Medical assistants

[JenMarie21]

I am a Rn, BSN. I need advice PLEASE on my boyfriends mother who i have ran out of ideas in dealing with her politely. She is a medical assistant and thinks MA stands for medical advice. My problems are whenever i take my daughter to the doctor she is ALWAYS second guessing the doctors orders example: My daughter had a mild allergic reaction to Cefzil, she broke out in hives (no breathing difficulty). The dr put her on Pednisone and told me to continue benadryl. She freaked out and told me not to give her the two together because they are the same drug ;( Then she called my daughter's pediatrician and questioned her! I was so embarrassed when they called me. I have tried to tell her nicely to butt out but she insist on giving me medical advice and had the nerve to tell me that she would never want to be a nurse because she would gain weight sitting on her butt all day!! She works in a doctors office (uh um) should i just come out and tell her off or should i continue to ignore the rude comments about my career and listen to her doctor me and my family. (by that i mean she thinks if my boyfriend coughs he needs an antibiotic and brings him samples when he tells her Jen said i shouldnt take an antibiotic everytime i get a little cold she says "What does she think she is a doctor?" really advice im out of ideas.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Sounds pretty typical of the medical assistants I know, both in and out of work. Best advice would be to try and explain to her how her comments make you feel both as a mom and a professional RN, but that depends on how comfortable you are addressing her comments directly. Otherwise, learn how to roll with the punches and blow it off, lol. However, that was pretty rude and inappropriate of her to call your daughter's pediatrician, I mean that isn't even her grandaughter (I'm assuming here since you said boyfriend's mother), and for goodness sake you're a RN; seems to be a lack of respect for the profession and you.

I was wondering about the grandma being able to call the grandaughter's MD-does she have permission to do this?? If not that MD office is in a LOT of trouble. If she has authorization-TAKE IT AWAY ASAP!

Just what I would do.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

Respect is very much a two way street. Obviously, she has very little for you as a nurse OR as a person. So...

Tell her that if she does that again, you'll call her boss (where she got the samples, ie theft) AND the state and tell them that she's been practicing medicine (prescribing & dispensing) without a license and they can have her arrested. Of course, she may never speak to you again, but if that were the case, I don't think you'll be losing out on much anyway.

Great idea-wish I would have thought of that

[NurseSnarky]

Sadly a lot of us have not had great experiences working with MAs period. I'm sure there are those who practice as they should, but often many want to be treated and called a nurse and act as one too...however, they do not want the responsibility associated with being a nurse. One I worked with said to me once, "h*ll no, I'd never be a NURSE!" when I asked her why she went the MA route when (without saying so), she wanted to be treated like an RN. She didn't want the liability, the NCLEX, the knowledge base needed.

Now the MAs at my personal doc's office are great...never give out advice and just state they will run info by the doc and call back.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Wow, what a nutcase. What does boyfriend think of this? I can't imagine how she would be as a mother in law!!

[tiredstudentmom]

I agree with you completely. I don't view all MAs are like that. I would say most are good. Just the ones I know have the wrong idea. Particularly frustrating is when you know the local private college they went to misleads them throughout the whole program about boundaries, etc. That is all I was expressing.

Yeah, I truly dislike how some educational institutions (some allegedly so! ) mislead in the name of financial gain. Guess we need to be thankful for the professionals (MA's, Nurses, etc) that are conscientious and do an awesome job everyday!