MAs call themselves Nurses at my office..opinions please?

Nurses Relations

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  1. Is it okay for MAs to refer to themselves as nurses?

    • 185
      No way!! They are not nurses and do not have same scope of practice as LPN or RN
    • 1
      Might be okay...depends on the circumstances.
    • 1
      It's okay as long as no one gets hurt.
    • 6
      Don't care if they call themselves nurses.

193 members have participated

Hi,

I have been an LPN for 2 1/2 years and am a new Grad-RN since 9/2011. I got a job working at a Dermatology Office last November. It's the only job I could get, and I am making the best of it. They have me training to work with all the providers...general pathodermatologists, cosmetic dermatologists and the Moh's Cancer surgeon. It was not my first choice, but I am very grateful for the opportunity and grateful to all who are helping train me.

My question is this...while I have the GREATEST respect for the Medical Assistants who work there and really know their stuff, they refer to themselves as nurses to the patients in person and when making phone calls to patients. I have to say, as someone who worked SO hard for my RN, this really bothers me. I'll reiterate...I respect them, BUT they are not nurses. I wouldn't even think of referring to myself as a PA or MD. One of the MAs said it just makes it easier to refer to all of us as nurses.

May I have your opinions on this matter? I don't want to rock the boat as a newbie. There are other RNs who work in the office. I haven't asked them if it bothers them. Would it bother you? Thanks!!!

Specializes in OB/GYN/Neonatal/Office/Geriatric.

It's very simple, really. If you are not a licensed nurse--you are not a nurse. The title carries with it a certain level of responsibility and education (not time, but content). A CMA/MA should identify themselves appropriately, and then docs and patients will catch on. I drew blood and ran lab tests but never called myself the lab technician. Same with taking xrays. I am a nurse because I went to school to be a nurse and took my boards and passed, earning my title of RN or Nurse. I have been taught the nursing process as well as disease process. I can function in a doctor's office or a hospital. The same cannot be said for a CMA/MA. CMAs/MAs should be proud of what they do and also be protecting their title as they earned it. Badges should include title so the public is aware of who is caring for them.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Again, "gofer" is rude, condescending and inaccurate.

I don't know why you insist this behavior, but I don't think we are ever going to get anywhere here, so I'll leave you to your notions, such as they are.

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At the place I work at the CMAs refer to themselves as nurses and having been through CMA school and now going through nursing school, it really irritates me as it is no where near the same. I brought this up to my manager who is RN BSN MSN, and said , "wouldn't it bother you if both you and I were working side to side and I got called nurse ?" And she said " no because the job description says 'clinical nurse/CMA " ... I completely disagree

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
In this state, it takes 2 years to obtain a CMA degreee and 9 months to get a LPN. The MAs would be offended to be called a nurse, lol.

Most CMAs I know train for six months. One of the LPNs who worked with with me when I did MICU is now an instructor at the at the vocational school in the medical assisting program. The LPN program at the same school is 18 months. You'll never see a CMA as an instructor in an LPN program because an LPN is trained to work in a variety of setting including primary care, long term care, acute care, home health, psych nursing and some work in community nursing such as in public schools. CMAs are good in primary care settings, but are not appropriate for any other setting because they do not have the same level of training or focus as an LPN or an RN. CMAs do not participate in clinicals in med/surg, peds, psych, OB, LTC, etc and are not trained to do anything but work in primary care under the direction of the physician or an advanced practice RN.

Why would a CMA train for two years, the same amount as an ADN? My guess is that its the way that the community college can make more money by keeping students 18 more months than they need to be in school.

To somehow imply that a CMA is superior to an LPN is silly as an LPN can legally do the job of a CMA, but a CMA can not legally do the job of an LPN.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

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I understand BlueDevil's point. In a few months I will understand the other side of the coin as well. No offense to LPN's (I am a nursing student just for the record), but when I become an R.N., it would be a tad irritating for the LPN's to call themselves nurses. I can't recall how many times someone has said, "I'm a nurse", and come to find out they're an LPN. Again, I am a student, I am not bashing anyone so don't flip out. Point being, which can be applied to LPN's as well as MA's, when someone tells me they are a nurse, there is a specific "visual" you get in your head. R.N. is what comes to mind. So, in BD's defense, if we call one out let's call them all out. Nurse Practitioner's can be seen at their private office instead of someone going to the doctor...they still are not doctors. Being a male, I pray that this type of drama is vented on sites like this one and not on the floor.

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Hospice & Dialysis.

LPN - Licensed Practical NURSE

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I understand BlueDevil's point. In a few months I will understand the other side of the coin as well. No offense to LPN's (I am a nursing student just for the record) but when I become an R.N., it would be a tad irritating for the LPN's to call themselves nurses. I can't recall how many times someone has said, "I'm a nurse", and come to find out they're an LPN. Again, I am a student, I am not bashing anyone so don't flip out. Point being, which can be applied to LPN's as well as MA's, when someone tells me they are a nurse, there is a specific "visual" you get in your head. R.N. is what comes to mind. So, in BD's defense, if we call one out let's call them all out. Nurse Practitioner's can be seen at their private office instead of someone going to the doctor...they still are not doctors. Being a male, I pray that this type of drama is vented on sites like this one and not on the floor.[/quote']

An LPN is a nurse, just a different kind.

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I understand BlueDevil's point. In a few months I will understand the other side of the coin as well. No offense to LPN's (I am a nursing student just for the record) but when I become an R.N., it would be a tad irritating for the LPN's to call themselves nurses. I can't recall how many times someone has said, "I'm a nurse", and come to find out they're an LPN. Again, I am a student, I am not bashing anyone so don't flip out. Point being, which can be applied to LPN's as well as MA's, when someone tells me they are a nurse, there is a specific "visual" you get in your head. R.N. is what comes to mind. So, in BD's defense, if we call one out let's call them all out. Nurse Practitioner's can be seen at their private office instead of someone going to the doctor...they still are not doctors. Being a male, I pray that this type of drama is vented on sites like this one and not on the floor.[/quote']

Tell me, do you know what the "N" in LPN stands for?

NPs are not physicians, but they may be doctors.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Ha! LPN's ARE nurses, it will serve you well to lose that attitude before you obtain your RN license and work side by side with this group of professionals...

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Is that student serious about the LPN comment?

Someone get BrandonLPN to reply

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Rn's and LPN's are nurses. MA's and CNA's are not.

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I had a feeling this wasn't going to go anywhere. I didn't insult anyone. There was no attitude. SaoirseRN, you simply repeated what I already stated. It is possible they may be doctors...they may be astronauts also. Both "they may be" scenarios are beside the point. ColleenRN2B, Ha!, you got me! I had no clue they were nurses. It will serve you well to comprehend what you read before you work side by side with these professionals. Bringonthenight, I am serious. You, like everyone else, took my comment out of context. When people hear the word "nurse" LPN is not exactly what they have in mind. It does not mean an LPN is not a nurse. Did you people read my comment? Did you read it and not understand what I meant? Did you read it, comprehend it, and decide to get emotional anyway? You are the one's who get straight A's on tests but don't have any people or communication skills aren't you? Please, please if you are going to comment further, read my original comment again and try to digest it before flipping out and getting crazy. If someone says they are a doctor the first thing that comes to mind is M.D. Not someone with a Ph.D in (insert profession here). They are both doctors. They are different however.

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