CMA need same pay as RN

sharpeimom · Feb 22, 2009

i totally disagree. you once being a CMA yourself didnt use your brain??? The only difference is your paycheck!!! which proves my point how much nurses think they are better. They are so paranoid that they will lose their liscense. i dont want to be like that which is why im not going to be an RN

We work long hours and study many more hours to become RNs -- some of us finish with A.D.s, some with B.S. or B.S.N.s, some of us continue on to some version of a masters program and a few progress to a Phd if we plan to teach or do research. Also, there is the diploma-trained RN, who is often nearing retirement age. What do we all have in common, you wonder? We asssess the patient in many different settings. In fact, as an RN, I never quite go totally off duty. If I see my elderly neighbor in the grocery store, I'll peek into her cart to make sure she's still eating well and if I think I need to, I will call her daughter in N.M. Yep! Assessment at work. If I see my next door neighbor who's eight plodding up the street with tears in his eyes, I'll ask him in for cookies and a mug of cocoa. That's assessment in another form too. There is a good deal of overlap in some of the office and bedside duties of a RN and a M.A. but at the end of her shift, the RN is the one held responsible if and when something goes wrong. I'm not rubbing your nose in it, rather, it's THE LAW. RNs start IVs, hang blood products, take orders, are responsible for tracking down that gruff grumpy older M.D. who still thinks a good nurse is seen but not heard, when he orders a med dose for a 300# 6' 4" 25 year old man instead of my 88# 92 year old LOL patient. BTW, that happened on a Friday evening and he HATES being disturbed on his weekends off. In a teaching hospital, experienced RNs keep a watchful eye on the house staff. They make lots of mistakes -- especially in summer and fall. At the beginning, we know more than they do, in many cases, because we've been nurses for awhile and they have "book larnin" but very little actual experience with live patients. When an RN has a patient has a CVA patient and she seems droopy, the RN must assess whether or not she's just feeling the exaustion that follows having a stroke and never quite goes away or if she could have had (or be in the midst of) having another one. Despite the fact that you are a very very good M.A., and the RN's extra pair of eyes, ears and hands, you do NOT have exactly the same knowledge and skillsets. You spent about two years learning to be a M.A. plus any work time you may have had. I spent four years to become an RN with a BSN then two more years to earn a MSN. Not saying I'm better that you, just that we have different jobs to do by virtue of different educations. Different jobs = different pay. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2009

Sharpiemom, you summed it up wonderfully! :yeah:

nc cma · Feb 22, 2009

As i posted before, i still stand beside my beleif. Im sure you all do a great job as nurses. But i feel really strong about it. Maybe not the same pay, but close to it. Lets move on from this. NEXT!

BuddahNature · Feb 22, 2009

i am the only CMA where i work. there are about 8-9 nurses. For some reason, all of them think they are better than me just because they are nurses. in fact, i do most of their job. They get paid 30-40hr while i do most of their work for less than half that. I asked for more money, but my reply was "the nurses have to use their brain more" Then i started thinking of going back to get my RN degree. The minute i said something, all the other nurses "all of a sudden" wanted to go back to school. This made me think that they are trying to compete with me and not be equal to me. Most of them are lazy and really dont respect me. Whenever i have a problem with one of them, the NCM does not have my back. But believe me, she has theirs. I do know that there are other reasons why they do that i dont wish to get into. So i have decided not to express any interested of going back to school-at least to them. I have decided to be an ultrasound tech.
Anyway, I just think just because nurses give meds and CMA dont, we should get the same pay. I know that many people would disagree but thats my opinon

I can tell you are going through a rough time at work. Like it or not here is the reality you will have to deal with. More education,equals more pay. I am not saying you do not deserve more pay,but in the work world, and certainly in nursing,that is not how things work. When I went frrom from nursing assistant to LPN, I saw a substantial increase in pay. I am working on getting my RN now. Meanwhile, throughout my LPN career,I have often found myself performing nearly all the tasks,of an RN,and sometimes with an increased patient load. I was not paid RN money. I feel you may have to go from CMA to RN to get things in focus for yourself. The only other suggestion,I would have for you is to go on a website for a nursing school,and read from beginning to end what the admission process is,then continue on to read about the courses they have to take. I feel you need to get a copy of your job discription,and one for the RNs so you can see the vast differences between CMA and RN responsibilities. Perhaps if you follow my suggestions you can better understand why an RN gets financially rewarded. You perceive that most of the nurses are "lazy" , and you feel you do most of the work. You may in fact be doing more work, and have more direct patient contact. That is just the way things work in healthcare, are, based on education. Why go to school to be an RN only to get the same workload a CMA does, along with RN responsibilities? You are there in many ways so the RN can be free to do those things only RNs can do, and please try not too be so shortsighted,to think doing a med pass is the only extra responsibility RNS have. I really do not feel you are in a position to label these RNs "lazy." Unless you are a nurse manager,you are not in a position to evaluate any professional, as that is not your place to do so. If you have some concerns,and can voice them in such a way to foster better teamwork,then speak with the appropriate person,in your dept. Meanwhile , I doubt,if your perception is true of the RNs you work with. No one would pay a staff that does not function. You paint a picture that makes it seem, patients would lack care, and not be safe with these "mostly lazy nurses."

You know, everybody has an ego,some people's are bigger than others, but why rain on anyone elses parade ? I have met those types who think they are better. Long as I know my selfworth is not based on what someone else feels about me, I say those types are like the rest of us are allowed their feelings. After your 8 hour shift is done,you do not take any of these folks home with you. As long as they are not violating any policies concerning mistreating you as an employee,why not ignore their issues,and concentrate on doing your job ? Also,if you continue to base your career choice,on the reactions,and feedback of others,then you may wind up always dropping your plans because you are not liking what others are saying.

truern · Feb 22, 2009

As i posted before, i still stand beside my beleif. Im sure you all do a great job as nurses. But i feel really strong about it. Maybe not the same pay, but close to it. Lets move on from this. NEXT!

Not very familiar with internet message boards, are you??

The way it works is you post some asinine opinion and then we get to rag you until you see the light.

nc cma · Feb 22, 2009

After your 8 hour shift is done,you do not take any of these folks home with you. As long as they are not violating any policies concerning mistreating you as an employee,why not ignore their issues,and concentrate on doing your job ? Also,if you continue to base your career choice,on the reactions,and feedback of others,then you may wind up always dropping your plans because you are not liking what others are saying.

finally, someone who is not on the attack and i can clearly understand. Thanks

nc cma · Feb 22, 2009

oh i am very much aware of message boards and expected the responses that i get. But still stand by my opinions

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2009

As i posted before, i still stand beside my beleif. Im sure you all do a great job as nurses. But i feel really strong about it. Maybe not the same pay, but close to it. Lets move on from this. NEXT!

No.

Simply put, you don't know what you don't know. It's that knowledge gap that drives the difference in pay, not how hard you perceive you work compared to them.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2009

Have you ever asked the RN's you work with what they think makes them different from a CMA? You might be surprised by their answers.

sharpeimom · Feb 22, 2009

Not very familiar with internet message boards, are you??
The way it works is you post some asinine opinion and then we get to rag you until you see the light.

Teeheehee!! :yeah:

I'm sorry but it has been a strange day here and I really needed that...

am I a very bad girl?

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

he's still on his d-i-e-t

sharpeimom · Feb 23, 2009

oh i am very much aware of message boards and expected the responses that i get. But still stand by my opinions

To dredge up an old Archie Bunker line...

"I've already made up my mind, so don't confuse me with the facts."

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

nc cma · Feb 23, 2009

i try to keep my personal info to myself at work because people judge too much. there is too much gossip about others. Those people are not my family or friends, just coworkers. They dont pay my bills or any of that. I go in a do my 8 hours and im gone. I know many of you might say get another job which i am in the process of doing.