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

[ErinDel, ASN, BSN, RN]

Hello,

Long story short, I graduated in May 2014 with my RN. My only nursing experience has been per diem sub school nursing. I enjoy it, but it is not stable as a job. I have physical limitations with my back so I know working in the hospital or LTC is not really an option for me. I am currently an RN to BSN student, online at SNHU.

I used to work as a MA for a large hospital within Partners Healthcare, a couple years ago. This large Physician practice is great to work for but I cannot seem to get in as a nurse. So I decided to apply again for the MA position because they will hire a nurse for their MA positions. I applied, and was called for an interview which I had today. I know the office and the docs as I used to float there as an MA years ago.

Do you think it is a bad idea to consider this job? I did mention that my long term goal would be to gain employment for this company as a RN. They understand that, and cannot guarantee a nurse position anytime soon, but possibly in a couple years. I am stuck because I do not know if I should take this job, I am in desperate need of one, or should I hold out and keep looking... I live north of Boston and it is so hard to find employment as a nurse around here.

I am looking for thoughts, negative or positive on this.. Thank you for your time.

Erin..

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, 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?

[ErinDel, ASN, BSN, RN]

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

Thank you for your response..

[ixchel]

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.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Even if you're hired as an MA, you will be held to the standards of a registered nurse. If I were you, I wouldn't be surprised if they ask you to do tasks that can only be done by an RN. "We know we hired you as an MA, but since you're an RN would you mind doing (insert request). It's just this one time."

And if you believe that, I've got a bridge for sale.

[emmy27]

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.

[ErinDel, ASN, BSN, RN]

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.

[ErinDel, ASN, BSN, RN]

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.

[ErinDel, ASN, BSN, RN]

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.

[emmy27]

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.

[OCNRN63, RN]

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.

Your employer may only hold you to MA standards, but the BON in your state will be holding you to the RN standards. As another poster pointed out, you can't stand back and say, "Well, I'm working as an MA" and not intervene as an RN would. If the patient had an adverse outcome, you could be held accountable for not intervening.

I would want to know for certain what the MA SOC at that office is, because they can vary greatly. There is no defined standard of care for MAs; often the SOC is whatever the physician decides to allow the MA to do.

I understand you need to work. I would just be careful. Don't make a decision that could cost you that license you worked so hard to get.

[Cook26]

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.