Bad idea to take MA position even though i am a RN??

I doubt that they will "promote" you to a nursing position if you're willing to work for MA wages. I'm assuming the pay is much less...

But if you're in desperate need of a job and there are no legal complications, why not?

yes, Pangea, the pay is much less. That is one of the drawbacks...

Thank you for your response..

Erin, when you say they hire RNs as MAs, all I can get from that is that they are loving getting away with hiring nurses for MA wages. I understand you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, but if it were me and financially I was able, I would not let them take advantage of me like that.

Agreed with the above posters that it's very, very likely that if they hire you as an MA, they will pressure you to do RN work. And even if they don't, you'll legally and ethically held to the standard of an RN- without the autonomy or authority that the other RNs in this practice have. Will you be comfortable intervening in a situation where you RN training tells you it's in the patient's best interest, but your job description and paycheck says it's not your role? That's the awkward place you'd be stuck.

I've picked up the occasional CNA shift at places where I worked as RN, but a. I was paid RN wages for it and b. I and everyone around me understood that just because I was doing vital signs at the moment, doesn't mean I wasn't also paying attention to the patients and willing and able to intervene or inform the primary nurse if I saw something in my nursing scope that needed to be addressed. Most reputable employers don't hire overqualified staff for support roles because it's confusing and damaging to the team dynamic.

I understand you're wanting experience, to get a foot in the door, and to have a more stable job, but taking an MA position you're overqualified for is setting a dangerous precedent for yourself.

Thank you Ixchel and ocnrn63 for your thoughts.. They told me that I will be held to MA standards only while I work. Even though I am an RN, I cannot act as one. I will be doing injections, as all their MA's do, and triage. I do see the pros and cons of this job. OCNRN63 you make a good point about asking me to go beyond the scope of an MA because I am a nurse. I feel torn. I do not want to be taken advantage of. This is a hard decision. They said they are taking a risk hiring a nurse as an MA because I could up and leave anytime for another nurse position.

I was told that I will be held to MA standards since I am working as one, not the standards of a nurse. Is that even possible and does that sound fishy? could I even get in trouble for that? My duties include rooming patients, injections, and triage. They have their MA's do injections which some places do not allow that, only nurses can give them. Also they have templates for the MA's to do triage.

Agreed with the above posters that it's very, very likely that if they hire you as an MA, they will pressure you to do RN work. And even if they don't, you'll legally and ethically held to the standard of an RN- without the autonomy or authority that the other RNs in this practice have. Will you be comfortable intervening in a situation where you RN training tells you it's in the patient's best interest, but your job description and paycheck says it's not your role? That's the awkward place you'd be stuck.

I've picked up the occasional CNA shift at places where I worked as RN, but a. I was paid RN wages for it and b. I and everyone around me understood that just because I was doing vital signs at the moment, doesn't mean I wasn't also paying attention to the patients and willing and able to intervene or inform the primary nurse if I saw something in my nursing scope that needed to be addressed. Most reputable employers don't hire overqualified staff for support roles because it's confusing and damaging to the team dynamic.

I understand you're wanting experience, to get a foot in the door, and to have a more stable job, but taking an MA position you're overqualified for is setting a dangerous precedent for yourself.

Thank you Emmy for your thoughts. You make sense and yes, I would want to further investigate something or report it if I detected something as a nurse would. This is a fine line to cross and is probably best left alone. I guess I did not think about all of the repercussions but I am glad to have came and asked here. I am not thrilled about being paid as an MA, is that even right? I do not want to put my license on the line and/or be belittled or used in any way. thx.

I was told that I will be held to MA standards since I am working as one, not the standards of a nurse. Is that even possible and does that sound fishy? could I even get in trouble for that? My duties include rooming patients, injections, and triage. They have their MA's do injections which some places do not allow that, only nurses can give them. Also they have templates for the MA's to do triage.

Your boss may not hold you to the standard of your RN license, but the BON will if any patient care issues arise.

With an employer who hires licensed staff at low wages for unlicensed positions and has UAP doing what sounds like assessments, I'd say the potential for patient care issues that lead to legal questions is very real. And "they were only paying me MA wages" or "I was told I couldn't do X appropriate nursing action because I was hired as an MA" won't be an effective defense.

Not everything an employer ever asks you to do will be legal or ethical. Plenty of places cut corners in ways that could endanger your license. It sounds like this place is one of them.

I was told that I will be held to MA standards since I am working as one, not the standards of a nurse. Is that even possible and does that sound fishy? could I even get in trouble for that? My duties include rooming patients, injections, and triage. They have their MA's do injections which some places do not allow that, only nurses can give them. Also they have templates for the MA's to do triage.

Doesn't matter what your employer says. If an adverse event were to occur, your state's BON holds you to the assessment standards of your RN license. Same thing would happen if you were a NP and worked a bedside nurse job.

You are getting paid less and may be setting yourself up for a real liability issue.

Not to mention you worked your butt off for your license, you should get paid for it.

Emmy and OCNRN63 you are both absolutely correct. these are things I am not even considering.... I guess still being new to nursing I am still very green to things that I would not take into consideration.. You both have honestly given me things to think about. Thank you..