Does anyone else find this offensive?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

"Fast paced multiple physician practice seeking fulltime Medical Assistant/LPN"

MEDICAL ASSISTANT/LPN?? I emailed them regarding their job posting and they said "its the same thing and they get paid the same". What are your thoughts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I would email them back.. no its not the same.

Medical assistants make way less than what I make and it is not in their scope of practice to do what I do as an LPN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I do not mean to put medical assistants down by any means. It's just not the same thing. Medical assistant programs is not nursing school. They are not licensed to be nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Apparently the practice doesn't care whether or not they have a licensed nurse in that specific position. I've actually seen those 2 positions paired together many times in the one-or-the-other manner. I've never known whether that comes from ignorance or don't-give-a-s*** attitudes on the part of the physician's staff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah. They are just two very different things. They said they will pay $12 an hour. I'm not sure what salaries are for LPN's but it should be more than that. They worked hard to get where they are. They should be paid according to their skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

This is common in my part of the country. I think usually the offices will take MAs if they can because they can pay them a little less, but the ad means they will consider both types of applicants. I don't think it's meant to be offensive. They want someone that can room patients and give shots along with other miscellaneous duties as both MAs and LPNs can. What they DON'T want is an RN -- too expensive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

An office RN in my area makes a whopping $16.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.
An office RN in my area makes a whopping $16.

Perhaps I should have said "relatively" expensive, as compared to what LPNs and MAs make.

That's horrible RN pay. I haven't checked clinic listings in my area, but I would venture a guess that they are at least in the low 20s for no experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Heads up everyone it's coming to a town near you. Do you really wonder why none of the new grads (RN) aren't being hired. Many places have figured out it's cheaper to hire the so called medical asst. I mean really; what is it 1 year of training and they are allowed to give medication.

I am told that here in Hawaii they can also administer IM and SQ shots. JC what's left but to have a mandatory charge RN on the floor. After all you have the CNA's being certified at everything from feeding tubes to wound changes; you have the medical assistant passing the meds and everyone is "practicing" under the charge nurse's license.

You think it's bad now wait till Obamacare kicks in. After all, as we speak there are hundreds of non-medical people re-writing the book on procedures. Whoppeeee; we're all going to be on a new revised medicaid.

When this happens I predict that the "nursing concern" as I call it will get greater as the medical assistant and CNA's are allowed larger scopes of practice (to save money of course). I almost have to laugh when I say that because they don't even have licenses!

I have been warning people for> 10 years since the first time I worked at a place in 1999 and they were starting to hire the medical assistants to pass meds back then. Back then they were a bit of a novelty; now it's a reality.

Please don't get me wrong I don't think the medical assistants are doing anything wrong but it's how they are allowed to practice medicine without a license. It also cheapens the profession by accepting $12 bucks an hour for such work when clearly they should be getting much more. And let's face it, they can't possibly have an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the disease process that they are "treating", they aren't trained long enough to acquire that knowledge.

I live in Hawaii where each island spits out at least 40 new RN grads a year per school and that's not including the islands that have several universities and community colleges which then were talking 300 and up per year. Where do they go? All the jobs are being filled with the new age medical assistant. I recommend anyone getting their RN to go for the BSN right off the bat to increase your chances of getting noticed. It's bleak over here for hiring RN's and it's not going to get better anytime soon. I know 2 RN's who work for

Offensive; I find it a tragedy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

In reference to above, I've never seen an MA employed in an inpatient area, ever. This may be the way things are going in Hawaii but I've not seen this anywhere in the continental US.

I haven't been through their program (obviously) but it is my understanding that MAs are trained to do procedures (shots, assist doctors, do some front office work in clinics, etc.) I don't think they are trained to do nursing or direct patient care (feeding, toileting, hygiene, etc.) I'm not sure how they could get hired as caregivers in a hospital based on what they learn. CNAs that go through a med training course -- possible, they are already used in LTC in some areas. But MAs?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

As I read these posts concerning lack of employment, and low pay for nurses, I feel very frustrated. While we are in a recession, clearly, these governments fail to value people's lives. It's all about saving money, and cutting corners...EVERYWHERE! The reality is, patients and families require quality care, and nurses bust their butts all day long.

Aside from the new grad issue, I shudder to think what will happen as people continue to age, and require complex care, with fewer nurses. Any intelligent politician should understand that nurses are an investment, not an expense. Over the next two to five years, organizations will be crying for RN's....just like they were in the late 90's after that recession.

Hang in there, because they do need nurses. At the moment, these politicians are attempting to stall for as long as they can in paying for our services. This trend won't continue for much longer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ha, I think I saw the same ad and was just as frustrated as you are. I search for jobs everyday and shudder everytime I see this. I went to NURSING school for a reason, not just so I can be lumped in with MAs and offered crap pay if I'm even considered. I've been making a little more than 12$ as a CNA. So I'm supposed to take a pay cut when I've worked my butt off and earned myl license?!

So ridiculous. :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment