Don't Call Them Nurses!

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The majority of doctors in my area refer to their medical assistants as nurses. I feel this is no different than calling a PA a doctor. Most medical offices do not hire LVNs any more, and MAs are used just like LVNs were/are. I recently received a flu shot where the skin was pulled up as with a SQ injection. I did not feel it. I wonder what size needle was used, and most of all, I wonder if the injection will be effective.

My brother was recently told by a MA that the side effect he was experiencing from a new medication had nothing to do with the med. He insisted on an appointment and the med was immediately stopped. MAs are apparently not trained in how to give injections, and they have no educational background for talking to patients about medical issues.

This is going to become a real problem in the future. Most people do not know if they are getting misinformation or getting an injection correctly. I do want to give credit to the MAs who want to learn and do the job correctly. There are some, I am sure. But they should never be called nurse.

Anyone else out there have any stories or opinions on this subject?

I'm an Lon and your post dont call them nurses was kinda rude. Rns say the same thing about we lpns that were not nurses..just remember that

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
I'm an Lon and your post dont call them nurses was kinda rude. Rns say the same thing about we lpns that were not nurses..just remember that

Um what? OP is talking about calling MA's nurses. You've kind of read into the thread---incorrectly

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
The majority of doctors in my area refer to their medical assistants as nurses. I feel this is no different than calling a PA a doctor.

Well there's a grand idea. :sneaky:

Would it drive home the point? That's debatable ...

To the person who said MAs are apparently not taught to give injections properly??? I am very sorry you feel that way. I used to teach clinically in a MA program where the MAs went to school LONGER then I did back in the day when I was in LPN school. the MAs had a 2 year program and received associate degree. The MAs were VERY well prepared to give injections and draw blood. As a matter of fact I can tell you that I have worked with some RNs that refused to draw blood because they did not have enough practice in school. So as we all know there are good and bad RNs, LPNs, and MAs in this world so let's not be jealous the MAs are making great money and working 8-5 weekdays and holidays off and working in doctors offices and is rare to get these jobs as an RN. Go back to school then and learn how to be the awesome multitaskers like the MAs I work with you may learn something. I supervise a wonderful group of highly skilled RMA and CMA certified medical assistants and we pay them very well, and have a low turn over. Now the RNs I have had to hire in MA positions (hard to get a job here as new grad RN with no experience) I have had the worse luck with RNs refusing to draw blood and do this and that has caused me more headaches. So don't let the jealous green monster take over because RNs here say the MAs are taking jobs is so untrue, there are limited places in the docs office for RNs, the MAs are taught to work in a doctors office we RNs are NOT taught what MAs are taught its plain and simple. No reason to bad mouth anyone we are all a team from the mail room to the doctors so don't become a person no one wants to work with that thinks they are better then someone else because I could care less what you have on your badge if you are unkind to others you have no place in medicine!!!!

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

I think the issue with MA's is there is no standard education path. Some have an associates with good clinical training others only learn on the job who are given a needle and told what to do (I have seen this and spoken up).

Nursing education has minimum educational components evaluated and enforced by the board of nursing. In addition to a national licensing exam required by all US states.

Triage, patient education, nursing assessment, and interpretation of lab results are all out of the scope of unlicensed assistive personnel whether MA, NA, PCA, pct, RMA, CNA, CMA or other title. Legally medical assistants (or anyone else not holding a valid nursing license) cannot be referred to as nurses in 40+ states.

If you are an MA be proud of your title/credential. Learn your scope and reform your job to the best of your title/credential and do your job to the best of your ability and skills.

Sure there are frighteningly horrid MAs just like there are frighteningly horrid nurses and horrid human beings in general. But there are also highly skilled MAs, nurses and others that know how to work as a team with their colleagues and are an asset to the healthcare profession.

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

ive also noticed a lot of MAs are really young. I'm not sure that at 19 I would have been able to comprehend a lot of what is required.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
I'm an Lon and your post dont call them nurses was kinda rude. Rns say the same thing about we lpns that were not nurses..just remember that

Who are these RNs, and what do they say the "N" in LPN stands for? That's painting with a pretty broad brush, given that many of us have never heard an RN claim that LPNs are not nurses.

However, MAs really are not nurses and they should not be called such. So the OP is correct.

This drives me absolutely batty, and I have called out our pediatrician's office on it a few times. We'll have the well-child check, and then the dr. will say "The nurses will be in with their vaccinations." I've said "Really, you have nurses giving them now? Because every other time we've come it's been medical assistants," "Is it an RN or an LPN?" (not to imply that LPNs can't give vaccinations, but because I know the answer--it's neither.) Or simply, "They are not nurses. That is, if it's any of the young ladies with the title 'medical assistant' on their name tags."

The last time it happened, I did send an e-mail about the issue to the clinic administrator with a link to my state's statute which says it's illegal to call someone a "Nurse" unless they hold an RN or LPN license. Hasn't happened since.

Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
I'm an Lon and your post dont call them nurses was kinda rude. Rns say the same thing about we lpns that were not nurses..just remember that

The Original Post after the title “Don’t Call Them Nurses"

The majority of doctors in my area refer to their medical assistants as nurses. I feel this is no different than calling a PA a doctor. Most medical offices do not hire LVNs any more, and MAs are used just like LVNs were/are. I recently received a flu shot where the skin was pulled up as with a SQ injection. I did not feel it. I wonder what size needle was used, and most of all, I wonder if the injection will be effective.

My brother was recently told by a MA that the side effect he was experiencing from a new medication had nothing to do with the med. He insisted on an appointment and the med was immediately stopped. MAs are apparently not trained in how to give injections, and they have no educational background for talking to patients about medical issues.

This is going to become a real problem in the future. Most people do not know if they are getting misinformation or getting an injection correctly. I do want to give credit to the MAs who want to learn and do the job correctly. There are some, I am sure. But they should never be called nurse.

Anyone else out there have any stories or opinions on this subject?

I see no evidence that someone has referred to an LPN as “not a nurse”.

In California, not only is it ignorant, but it is illegal for an MA to refer to oneself as a nurse. Only an LVN or an RN may use the title “Nurse”.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I'm an Lon and your post dont call them nurses was kinda rude.
What exactly is an 'Lon'? I am just curious to know.

2 excerpts taken directly from my regulatory/governing body:

The College of Nurses of Ontario recommends that nurses' name tags include their full name and category of registration (RN, RPN, NP).

Nurses are accountable to the public and responsible for ensuring that their practice and conduct meet legislative requirements and the standards of the profession. One way of demonstrating this accountability is by introducing yourself by name to the client and explaining what your role is in the health care team. This is the first step in developing a therapeutic relationship with the client.

Identification allows clients to hold nurses accountable for the care they provide. It is difficult for nurses to be completely anonymous because of the public nature of their work. However, there are safeguards that can be implemented to protect a member's Public Register information when serious circumstances exist and certain conditions are met.

Becoming a member of the College is a legal requirement for anyone who wishes to practise nursing in Ontario.

Only members of the College can practise nursing in Ontario and use the titles "nurse," "Registered Nurse (RN)," "Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)," or "Nurse Practitioner (NP)."

It is illegal for anyone to practise nursing or use any of these titles in Ontario without a valid certificate of registration issued by the College.

Your status as an RN or RPN informs the public that all individuals who identify themselves as nurses have the knowledge, skill and judgment required to provide safe and ethical nursing care.

I myself was given the flu shot by an MA as SQ as well. I shook my head and thought wow that was wrong!

Now for the MAs that I work with, they are excellent! I work at an Urgent Care Center and I'm the only RN there on my shift with one MA. It gets hectic sometimes but they know what they can and can't do and don't cross the line.

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Doctors will use less expensive help and will design programs to allow others to take over the RN role. Nurses have yet to define effectively what value we bring to the table on a daily basis. Yes there are studies to provide evidence that having RN's bring better patient outcomes...but ask an RN to define the value they bring to the table and you will find task oriented statements rather than the value.

If you think about it, the caring part of the nursing role can be accomplished by just about anyone, but the science behind what you do, keeping up with new drugs, treatments, and safety separate the nurses from laypeople or those with less training. Nurses are more than run and fetch it people. We can question orders because we know how to separate what is safe from unsafe, what has an adverse outcome over what is desired. We understand the whole person rather than just the problem so we can plan care that would optimize health for people.

I think it is high time that nurses articulate their value and be able to readily answer "What is a nurse?"

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