The CMA Debate

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Ok, here is my view of this debate. First of all, I was a CMA prior to GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, to get my Associates in LPN. During the CMA class time we studied, Medical Law Practices aimed at CMA's, we learned the names and functions of a handful of instruments, to medically assist the Doctor doing a simple procedures, like sutures, I & D's, pap's etc. I had to to take a certification exam. Nonetheless it was an exam of my knowledge in math skills, A & P, administrative and clinical skills. I was taught how to take an EKG on a patient, not read them. I was taught how to perform venipunvtures only. No IV's. (Couldn't beleive a CMA thought she could do this...). I was taught in microbiology and therefore after science labs of looking at organisms and cells,(RBC's WBC w/diff, ua dipstick,etc)I was able to perform and tested out to do SIMPLE procedures. Including VS and abnormals.

I also would like to respond to the ? of why go to MA school (mine WAS accredited, I wouldn't have gone to that school otherwise, I think it's called integrity),versus LPN or RN school. My thought is this, I left a very violent marriage with a child and had to depend on "welfare" while I got my **** together. I couldn't afford to go to an LPN or RN [rpgram at that time. I call it situational choosing, and I have that right! I was hired immediately after graduating and passing my EXAM (certificate), and then carried on to LPN school.(After making some money on my own).

When I worked as a CMA I was allowed in my state under a Doc and report to patients their lab results after the doctor reviewed and told me to call pt to let them know.(Pos or Neg strep throat, doc says U have a UA infection etc,). I beleive that every state has their parameters for a CMA, I chose the clinical side of the MA picture. I also was required to have 13 CEU's per year. I took the same CEU's that maybe an RN or LPN took or directed to them. Why? Cause I love to learn.

I was a **** good CMA. I did my job, I scheduled CT's, MRI's, understood the reasoning and used my skill that I was TAUGHT IN SCHOOL. Just like I use my LPN skills now. A Medical Assistant is not a bad thing, there are some bad Medical Assistants, just like LPN'S, RN's, Doc's etc. I beleive in ethical behaviour no matter what field you are in. I will continue to climb the ladder up towards my RN, in my own time. I'm just sorry too hear about all the bad experiences ya'll have had with MA's or CMA's. Thanks for the vent.

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Specializes in SNF.

Thank you for clarifying!

I appreciate the breakdown of the things you could do as a CMA.

I'm amazed that the docs were able to oust the nurses (and their pay) and create a position specifically molded to the docs needs in the office.

Without being specific, what is the range of pay for MA's and CMA's?

Congratulations on going on, and the best of luck to you!

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

TeresaB930, Thanks. Don't get me wrong I should have clarified I worked in a facility where there were LPN's and RN's(example in OB/GYN, cardio,specialties etc.) I don't feel the docs ousted "nurses" for a cheaper rate of pay, rather the management utilized each for the correct position. Believe it or not my first job in Texas was $3.45 and I ended up at $14.42.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I am in northern California. I was only making $9.00/hr after working at the same place for almost five years...its a long disgruntled story I do not care to get into. $14.42 is unheard of in my area; thats what starting LVNs make here. And yes, I did the same stuff described by the OP (you did a good job describing it too) and more. I was cross trained in clinical and administrative. Saturdays I would run the clinic by myself with one doctor. I would check the patients in, do insurance information, make appointments and then take patients back into rooms and do clinical stuff. I would then check the patient out and ICD-9 their visit ect. Then I would check in the next patient and repeat.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I completed a medical assisting program 7 years ago and, while I never worked as one, I still think that MAs possess an extremely significant place in today's healthcare environment. Without MAs, many doctors' offices and clinics would fail to run efficiently. MAs, in other words, are rapidly becoming the backbone of the typical American doctors' office with no turning back.

The resentment felt by many nurses stems from the fact that some MAs misrepresent themselves as nurses by telling their patients, family members, friends, and neighbors that, "I work as a nurse at Dr. John Doe's clinic." A few misguided MAs have even given medical advice that was totally erroneous, such as suggesting to patients to take antibiotics to cure common colds. Common sense would dictate that antibiotics cannot possibly cure a cold that is caused by a virus...

Anyhow, MAs are very important in today's healthcare system.

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i 'm happy for you, just not sure what your take on the ma, cma vs rn debate is. what is the main point to your debate ? i understand your trianing and job duties. and once again, don't get me wrong, ma's cna's, cma's, phlebo, nurse techs etc are all very important. i don't know what i would do without all of them. my best friend is an ma. but, i just don't like it when ma's refer to themself as nurses . or think they have had the same training as an rn. it seems in so many posts i get the hint of , here let me explain what i do.... see, the same thing as an rn. i hate to sound stuffy, but a certification is not the same as a license, i'm glad you are doing ceu's that nurses are doing but have you attemped a 12 lead class critical class of some sorts. (not how to do a 12 lead but, how to read 12 leads and call abn's ) i understand you took micro , but i helped my freind who is an ma study for her micro. it was nothing like nursing school micro . nither was the pharm or a&p. in nursing school our classes were with pre med and pharm. there has been so much talk about the cirtification exam.... i was courious , so i went on the ma cirtification web site. took the practice exam. missed 1 without studying. just did it as soon as i logged in. the questions were basic. some took some memory recall but, still pretty basic. i guess what i mean is i'm happy you changed your life . i'm happy things are going well. rn's appricieate you, dr's appriciate you, pt's appriciate you. but just don't cross the rn's . i know this sounds like a mean , critical care rn who eats my young but, the bottom line is when i sign my name with rn ...with that comes a boat load of responsibilities. if an ma is under me, what i say goes. i'm sorry i know that sounds mean, but i've had my fill of working in a busy er, and having ma's come to me how to do things. (such as arguing over why particular pt's need to come back before others, or if a pt's having and mi or not) if i didn't have mi''s, cva's and trauma's going on i would be able to teach the ma's more, but i don't. sucks but i don't . my goal is to run the er. i'll teach when there aren't 45 waiting, 15 priorites, and medics in line at the door. i'v participated in helping an ma study , i took the exam. i know the difference between nursing school and ma school. after the night i had and the difficulties i had with a couple ma's, last night, i would be happy to debate the topic. sorry to sound curt but, last night i really had my fill.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Heartsopenwide,

You worked your butt off!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Like others have stated, nurses are not arguing over the right for the CMA to earn an honest living. It is true, most doctor's offices cannot run without them, the same as CNAs, PCTs and so forth in the hospital. Also, while we may believe that a physician who has his own practice is really making dough, we have to remember that his salary is also purchasing all of the equipment that is in use at his office, and it is NOT cheap. It may be impossible to hire a licensed person and then also keep up with all of the other things necessary to run a clinic unless they are partnering with other doctors.

The argument we have had is that many of them believe and introduce themselves as being nurses, and that is a totally different course of educational training and responsibility.

I am glad that you were conscious of the difference, and now I am sure that you do see more clearly the difference between the training of the CMA and nurse.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

PaganDeva2000,

I always have seen the differences in the teachings and practices. That is what has made me get to where I am today.Like I've said before: Persaverance is the end result on a job well done.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

The argument we have had is that many of them believe and introduce themselves as being nurses, and that is a totally different course of educational training and responsibility.

Exactly!!!

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Ok, here is my view of this debate. First of all, I was a CMA prior to GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, to get my Associates in LPN.

Not to nitpick, but I never knew you could get an LPN license by going through an Associates program.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Actually I received 2 degrees at graduation. LPN and Associates in Applied Science. So in other words I did all my prereqs for the RN as well as attend the LPN program. Long time ago!

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