Can a medical assistant inject local anesthetic in FL?

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Just wondering if a medical assistant can inject local anesthetic? What about an RN?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Doubtful. Did you check with the BoN or board of medicine?

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As a CMA I would have to say no under the AAMA guidelines. I can't speak for RMAs but it should be the same.

But I will say at my current job I do a certain type of physical with Medicare PT. I thought it was out of my scope of practice and when I asked my teacher she just said as long as you are comfortable, which I am, and they are asking you under the Dr license it's ok. I know we can learn to start IVs if our job calls for it. My teacher did it for colonoscopies as a CMA.

I have personally only seen Doctors give those kinds of injections though I have prepared them.

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I contacted both boards about MA scope of practice for FL and they said there really aren't any specific regulations BC MAs practice under the physician.

Im a surgical RN and that is always done by the physician, so I just wanted to try and find some info about MAs in general. Thanks.

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That's what I feared, I don't think we are as regulated as we should be, it's up to the Dr, but it's also his license on the line. Personally I would refuse, but that's because I like being a CMA, and wouldn't feel comfortable doing it.

Have you seen a CMA/RMA give those injections?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to our Medical Assisting forum for more replies.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

I'm sorry but we've been told we are not to give medical advice.

For that I would ask the administrator of your facility and only if he/she posesses a MBA or some other advanced degree.

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Why are you asking that here? The only accurate answer you can take to heart is from the Medical, Nursing or Auxiliary licensing boards of a particular state. They are the only ones whose answer can be taken as truth.

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Here is the scope of practice for Medical Assitants via the AAMA:

Statutes & Constitution

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(f) Administering medication as directed by the physician.

The statement is vague, I'd assume it would depend per physician but anesthetics are different than giving a house med or a flu shot. The same statue is written into the RN practice act. If you really need to know for legitimate reasons you can always call or write the board of nursing an e-mail asking for clarification.

Our instructor told us a story about how he had to write the BON at the state he was in at the time to ask about EJV (external juggular vein cannulation). He knew paramedics could start them but he was unsure if nurses could when he was instructed to start one. :)

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