards of nursing, don't have the courage to file a criminal complaint, and have these individuals prosecuted. if someone represented themselves as a physician, or an attorney, they would be prosecuted for the crime.

    i think that the public feels nurses are not "real professionals", and most of our knowledge is ojt, rather than a college education. they think that nursing is bringing ice water, fluffing pillows, following doctors orders, handing patients pills, and to climb on my soapbox again, we have brought this on ourselves- three levels of entry into practice, only one a four year college degree, and most of the time, we have no union protection and respresentation to clear the air. i will leave it at that. jmho, and my ny $0.02.

    lindarn, rn, bsn, ccrn
    spokane, washington
    Last edit by lindarn on Jun 25, '07 : Reason: spelling
  9. Jun 25, '07 by
    Quote from lindarn
    It is called, "practicing nursing without a license". Unfortunately, the State Boards of Nursing, don't have the courage to file a criminal complaint, and have these individuals prosecuted. If someone represented themselves as a physician, or an attorney, they would be prosecuted for the crime.

    I think that the public feels nurses are not "real professionals", and most of our knowledge is OJT, rather than a college education. They think that nursing is bringing ice water, fluffing pillows, following doctors orders, handing patients pills, and to climb on my soapbox again, we have brought this on ourselves- three levels of entry into practice, only one a four year college degree, and most of the time, we have no union protection and respresentation to clear the air. I will leave it at that. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.

    Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
    Spokane, Washington
    What I am curious about from seeing your past posts is what do you think should be done with those of us that have not earned the 4 year degree you mentioned. Yes, there are three levels of entry into the nursing practice; that is a reality. Do you believe that we do not have a place in the nursing practice?
  10. Jun 26, '07 by
    Regardless of whether or not a bachelor's is required as entry, the profession would do well to make it known that nursing school and nursing are tough and very challenging. Nursing still has the image of being a "fall back" profession. Couldn't make the grades for med school? Want to start working for good pay with just a few years of school? Have a family and can't afford the time for more schooling? Didn't get accepted to PT school? Not sure what health career you want? Then try nursing school - the pay's good and it only takes a few years. Want variety? Try nursing where you can easily switch specialities.

    Nursing has a history of being more accessible to non-traditional students than most other health care fields. That's a good thing. Being more accessible, though tends to give the impression of being easier. And the fact is that it IS academically easier to be QUALIFIED for nursing school than for many other health professions with similar income potential. With the lack of nursing school spots, though, nursing schools have their pick of qualified applicants, making ACCEPTANCE to a program more difficult.

    So I think the emphasis needs to be on the rigors of a nursing education, regardless of whether a bachelor's degree is earned or not. I do think a major issue in nursing is that with increased health knowledge and technology, the traditionally broad nursing education simply can't cover everything a nurse might come across. As it is, many previous responsibilities of nursing have been carved out into specialties with their own specialized education (eg physical therapy, respiratory therapy). I think nursing will continue to have a hard time defining itself when it does cover such a broad range of roles - from the more common role of bedside hospital nurse, to ICU nursing, to public health nursing, to dialysis nursing and on and on. Even within the more circumscribed role as a bedside nurse, which is the main focus of a basic nursing education, the responsibilities are varied and go well beyond the traditional responsibilities of hygiene, comfort, and administering medications. In fact, much of these basic responsibilities are delegated to other personnel. So what IS nursing? No wonder the public hasn't a good idea!
    lindarn and pagandeva2000 like this.