MA's being used as "nurses"

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

Hello all! I work in a private practice office in which I am the only RN. There are several MA's and one LPN. My concern is that the MA's are referred to as "nurses". The patients often do not know that their "nurse" really isn't one. We all have the same job descriptions and duties, and I was told shortly after starting work (by a non-nurse office manager) that they consider MA's, LPN's and RN's to be the same (it is interesting, though, that I am paid an RN wage). We all are responsible for phone triage one day a week. The team leader for the "nursing staff" is also an MA!! Has anyone else run into this type of situation??

Specializes in OB/Gyn, ED, Pediatrics, Homecare/Hospice.

I am real late coming into this discussion but just signed up for this listserv. I am an RN and the manager of a multispecialty provider office. We have CNA's who are referred to as MA's but who refer to themselves as "nurses" that answer phones, do triage, give injections, take orders, call in Rx's etc. Has always made me very nervous and the hospital I work for, we are a hospital based office with 21 provide offices throughout the county, is looking into changing this practice due to concerns regarding liability and patient safety. Anyone else still dealing with these issues?

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I am in a similar situation. I work in a free standing ambulatory surgery center recently employed. The manager is a very savvy capable MA and the surgeons and staff love her. I am the only staff recovery room nurse. The OR nurses sign off on her work. They know she is safe, but I will not do this. My conscience will not permit it. One MD only wants her in the procedure room, but I think this is against policy. Do you know where I can check this out. I live in the state of NY.

Thanks,

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I am in a similar situation. I work in a free standing ambulatory surgery center recently employed. The manager is a very savvy capable MA and the surgeons and staff love her. I am the only staff recovery room nurse. The OR nurses sign off on her work. They know she is safe, but I will not do this. My conscience will not permit it. One MD only wants her in the procedure room, but I think this is against policy. Do you know where I can check this out. I live in the state of NY.

Thanks,

Check with your State Board. Review what is in the scope of practice.

I feel the nursing organizations did not move fast enough to confront

this "discount nurse" approach. I respect the job MA's do, they have

many roles, but they should not present themselves as a nurse.

When medicine became focused on profit, I saw in our area

office nurses totally replaced with MA's because its cost effective.

Its insulting to nurses and unfair to MA's to "extend" their role

at discount wages, let alone patient safety and legal issues.

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I went to a private trade school and paid a pretty penny for CMA certificate (about 7K --and that was many years ago). Using MA's in an office setting is a huge money saver for MD's. As an MA for 10 years, I ran my a** off all day long drawing blood, giving injections, assisting in minor surgery, doing EKG's, scheduling procedures, calling in RX's....Plus, I answered the phone, filed and ran interference with insurance companies. For my trouble, I was paid about $10 hr. Tough for a single mom:o .

I have never referred to myself as a nurse nor have I strayed from the scope of training of an MA. However, it is a lot of responsibility for very little pay. That's why I've enrolled in an RN program!

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. However, it is a lot of responsibility for very little pay. That's why I've enrolled in an RN program!

Good for you! Best of luck with your nursing program!:balloons:

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Hello everyone,

This is my first post ever! I was compelled to write after reading so much anger directed @ MA's:angryfire . I am an RMA. Our office sees many cancer pt's. My responsibilities include everything from greeting pt's, verifing insur, and starting IV's. I'm very proud of the way I and the other MA's make that office run like a fine-tuned machine. We constantly hear horror stories about one of our pt's having a nurse who was uncaring or gave them the wrong meds or in one case, a man's wife, who had just had hip surgery, was not moved properly and her hip was dislocated. She had to have surgery again. If you're going to tell the story, tell both sides. It's only fair! There are many more mishaps that occur in hospitals then in Dr's office's.

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What do you think of receptionist taking hts and wts on pts? Also, reviewing pt medical record for refills and lab orders? She is not writing the lab orders or refilling the prescriptions..."just gathering info for the nurse..."! I am so steamed!!

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What do you think of receptionist taking hts and wts on pts? Also, reviewing pt medical record for refills and lab orders? She is not writing the lab orders or refilling the prescriptions..."just gathering info for the nurse..."! I am so steamed!!

Is this in her job description? Because if not, I would think that this is a HIPAA violation. Health info is supposed to be shared on a "need to know" basis even with co-workers. Also, unless she is physically handing the data from the lab over to the nurse, what possible benefit is it for the receptionist to review lab orders for which she probably has no idea of the meaning of the values? You also can't just take her word for it that her _________ test value was _____. Or she needs a refill of _______. Those things have to be checked for accuracy.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
What do you think of receptionist taking hts and wts on pts? Also, reviewing pt medical record for refills and lab orders? She is not writing the lab orders or refilling the prescriptions..."just gathering info for the nurse..."! I am so steamed!!

I resent this comment. A ten year old can take an accurate weight and height. I work with a "receptionist" who has taken medical terminology, dispatcher courses and other addition courses. It is not likely that these front desk personnel are "OKing" the refills. They way it works in my office is that the refill request comes off the fax. It is paper clipped to the chart, the doctor or FNP reviews it and okay it or not. The MA or receptionist for that mater, simply has to look on the med sheet, find the corresponding approved refill, write the date in the box, quantity of pills, number of refills and the practitioners initials. It does not take a rocket scientist to look on a fax that says "Glucophage 500mg, #30 with 3 refills" and fill in the blanks on the med sheet and then fax it back to the pharmacy. Its not even hard to call the pharmacy and read off the approved refill "Glucophage 500mg, 1 BID #30 DNS, with 3 refills under Dr X"

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

i agree

is this in her job description? because if not, i would think that this is a hipaa violation. health info is supposed to be shared on a "need to know" basis even with co-workers. also, unless she is physically handing the data from the lab over to the nurse, what possible benefit is it for the receptionist to review lab orders for which she probably has no idea of the meaning of the values? you also can't just take her word for it that her _________ test value was _____. or she needs a refill of _______. those things have to be checked for accuracy.
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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

i hope your joking!!!!

a ten year old can take an accurate weight and height. "
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? I dont see the "joke" ?

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