I currently work at a cosmetic/skincare clinic that is attached to a medical clinic. There is 1 Doctor that runs both sides. Anyway one of the girls I work with on the cosmetic side is going to run his flu immunization clinic today on the medical side. She is an LPN in her home state however does not have a current license here in Canada and also does not have the immunization certification required in this province.
I am just wondering what the repercussions of her doing this flu clinic(if any) would be. The Dr. knows she does not have her current license so would it be like she is working under his license or what would happen if something went wrong, would she still be held responsible under her American license?
Also he (the Dr.) asked me to run the clinic too( I do have all the proper certifications) but I refused because he does not have an anaphylaxis kit onsite. I know this didn't make him happy but I am not risking my license if something happened.
Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
I'm a bit confused by the difference in terminology, too. But if I understand it correctly:
Medical Assistant (MA) in the States is like a physician's assistant helping out the doc with interpreting labs, assisting with procedures, giving injections... Am I right, Americans?
In Canada we have no such animal. A Medical Assistant aka Medical Office Assistant aka Ward Clerk aka Patient Care Assistant does strictly clerical, administrative work. No clinical stuff.
Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
As I mentioned in my original post, I have very limited knowledge of the Canadian medical system, so forgive my mentioning of Medical Assistants . In the States, a Medical Assistant is a very loosely regulated clinical position restricted to an MD's office and governed by each individual state's Board of Medicine. The laws and regulations vary widely from state to state. In some states, MA's are mostly clerical positions with VERY limited medical scope (may only be able to take vitals, weight, etc). In other states, MA's can start IV lines, give certain injections, assist with procedures, etc.
In the context of my original message, my point regarding hierarchies was this. An LPN working as an MA would not risk getting caught in the same legal conundrum as an LPN working as, say, a CNA. Or an RN working as an LPN. When working under the SAME HIERARCHY, a person with a higher level of licensure/certification working in a lower-tier position could get into legal problems.
For instance, assume that an RN has dual licensure as an LPN (LPN license hasn't expired yet). The RN decides to take an LPN position for whatever reason. This nurse can legally only work within the LPN scope of practice, due to being hired into an LPN position. However, the nurse is also expected to function at their highest education level. So, a situation may arise where the nurse is expected to act as an RN because of her education and license level, but cannot because she is restricted to the LPN scope as dictated by her position. I'm not sure how often this actually happens, but it's theoretically possible to be caught in this catch 22.
If the same nurse takes a position as an MA, it's a totally different story. MA does not fall under the nursing scope of practice, so the nurse has as much liability as if she had taken a job as a Walmart cashier. As a Walmart cashier, she is not expected to function at the RN level.
The fact that it's medical means nothing. If a Paramedic takes a job as a CNA, the Paramedic is not expected to function as a Paramedic, because he/she is hired as a CNA and falls under the Board of Nursing's jurisdiction and not the Board of EMS while employed as a CNA.
Does that make sense?
My goal in my original post was not to demean or belittle my own profession.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Whooooaaaa, tiger. Slow it down, take a deep breath, drop the rude attitude, and relax. I'm well aware that LPN's have a license. I was an LPN for 4 years before changing the initials behind my name. However, an LPN is *not* a higher level because a Medical Assistant, as klone mentioned, is not governed by the state's nursing practice act. In Tennessee, an EMT-Basic also has a license (in addition to certification). Does this mean an EMT-B is at a higher level than a Medical Assistant? Apples and oranges, as klone said.
It's "he", but thanks You picked up on exactly what I was trying to say.
Sorry! I didn't look at the username, and I'm guilty of assuming everyone's a "she" unless I learn otherwise.
. In the States, a Medical Assistant is a very loosely regulated clinical position restricted to an MD's office and governed by each individual state's Board of Medicine. The laws and regulations vary widely from state to state. In some states, MA's are mostly clerical positions with VERY limited medical scope (may only be able to take vitals, weight, etc). In other states, MA's can start IV lines, give certain injections, assist with procedures, etc. 
I'm well aware that LPN's have a license. I was an LPN for 4 years before changing the initials behind my name. However, an LPN is *not* a higher level because a Medical Assistant, as klone mentioned, is not governed by the state's nursing practice act. In Tennessee, an EMT-Basic also has a license (in addition to certification). Does this mean an EMT-B is at a higher level than a Medical Assistant? Apples and oranges, as klone said. 
You picked up on exactly what I was trying to say.
OttawaRPN
451 Posts
I'm a bit confused by the difference in terminology, too. But if I understand it correctly:
Medical Assistant (MA) in the States is like a physician's assistant helping out the doc with interpreting labs, assisting with procedures, giving injections... Am I right, Americans?
In Canada we have no such animal. A Medical Assistant aka Medical Office Assistant aka Ward Clerk aka Patient Care Assistant does strictly clerical, administrative work. No clinical stuff.