CMA posing as nurse...?

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Hi,

I have a question: Is it legal for a CMA to pose as a nurse and give medical advice? I called the clinic here this a.m., because I have a fever & sore throat, and the clinic's receptionist, who I know is a CMA, answered the phone. I asked to speak with a nurse, and she said "This is her". Ok, I thought that was odd, but this tiny clinic here maybe doesnt have any nurses, so I told her about my symptoms and asked if I should come in to rule out strep throat. She then pretty much told me that i'd know if I had strep, because I would be "unable to function", so its probably viral and theres nothing they can do for that. Doesnt she overstep some bounderies here??? The result of this conversation was that I felt like I am probably overreacting, so I didnt go in, but my fever is still there. So I will most likely have it checked out tomorrow. I do not want any medical advice here. I just wanna know if a CMA is allowed to pose as a nurse & give advise like that, because I doubt it.

Thanks!

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Specializes in LTC.

Your right ! No one should pose as a nurse if they are not a nurse, and giving medical advice is unacceptable as a CMA is un-acceptable.

I would report her right away !

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

It's illegal for a CMA to say she's a nurse. It's also illegal for a nurse to diagnose an illness over the phone. Either way, what she did was illegal and not in your best interest to listen to.

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No nurse I know would advise a patient with both a fever and a sore throat not to have it cultured. We know strep does not have to result in "the inability to function" to be present and an untreated GAS can be very harmful. I do not think CMA's are qualified or educated enough to triage patients over the phone. If that clinic knowingly allows CMA's to dispense medical advice, I hope their is paid because it's their license. I worked in a pediatrician's office with a CMA. She was not allowed to triage, return phone calls or give meds, shots etc. Basically all she did was weigh, measure and put patients in rooms. I'd also let someone know that she identifies herself as a nurse. She's not. We've all worked very hard to earn that title. Hey, I hope you feel better...please get it checked out. Even it's not strep, better safe than sorry.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

its illegal for her to say she is a nurse. period!

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I had the same thing happen in my clinical rotation and I was severally annoyed. I would inform the provider, see how he/she feels about it.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

it's considered as illegal as if someone said he/she was a doctor, by the way...

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i would go to a different clinic and go get examined by a physician. sore throats can turn into all kinds of yucky stuff. i hope you feel better!

and yes, it is illegal that this girl posed as a nurse and also that she basically diagnosed and dismissed you over the phone.

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it is illegal to impersonate a nurse. each states law is different, but my state (wisconsin) says:

"except as provided for in s. n 3.05(4)©, wis. admin. code, no person may practice or attempt to practice professional nursing, nor use the title, letters or anything else to indicate that he or she is a registered or professional nurse unless the person holds a current registered nurse license granted by the board of nursing"

get your throat checked out before it gets worse...

.

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Not only is it illegal for a CMA to give medical advance, it's illegal for any nurse but an advanced practice nurse to give medical advice.

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A quick way to know if someone is a nurse is this: If they hang a stethoscope from their rear-view mirror, they are not a nurse.

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.
Not only is it illegal for a CMA to give medical advance, it's illegal for any nurse but an advanced practice nurse to give medical advice.

In my state one does NOT have to be an advanced practice nurse (only an RN with said experience)to give medical advice. I used to work at a medical clinic where the triage RNs (those who answered phones)consulted a large manual containing the information given out to callers based on symptoms relayed to the triage nurse.

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