Yes, another "MA calls self nurse" posting..sorry

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

Yes, I know there are mutiple threads on this already, but as it was happening I knew I was going to have to post this.

So my doctor is on vacation, I had to go to another doc. The MA was sent in to do vitals (didn't wash hands or sanitize them AT ALL) I had to have my ears irrigated. I said that I was sorry she was stuck with the job, it was gross.

"That's ok, I was a combat nurse and have seen worse than this" she said. I asked "So you're a nurse?"

"Not quite, in the army it's different. I could totally challenge the boards and be an RN but I choose to just be a MA. In the army I was a PA." So I thought for a minute and asked, "You were a physician's assistant?" She nodded, "Yep, and I've seen a lot more gruesome stuff than this"

I just don't get it at all. Would a PA really demote themselves to MA? Naahh.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

Some people talk really big. I just have to roll my eyes and go on with my day.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I think she's full of it... to be a PA in the Army you are a PA in the private sector as well. At the end of the PA program you graduate with a Master's Degree in the Army. You sit for the same testing that you would if you went to a program not in the Army. Same as RN same as Doctor. She was prob a medic who delusions of grandur (sp)

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I think I posted this on another "MA" thread. In the hospital clinic I work in we do employ several MAs. I once had a patient who requested that the CMA do the procedure I was about to perform because she thought an MA was "better educated" than me, the nurse.

The general public has funny misperceptions about medical people!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

A PA working as an MA? Not a snowballs chance in...well...you know...

BTW I used to be a Brain Surgeon but I got tired of having to figure out what to do with all of the money so I demoted myself to an RN! :wink2:

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

I know! I got so sick of neuro surgery and the rigors of being a surgeon I just decided to stick with nursing!

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

Maybe she was a medic in the navy? I have heard of medics in the military whose scope of practice is such that they used to be able to challenge PA boards - but I don't think that can happen anymore.

Clearly, no matter what she did in the military, she is not currently a nurse or a PA and should not be referring to herself as such.

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Specializes in ED.

Navy medics can't, matter of fact only Air Force spec ops parajumpers come out of military medic school with a license that is valid in civilian work as a MEDIC. Army and Navy have to get licensed after they get out. So no medic to PA or RN or LPN test challenge.

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"Not quite, in the army it's different. I could totally challenge the boards and be an RN but I choose to just be a MA."

Uhhh....sure. Totally.

Probably not the best time to tell her that the "challenge" she'd have on the way to becoming an RN would have nothing to do with sitting for the boards, but rather to convince a school to let her in!

I'd be willing to bet money that her version of 'physician assistant' is that she worked in a military clinic and handed the medics stuff. Totally.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Does her definition of "PA" stand for "Pretentious A$$"? If so, then it all makes sense!

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maybe she thought that PA was just a fancier name for MA?????? I would really hate to believe anyone would be this naive.. :eek:

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Specializes in Mental Health, Surgical-Ortho.

My brother is an Army medic serving in Iraq right now. There is no doubt he has been trained to do a whole lot more than a civilian medic, but when he gets out... guess what... he has no civilian cert. He just recently called me and asked if I could send him stuff from my school about their nursing program. He wants to continue working in the field, but does not want to be a 9$/hr MA (which is about the only thing he can do once he gets home since it requires no license). To be honest my brother, for all the training he has received, has a limited understanding of A&P (he recently asked me what the appendix does), limited critical thinking skills, and does not even come close to the scope of a PA (unless you add ramedic behind it).

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