MA

Nurses General Nursing

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How does everyone deal with an MA calling themselves a nurse?

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How does everyone deal with an MA calling themselves a nurse?

It's mildly annoying, but I tend to ignore it.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I remind them it's illegal and they could face a civil penalty and get the facility fined.

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Specializes in Emergency, Tele, Med Surg, DOU, ICU.

Every time I go to my MD or children's MD, MA are always referred to as nurses, even by the MDs themselves. I just ignore it. It probably makes them feel better. However I do notice once they find out I'm an RN, they immediately stop.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

That doesn't happens at my job, thankfully. It's more of an issue that other people are calling them a nurse. Patients tend to think any female who seems to be assisting the doctor in some way is a nurse. I've heard patients call everyone from the MA to the secretary a nurse. I correct them if it happens in a conversation I am having with them. Otherwise I just let it go.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Before nursing school I was a MA and patients referred to me all the time as 'nurse' (I'm a male btw). I correct them once and if they insist, I continue on with my duties. It's the same for when they referred to the PA/NP as Dr. Even our EMR had color coded tabs that alerts staff when the "Doctor" or "Nurse" was needed even though we did not have nurses in house.

As for MAs calling themselves nurses...why care if it doesn't affect you personally. Let them learn the hard way when they eventually get chewed out.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I've dealt with receptionists at my own doctors' offices saying "the nurse will be right with you" and then the person who comes to get me is an MA. If I get sent a survey, I might mention it. Otherwise I mostly leave it alone.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I will generally point at her and yell "LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!" and then I will rip her name tag off her scrub top and throw it on the ground and stomp on it really hard, grinding the heel of my Dansko into it until it's just a pile of sharp shards of plastic. Then I will grab one of the shards of plastic and take her Littmann stethoscope from around her neck and then cut the rubber tubing into pieces.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Roll my eyes (inwardly).

I find it pathetic when anyone who isn't a LPN or RN calls themselves a nurse.

You want the title, get the license.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I will generally point at her and yell "LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!" and then I will rip her name tag off her scrub top and throw it on the ground and stomp on it really hard, grinding the heel of my Dansko into it until it's just a pile of sharp shards of plastic. Then I will grab one of the shards of plastic and take her Littmann stethoscope from around her neck and then cut the rubber tubing into pieces.

This post deserves to go in an AN "Hall of Fame."

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