boards need to regulate MA's

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Really sick of ma's doing all sorts of things under a dr's license. (or RN license). It is quite amazing the things they do. Scary as a matter of fact. Really feel the boards of Nursing need to take a stand on this issue. They regulate everyting else , why not MA's (medical assistants). I plan on looking into it in Ohio. Any one else ? Don't get me wrong, I love MA's Cna's etc... they are a vital part of the medical world. However, the things they are allowed to do are jaw dropping. Not that skills are difficult but the critical thinking aspect of the skill is another matter. I know they are acting under the license of a DR. but, don't want them to care for my child or 88 yo mother.

Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.
That's just what we need in the acute care setting. Talk about a recipe for disaster. The day that would happen would be the day I would resign on the spot.

No need to quit over this, it is not likely to happen en mass. And I have worked with a couple nursing assistants who are also CMA's. A really neat combination of skills and an invaluable resource if they can be found.

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Not if I can help it. I am not be working but I still kept my hand in things. Sorry, no matter how you slice and dice it, your education and clinical experience is not equal to that of an R.N. And if you are well trained, you would release your own limitations. You have very little to lose, herre in Florida, or any other state. You do not hold a license. You are not held to the same standards that a R.N. is, i.e. Florida's Nurse Practice Act. You cannot function outside of your doctor's office. And if I have anything to say about it, you will not function in any of the three hospitals in my county. I don't want to trust my life or the lives of those I love, to someone who thinks so highly of her/himself and so little about the patient.

I have a suggestion. If you want to be called a nurse, perform the duties of a R.N. go back to school, graduate, sit for the licensing exam, pass the exam, then you can call yourself a nurse.

Woody:balloons:

Woody, DRBear is a BSN with CCRN. I think the post was mere speculation.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Woody, DRBear is a BSN with CCRN. I think the post was mere speculation.

And I think an R.N. who thinks so little of the standards of her former state needs a few lessons in current nurse practice.

Woody:angryfire

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No need to quit over this, it is not likely to happen en mass. And I have worked with a couple nursing assistants who are also CMA's. A really neat combination of skills and an invaluable resource if they can be found.

Sorry, just not in an acute care setting. I don't want to be responsible, and I doubt the docs would supervise them properly.

CNAs are definitely as asset. But I have to draw the line at unlicensed personnel venturing into the acute setting and potentially performing skilled (or "de-skilled") procedures. Haven't the waters been muddied enough? Do we really need to confuse patients further? Don't patients deserve qualified, licensed nurses taking care of them?

Just reading the majority CMA posts here leads me to believe there would be some real issues with them knowing their limitations. Many of them already see no difference in what they do and what nurses do. To have that attitude brought into the acute care setting? Thanks, but no thanks.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.
...

I have a suggestion. If you want to be called a nurse, perform the duties of a R.N. go back to school, graduate, sit for the licensing exam, pass the exam, then you can call yourself a nurse.

Woody:balloons:

I appreciate your concern and support your patient centered activism, but I am, I do, I did, I have (3 times, working on #4), I did (and certification in two specialties), I did, and I do.

I was involved in the discussion about 'nurses' being licenced by the BoN when I left Florida and I can see things are not going as I had hoped. To quote a wise professor "In spite of all we do, nursng remains relegated to the foot of the healthcare table and shows little interest in demanding a larger responsibility."

D.R. Nurse1

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
Not if I can help it. I am not be working but I still kept my hand in things. Sorry, no matter how you slice and dice it, your education and clinical experience is not equal to that of an R.N. And if you are well trained, you would release your own limitations. You have very little to lose, herre in Florida, or any other state. You do not hold a license. You are not held to the same standards that a R.N. is, i.e. Florida's Nurse Practice Act. You cannot function outside of your doctor's office. And if I have anything to say about it, you will not function in any of the three hospitals in my county. I don't want to trust my life or the lives of those I love, to someone who thinks so highly of her/himself and so little about the patient.

I have a suggestion. If you want to be called a nurse, perform the duties of a R.N. go back to school, graduate, sit for the licensing exam, pass the exam, then you can call yourself a nurse.

Woody:balloons:

You said it woody! A 8 month program for MA does not compair to a 4 year RN degree. It makes me get boiled inside every time I call the doc and get the MA calling themselves the nurse "its the same thing" No no no no no! I agree if you wanna use the title earn it! If not be proud of being a MA and say you are a MA!

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I appreciate your concern and support your patient centered activism, but I am, I do, I did, I have (3 times, working on #4), I did (and certification in two specialties), I did, and I do.

I was involved in the discussion about 'nurses' being licenced by the BoN when I left Florida and I can see things are not going as I had hoped. To quote a wise professor "In spite of all we do, nursng remains relegated to the foot of the healthcare table and shows little interest in demanding a larger responsibility."

D.R. Nurse1

I am a bit confused. I have lived here, with the exception of three years, since 1980. R.N.'s and L.P.N.'s have always been licensed down here, so what do you mean by your statement 'nurses being licensed'? I agree with the professor. I think one of the reasons we remain relegated to the foot is that we have allowed so many others to take over our responsibilities, never fighting or questioning them. And it is usually at the behest of employers, whose interest is mainly in their bottom line.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.
I am a bit confused. I have lived here, with the exception of three years, since 1980. R.N.'s and L.P.N.'s have always been licensed down here, so what do you mean by your statement 'nurses being licensed'? I agree with the professor. I think one of the reasons we remain relegated to the foot is that we have allowed so many others to take over our responsibilities, never fighting or questioning them. And it is usually at the behest of employers, whose interest is mainly in their bottom line.

Woody:balloons:

I was helping with the legisative attempts to confine the word 'nurse' to those licensed by the BoN before I moved north in 2002. At that point in time the word 'nurse' in FL could be used by anyone to mean anything when we both know the expectation created in the consumer on hearing that their 'nurse' is at thier bedside can only be fulfilled by a licenced nurse. As pointed out here repeatedly, most folks do not realize what a nurse does until they become one themselves. But the expectation for this level of care is created with the single word 'nurse.' Most consumers do not care about the parcing and bickering around 'nurse' v 'licensed practical nurse' v 'registered professional nurse,' particularly when they are in pain, cannot breath, or their loved one is injured. So my point, more clearly stated, is 'nurse' should only mean one licensed by the BoN. This is true in SC now but I am unsure if any other state has enacted this legislation, and I am sure it was not true in Fl in 2002.

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I am an MA (medical assistant). I also agree with all that medical assistants do it is very shocking and we do not get the in depth proper training for all we do in the office under the dr's license. Although MA's should ask if they aren't sure about something out of respect for the dr's license. MA's are a waste they get paid crap to do the crucial stuff and in the end most MA's give us a bad name........

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I am an MA (medical assistant). I also agree with all that medical assistants do it is very shocking and we do not get the in depth proper training for all we do in the office under the dr's license. Although MA's should ask if they aren't sure about something out of respect for the dr's license. MA's are a waste they get paid crap to do the crucial stuff and in the end most MA's give us a bad name........

What do you think the answer is?

welcome0.gif

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.
I am an MA (medical assistant). I also agree with all that medical assistants do it is very shocking and we do not get the in depth proper training for all we do in the office under the dr's license. Although MA's should ask if they aren't sure about something out of respect for the dr's license. MA's are a waste they get paid crap to do the crucial stuff and in the end most MA's give us a bad name........

I think you are over generalizing the situation. CMA/MA's have a valualble role and contribute to the efficent delivery of health care here but there are a few 'bad apples' that everyone remembers and talks about. This clouds the useful contribution of the silent and proficient majority of CMA/MA's. Although you are correct that the proficient ones deserve better pay, mobility and recognition for their contribution.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care and Emergency.
What do you think the answer is?

welcome0.gif

Thanks.

I do not have an answer but I observe that in a collegial practice environment where each healthcare team member contributes to the overall patient care goals and who's input is valued by the other team members there appears to be more appropriate practice and less (need) to push the envelope of our individual practice acts or our training.

Call me a dreamer but IMO collaborative practice is a great solution to this issue. Who gets to tell the doc's?

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