Verbal orders in texas from Medical assistant

I don't know if it is in your state, but it is acceptable in mine. But if there are questions regarding the order, then you must speak with the MD. I called in orders all the time prior to going to school and I wasn't even a MA.

For the most part I don't have a problem with taking an order from an UAP, but if the order is complex or just doesn't make sense then I ask to speak with an RN or the MD.

That's a big no-no with my agency ( I'm in a different state, however). You should refuse to take them until you verify that it is legal in your state and that it is acceptable to your agency.

Moved to the Texas Nurses forum.

In Oregon a CMA can phone in orders from an MD.

Whoops! I didn't see that this post was moved to the Texas board...

I deal constantly with this issue in a different way. I will call a physician's office with a non-critical (but still important) report on a cardiac patient and specifically ask for the nurse. 8 times out of 10 the MA will say "I'm Dr' so and so's nurse." It is a dead give away when they can't pronounce "tachycardia." Then I ask for them for their name for documentation and I'll say "so are you an LVN or an RN" and this is usually followed by a LONG pause.

It is inadvisable to take an order from anyone but the doctor. But it happens all the time and the best way to protect yourself is to make sure you sign: t.o. Dr. Mac/Sallie Meek - office staff/Jane Nurse RN. Until there are more JCAHO citations or lawsuits over this issue, I doubt that anyone is going to get the doctors to stop shirking their duties and write appropriate orders themselves.

We were told both in school AND in hospital orientation that this is a HUGE NO NO!!!!!!! We were told that an RN in no way was to take an order from anyone but another NURSE/PA or of course the Doc.

If it were me I would ask for a title before any order was even given because I worked WAY too hard for my license to lose it over a mistake made by a person who can't even pronounce common medical words.
But that is just me.

Go check out the nurse practice act on the Texas BNE website. I am sure they have something addressing this issue.