*rant* "Nurse" at office answering questions.

[FrumDoula]

Hi all.

So I called my FP's office to schedule an appointment for a lump I found in my breast. No big deal, probably a milk duct since I'm a lactating mom, but I wanted it checked out all the same. So I call the office for an appointment. The woman I spoke to was nice enough, and offered an appointment a week from the time I was calling. I questioned if I should be seen sooner or if it was ok to go a week out. So she starts asking questions, kind of assessing the situation. Well, I'm dumb but not stupid, so I ask, "Are you a nurse?" And she says, "Yes, I am, I'm Dr. S's nurse." And then I say, "Are you an RN or an LVN?" And she says,

"I'm neither. I'm a Medical Assistant."

AAAGGGHHH. I replied, "Then you are not a nurse and you shouldn't be trying to assess over the phone." I wasn't trying to be a rude b*tch, but when a MA, who has very limited medical training, is trying to assess a breast lump over the phone, she should not pass herself off as a nurse. I spoke to one of the docs in the clinic, who is a friend, and I told her she needed to speak to this "nurse", because that MA was opening the clinic up to major medical liability if she screwed up and assessed something or someone she wasn't supposed to.

Am I off here? Or am I just being a cranky new mom? I guess I'm just protective of the title "nurse", since that implies a certain skill and knowledge set.

Alison

[kbclary4]

You definitely shoul have reported her. She is way out of line! That frustrates me. I work as a pharmacy tech part-time while I'm in school and we are not allowed to answer any questions beyond "what aisle is...on?" I would never dream of giving advice on a medication.

[babynurselsa, RN]

I would complain to the clinic. In addition to this maybe the BON needs to be notified.

This issue has been discussed here again and again. IT bears repeating but the state BON has strict rules regarding who is allowed to call themselves a nurse.

My pediatric practice started doing the same thing a few years ago. I spoke to my kids personal pad and a couple of the other Docs in the practice about my concerns. I did notice the last time that we were in that the medical assistants are going by the term medical assistant now. I am sure that I am not the only one who has complained since I know of many other nurse friends who also use this group.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

It is against the law in Texas to represent yourself as a licensed nurse when you are not one. Is that not so in your state? The District Atty. in Texas prosecutes people who pass themselves off as nurses (even LVN';s who say they are RN's).

[moonchild20002000]

I think you need to talk to the provider about this when you have your appointment.Point out what a huge liability issue it is,that will usually get their attention.

I worked for many years as a LPN in an OB-GYN office,had you called me you would have been seen sooner than one week. No point in you waiting for a week and worrying about whats going on with your breast.

Good luck,let us know how it turns out.

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

YEESH....what the heck is this woman thinking??? Saying she is a nurse when she isn't? That is huge. You definitely should be calling the office and speaking to someone in charge. There is a whole bee hive of problems is she is giving out medical advice under the premise she is a nurse.

[FrumDoula]

YEESH....what the heck is this woman thinking??? Saying she is a nurse when she isn't? That is huge. You definitely should be calling the office and speaking to someone in charge. There is a whole bee hive of problems is she is giving out medical advice under the premise she is a nurse.

I was really shocked. Now, this front office is not exactly known for employing brainiac personnel. So I'm not suprised they're ill-trained. But this is MA 101 - she should have been taught this at her school. I'm going to complain again to the office manager and to the doc I'm seeing. I don't want to get her fired, I simply want proper procedures to be followed.

This office is rife with problems anyway. The main pediatrician considers himeself to be very "breastfeeding friendly". Unless there's a problem, of course, and then it's straightaway to supplementing with formula. :angryfire Plus, they give out lots of samples of formula. *arg* The clinic is run by a medical school, and I'm in the process of speaking to the Dean about making the clinic Baby-Friendly. But if they're going to have to teach the MA's not to call themselves nurses (what a nitwit), then it may be a bit of an uphill battle. *sigh*

But hey, I love banging my head against the wall, so I might as well take it on ....

Alison

[DusktilDawn]

You know, that MA no doubt realized EXACTLY what you meant when you asked if she was a nurse. I don't understand why people like this feel they are ENTITLED to refer to themselves as nurses when they lack the educational and licensing requirements of an LPN or RN needed to qualify as nurses. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I don't understand the doctors or office managers who employ these people who think that it is OK to allow their patients to be mislead this way by them referring to MAs as nurses.

It's one thing when you have the public who has numerous misconceptions about nurses and their role in health care. It makes me boil when other health disciplines only add to that confusion through misrepresentation.

Sorry, but I think you should report this person for misrepresentation. Perhaps if some of these people were prosecuted they would realize the seriousness of their actions and others would stop claiming to be nurses when they are not.

[SmilingBluEyes]

definately reportable. definately. this woman is breaking the law.

[Cherry2]

This office is rife with problems anyway. The main pediatrician considers himeself to be very "breastfeeding friendly". Unless there's a problem, of course, and then it's straightaway to supplementing with formula. :angryfire Plus, they give out lots of samples of formula. *arg*

This is OT- but I really, really hate that too! My friend (who lives very far from me- she is in Australia) had started out breastfeeding and when her daughter started to lose a tiny bit of weight, it was straight to the formula- and, no surprise here- her milk started to dry up! Then she says, "well, I guess I just didn't have enough"

And that my friends, is one of the biggest reasons for low breastfeeding rates! Grr!! :angryfire

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

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.

[DonnaRN]

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! :angryfire

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? :chuckle

Donna