NON-Nurses Giving Shots in MD Offices

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I apologize if this already has been discussed elsewhere, but wanted to point out the following:

I was in my MD's office for a physical and wanted two vaccines before international travel. The NON-nurse "medical assistant"--UNlicensed in NY--came in to administer the vaccines and I told her she was violating the law--she said she does it every day as part of her job! I told the MD I would get my vaccines elsewhere. Apparently this practice is rampant--at least here in NYC. MD Offices don't want to pay for patient safety by having a licensed nurse. ADMINISTRATION of medications is restricted BY LAW to licensed MDs, RNs/LPNs, and some others, but NOT "medical assistants." Have the Nursing Associations thought about cracking down on this? I do NOT think I'm being petty: administrating a medication--particularly, via injection--is serious stuff---in this case, she was going to use incorrect needles (assuming of course that she didn't plan on using the SAME needle for BOTH vaccines), amongst other errors...Upset about this. It's NOT brain surgery, but there are serious risks with all medications, which is why legally only specified licensed personnel may administer them. Your thoughts? Thanks.

You're correct I missed the word immunizations.

Thanks for the reference, but you didn't make it to the second paragraph, to wit:

"As unlicensed personnel in New York State, they cannot perform such tasks as preparing or administering medications or immunizations...."

THE NY NURSE PRACTICE ACT RESTRICTS ADMINISTRATION OF MEDS TO RNs/LPNs, etc. A UAP cannot be "trained" on the job to, e.g., give shots, administer meds to wounds, etc...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
CAN they LEGALLY---or, is the small practice willing to risk the punishment that the hospital can't afford to risk with multi-million dollar liability insurance policies? Is the practice you refer to in NYState?

No, this is California, which is very strict as well. Yes, they can LEGALLY give shots.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

If you have any questions about what a medical assistant can and can not do in certain states they have a web site just like the NCBON it is called AAMA, the American association of Medical Assistants, and it is true that it is up to the office or Doctors due to the fact that they work under a MD's Licenses. There are diffrent rules for diffrent states just as there is in nursing. probably whent the hospital took over the offfice they were not allowed because CMA's or MA's are not hired in hospitals or Nursing Homes. Some MA's do not go to school but I did for two years to receive my associates Degree others are trained on the Job but are not certified, i had to take a test just like we take a test the NCLEX for our nursing licenses I even have a certification number and card showing that I am certified. Medical Assistants are paid more in Dr's offices than LPN's are in a hospital setting at least here in NC where an LPN makes about 13.50 an hour in the hospital and CMA's make between 15 and 16 dollars an hour in DR's offices I know it sounds crazy but I have both my CMA and LPN so that was the difference in my pay. That is why I work in Long term care and not in the hospiatal as an LPN, but check out this site to see if it answers some of your questions. Most that are not certified like I said recieve some type of training through the doctors office, our RAAAAD techs at the urgent care center and CNA's went to classes such as Phlebotomy and a class to give injections to be allowed to give them in the urgent care center so even a CNA caan be trained I know it is a scary thought but it is happening.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i am a nursing student, who will graduating soon as an rn but i have been a medical assistant for 10 years.... obliviously there are incompetent people everywhere (yes-there are even nurses and doctors that do things that are wrong) and that is s separate issue. if the particular medical assistant was doing something that was unsafe or incorrect, it should be handled & reported just as it would be if any other licensed practitioner were doing it. the issue that you have mentioned that it is illegal and not within the scope of practice for medical assistants to administer vaccines is incorrect (at least in the state of oh.)

http://aamantl.org/employers/laws.aspx provides links to various state codes, ny is not specifically mentioned, but there is a link to send an inquiry to the aama executive director and staff legal counsel donald a. balasa, jd, mba, & he will respond to your query.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.
i am a nursing student, who will graduating soon as an rn but i have been a medical assistant for 10 years.... obliviously there are incompetent people everywhere (yes-there are even nurses and doctors that do things that are wrong) and that is s separate issue. if the particular medical assistant was doing something that was unsafe or incorrect, it should be handled & reported just as it would be if any other licensed practitioner were doing it. the issue that you have mentioned that it is illegal and not within the scope of practice for medical assistants to administer vaccines is incorrect (at least in the state of oh.)

http://aamantl.org/employers/laws.aspx provides links to various state codes, ny is not specifically mentioned, but there is a link to send an inquiry to the aama executive director and staff legal counsel donald a. balasa, jd, mba, & he will respond to your query.

thanks; based on the reference, it looks like ohio permits med administration by non-nurses as long as the md is "in the house"--curious what the ohio nurse practice acts says on the matter....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I apologize if this already has been discussed elsewhere, but wanted to point out the following:

I was in my MD's office for a physical and wanted two vaccines before international travel. The NON-nurse "medical assistant"--UNlicensed in NY--came in to administer the vaccines and I told her she was violating the law--she said she does it every day as part of her job! I told the MD I would get my vaccines elsewhere. Apparently this practice is rampant--at least here in NYC. MD Offices don't want to pay for patient safety by having a licensed nurse. ADMINISTRATION of medications is restricted BY LAW to licensed MDs, RNs/LPNs, and some others, but NOT "medical assistants." Have the Nursing Associations thought about cracking down on this? I do NOT think I'm being petty: administrating a medication--particularly, via injection--is serious stuff---in this case, she was going to use incorrect needles (assuming of course that she didn't plan on using the SAME needle for BOTH vaccines), amongst other errors...Upset about this. It's NOT brain surgery, but there are serious risks with all medications, which is why legally only specified licensed personnel may administer them. Your thoughts? Thanks.

Medical Assistant give medications all of the time. If only nurses could give meds, group homes would be hurting as well as many clinics. How about EMTs or Paramedics-they are not nurses but give medications. hmmmm

You need to look on the AAMA website and have a little more info about medical assistants , just my 2 cents....

otessa

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Depends on your state. If it's illegal in your state, bring it to someone's attention.

In my state, MAs are licensed, go through training, and can give vaccines/draw blood/etc.

That is the same in my state.

otessa

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.
Medical Assistant give medications all of the time. If only nurses could give meds, group homes would be hurting as well as many clinics. How about EMTs or Paramedics-they are not nurses but give medications. hmmmm

You need to look on the AAMA website and have a little more info about medical assistants , just my 2 cents....

otessa

States have laws, regulations, etc. that SPECIFICALLY permit administration of meds by group-home workers, EMTs, dentists, etc....What we're looking at here is whether someone with no required education/training is allowed to administer potentially deadly substances in the body...imagine the "assistant" withdrawing too much vaccine---sure, even an MD can make a mistake, but it's a lot less likely where the person is educated/trained/authorized by law....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
States have laws, regulations, etc. that SPECIFICALLY permit administration of meds by group-home workers, EMTs, dentists, etc....What we're looking at here is whether someone with no required education/training is allowed to administer potentially deadly substances in the body...imagine the "assistant" withdrawing too much vaccine---sure, even an MD can make a mistake, but it's a lot less likely where the person is educated/trained/authorized by law....

I have been in attendance in classes being taught by an MSN- prepared RN to medical assistant students in my state. Each state must be different-the dosage calculations, injection skills, pharmacotherapy classes,anatomy & physiology, etc. were similar to classes I had as a nursing student in the past-I'm sure each MA program is different but there are specific core competencies that must be met. These students are educated/trained and authorized to give certain medications and immunizations by law in my state. To be a Certified Medical Assistant there is required education and training.

otessa

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, EMS.

:icon_roll

Get over it. Many Medical Assistants have 1-2 years of education, if not an associates degree, something not even required for Nurses. In many states they are licensed and authorized to to give shots among other things. In nursing school I memorized appropriate sites and stabbed a foam pad a few times. Injection administration is something virtually any competent person can be trained to do, including children. Which is why I find it puzzling when nurses denounce other health care professionals doing it, there's even a thread griping about pharmacists giving the flu vaccine. Shrug, better them than me I suppose. *wine

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
:icon_roll

Get over it. Many Medical Assistants have 1-2 years of education, if not an associates degree, something not even required for Nurses. In many states they are licensed and authorized to to give shots among other things. In nursing school I memorized appropriate sites and stabbed a foam pad a few times. Injection administration is something virtually any competent person can be trained to do, including children. Which is why I find it puzzling when nurses denounce other health care professionals doing it, there's even a thread griping about pharmacists giving the flu vaccine. Shrug, better them than me I suppose. *wine

+1

Not rocket science giving immunizations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
States have laws, regulations, etc. that SPECIFICALLY permit administration of meds by group-home workers, EMTs, dentists, etc....What we're looking at here is whether someone with no required education/training is allowed to administer potentially deadly substances in the body...imagine the "assistant" withdrawing too much vaccine---sure, even an MD can make a mistake, but it's a lot less likely where the person is educated/trained/authorized by law....

Most Vaccinations are in individual single does vials, those that are not...well Certified Medical Assistants are trained, and permitted by the law in most states; and its really not hard to draw up a vaccination even in multiple dose vials...there is no math calculations or anything...but Certified Medical Assistants are trained in that too. Certified Medical Assistants have more training in injections than group-home workers. I find it odd that you rant and rave about Medical Assistants but have no problem with group-home workers giving injections; whom of which have less training...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment