Why hire an LPN rather than an MA for a doctor's office?

[Murse901]

Before I say anything further, I do NOT intend for this to be an MA-bashing thread or anything of the like.

What I'd like to know is, in clear terms, what can an LPN do in an MD's office that an MA cannot do, and vice versa?

The reason that I ask is that I'm planning on sending out resume's en masse to local MD offices in the hopes of getting a M-F 8-5 position. I'm just sick and tired of working nights. However, there's no way that I'm willing to work for the same pay rate than an MA would get, so I need to come up with reasons why the MD would be able to justify hiring an LPN at the LPN rate rather than an MA.

Unfortunately, I don't really know any MA's and have no idea about the actual MA scope of practice. Do they even have a "scope of practice"? That's how little I know about MA's.

[NatashaFromOregon]

$13 an hr. for an MA? I am an LPN and maybe would get $13 hr. in a specialist's office. Your cost of living must be high. Or, is our pay rate just low? An MA in my area will start out at $9 an hr.

Really? In my area CMA's are paid a starting wage of about $12-$13/hr and will cap off at about $17/hr. LPNs in an office start at about $20-$22. RN positions in clinics around here are rare but I saw one job posting for a clinic RN that was offering $28/hr to start.

[HappyPediRN]

$13 an hr. for an MA? I am an LPN and maybe would get $13 hr. in a specialist's office. Your cost of living must be high. Or, is our pay rate just low? An MA in my area will start out at $9 an hr.

Hi. I live in metro Boston. This may explain the significant pay difference. :)

[time4meRN]

The difference is that an MA is working under another licensure, the RN and LPN are working under their own. If a pt were to present with a lawsuit, the RN or LPN would be hung out to dry not the MA. There is a level knowledge base that comes with signing RN after our names. RN's may choose to work in an office because of the hours but with that comes some sacrifices too.(like good pay etc.) However, an MA can not go to an ICU and work. But, the RN can do front office, back office or any other office there is. Thus, the RN has more choices in the medical field in general. I also know that their are many physicians that hire RN's , hand picked from the hospitals they work at because they are good at what they do, know their routines like the back of their hand and can hold their own when push comes to shove. Those nurses are payed very well . Never try to compair them to an MA to those nurses.

If you want to work in a Dr's office go for it. Never let yourself be drug into the MA can do what I do thing.. The nurse is the nurse, the MA is the MA. Set the record straight if you have problems. If there are no porblems than just enjoy. Good luck on your choice.

[RNTOBE_1970]

I am six months from graduating as a RN. I have been a LPN for nearly 20 years. This past Monday, I began working in my childrens' pediatrician's office as a LPN. There are three MAs. One has been there about a year, and the other two a bit longer than me. I have very little experience in a MD's office, with most of my experience being in Telemetry/ICU/ER. This job was ideal as it was 1.5 miles from home and across the street from my youngest child's school. I look to the MAs for guidance, as they have done this longer than me. I do questions certain things they do. Yesterday one had an order for 750mg of Rocephin IM. I stood back as she grabbed a gram and a 250 mg vials. When asked what she was doing she said she was mixing 500 and 250. Another MA agreed. She a gram in the syringe and was told that she was reconstituting too much. Then the problem was how much to waste...uh 250mg, a fourth of your syringe...When taking a brief history, I was told I write too much. I tend to include duration of problem, max temp and dates. Another thing that bothers me is the lack of cleanliness. A urine dipstick being laid on the counter, urine soaked through the paper towel, and it was disinfected when done. Or trays taken into rooms for injections not being wiped down, just thrown back in the drawers. Am I over reacting? I believe it would be safe practice if injections were verified, with someone else, including calculations if necessary. They just seem task oriented. I only want to cover my own a$$.

[jackson145]

At my place, we have one job description for our "back office" staff. Whether they hire a RN, LPN, MA, CNA, or train off the street, they expect the employee to perform the duties in the job description. Pay is based on years of experience, not level of education.

Also, our area seems to have a messed up pay scale.

I made $14.0/hr as Nurse Tech on med-surg floor on nightshift and my husband makes $14.50/hr at LTC as LPN. For what his education cost him, he'd have been better off applying for my job!

[iwanna]

I live in a small town in Northwestern PA, and our cost of living is relatively cheap compared to other areas, especially our real estate. I live about 73 miles from Pittsburgh where the pay for healthcare positions is significantly higher. However, their real estate is higher than ours. Before, gas became so expensive I could almost understand why people would commute to work there.

I graduated from Business School with ASB degree for MOA back in 1993. The pay rate then was $5.50 an hr. with no benefits. So, back to school I went! At least now they have benefits.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the advice, all. So far, I've only had a couple of interviews. One offered to hire me on as an MA, not an LPN, for $10/hr (I almost threw up a little in my mouth) and the other spent 90% of the interview trying to talk me out of working in doctor's offices, talking about how horrible it is with the snippy patients and crappy doctors and no lunch breaks and yada yada, so that one was a no go. Still crossing my fingers, though.