*rant* "Nurse" at office answering questions.

If an MA refers to himself as a nurse I always say, are you an LPN or an RN? Just to make the point. It happens all the time.

Sadly, this happens quite frequently. In an office I once worked in, the doctor perpetuated the situation by telling patients to ask "one of the nurses" if they needed anything. I was the ONLY licensed nurse in the the office. Really burnt my cookies!

Another time I heard one of the MA's on the phone saying she couldn't do "whatever" for a patient because she didn't want to "jeopardize my license." Knowing full-well this wasn't the case, I later responded, "I didn't know medical assistants were required to be licensed in our state." She replied they weren't, but the patient didn't know that. I then explained that in that case, she was representing herself as a nurse which is illegal. She walked off in a huff. More burnt cookies, huh?

Donna

Ack! I had a similar experience at the VET's office. My cats had gone to have major dental work in Toronto, and the vet tech brought them back. I wasn't sure when they were going to be back, so I called the office, and the vet tech that was bringing them back for me was already there. The receptionist got her on the line and she said "Hi, I'm the nurse..."
I should have said "Gee, I didn't know that RPN and RNs worked in vet offices too, I thought that only vet techs/assistants did." But alas, it caught me off guard and the vet is a close family friend...
Not a flame to those that are vet techs, but, they're not nurses, period.

There was a very heated thread about this some time back. Vet techs go to school in excess of 2 years and DO consider themselves veterinary "nurses".

I am very much against the term "nurse" being used by anyone outside the RN/LPN realm, but I do see their point as vet "nurses". They do an amazing and varied job, just as nurses do in human healthcare.

MA are allowed to ask questions over the phone. How was she assessing? I though she was asking questions. I work as a Certified Medical Assistant as I am going to school. When patients call and asked to talk to a nurse the receptionist says, "We do not have nurses, we have medical assistants, would you like to talk to one?"

MAs are allowed to triage, which involves asking questions so they can tell the doctor what is going on. But not make major decisions.

They can however give basic medical advise, like "Your U/A came back and indicates that you have a UTI. The doctor is having me call in an Rx for you. It is a good idea to drink a lot of orange juice. Avoid bubble baths and make sure you urinate frequently and not hold it too long.” Then when they ask questions about the test result they can say, “Normal range for urine pH is 5.0 to 7.0. Above 7.0 is considered alkaline, and below 5.0 is acid. If a urine specimen is above a pH of 7.0, more than likely it contains a large amount of bacteria, which is why the urine is alkaline. Urinary casts that are formed in the kidneys are destroyed, and urinary casts are important in the diagnosis of a patient’ condition. Adjustments can be made to help the body balance out pH levels. A patient with a condition like the above, maybe instructed by their doctor to drink large amounts of orange juice, not only to help flush the bacteria out of the urinary system, but to help balance their pH levels with the orange juice’s citric acid.
When homeostasis is out of balance, all cells of the body suffer. Moderate dysfunctions, like bacteria in the urine that causes a pH level rise, can cause illness, like a painful burn upon urination (UTI). Severe dysfunction can lead to death."

Yes, MA's should not refer to themselves as Nurses. I however hope that when I become a nurse I do not gain such a negative attitude about some one that has a lower status than me. I know when I become a nurse I do not want a doctor to say "Oh, what advise can she give? She is only a nurse"

It's not about "status", honestly.

I don't meant to be condesending either, but, when you become a nurse, you will probably better-understand that Hearts. We guard our so-called "status" for valid reasons. There are even laws that protect this situation.

Misrepresenting oneself as a nurse is wrong and a violation of law, for good reason.

Really, way too many people think they are dealing w/nurses in the healthcare system (and it's confusing), when in actuality, they are NOT. The person patients are talking to should identify him/herself as a medical assistant, right off the bat.

I always ID myself as a nurse when I am on the phone. And I never dispense medical advice that is not first ordered lawfully by a physician. I do not believe they (MAs) have any business dispensing medical advice whatsoever. It's not about my being "better" than them It's bigger than that. I am not jealous of my 'lack of physician status" when I observe the wise edict not to dispense medical advice unlawfully. I am doing the right and legally-prudent thing.

I believe very strongly the consumer deserves to know with whom they are dealing when seeking medical help/advice. It's their lawful and ethical right. Too many doctors in their offices try to "pass off" their assistants as nurses, even. They know the law, but do so, anyhow. This, too, is very wrong; that is why so many of us are very sensitive to this whole issue.

I don't think this is that unusual... I have been to my practioner's office on two occasions when the MA introduced herself to me as my doctor's "nurse" when I could see from her clinic badge that she was an MA. I also found this very misleading and inappropriate.

No disagreement from me there! She took very good care of my precious kitties! Had she identified herself as a veterinary nurse, I wouldn't have been ticked! She just needed to qualify the noun 'nurse'!

i hear ya!

HI Alison, I'm just a nursing student and CNA right now, but I thought I could answer you based on my personal experience with office "nurses" I know MA's go to school and learn basic things, but each time I call my sons Dr (He's 19 months old and has had some doosies this year! LOL!) I ask to speak to the DR. The front office staff always says "It will be quciker if you want to speak to the NURSE" but I always insist on the Dr. The reason being is that one of the "nurses" at my pediatricians office told me that it was ok that my son had been coughing for over 2 weeks since he had no fever. Turns out he ended up with a bad case of bronchitis and by the time I brought him in the Dr told me if I'd waited much longer he could have ended up admitted with pneumonia! Since then I don't trust what they say over the phone. I'll trust them to weigh and measure my child and to give them their immunizations, but as for an over the phone assessment, no way. I don't think you over reacted.

Good luck with your breast lump, I hope it's nothing.

Shannon