How do Nurses feel about CMAs?

[CMAMW]

I just wanted to get a some information on how Nurses feel about Ceritifed Medical Assistants because I am currently in a CMA program. Since my ultimate goal is to become a NP, I plan on going into Nursing in the future. Unfortunately my current personal situation prevents me from attending Nursing school. I wanted to get into the medical field until I am able to attend Nursing school. In the area I live in CMAs are a valuable commodity in the Physicians office. I feel that CMAs, although we are not licensed, serve as a valuable member of the healthcare team. We are trained specificly for the ambulatory care setting in both clinical and administrative procedures. Please give me your feelings on CMAs.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

WA-educator

Same thing in SC.

http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/t40c033.doc

No one may use the word "nurse" as a title, or use an abbreviation to indicate that the person is a nurse,

unless the person is actively licensed as a nurse as provided in South Carolina law. If the word "nurse" is

part of a longer title, such as "nurse's aide," a person who is entitled to use that title shall use the entire title

and may not abbreviate the title to "nurse."

[Angella Walker]

I haven't even read the entire thread but...I started out as an MA and that was truly the only job that I enjoyed in my working experience. I only left the job and went back to clerical work after I really felt the impact of the wage difference. I made 4 dollars more as an AA.

The practice I worked at didn't have the "greater than thou" attitude that you are insinuating (sp). Actually the doc I worked for only hired MA's and trained student nurses. He was strictly high risk pregnancies. The midwives handled everything else.

The doc I worked for was definitely cheap. I could count on one hand the days that I was actually able to take a lunch break but it was so much fun.

I am a person that believes that if you want something bad enough, you will find a way to do it. I am VERY happily married with 5 children (3 of my own, 2 through kinship), working full time and am still a full time student. This didn't happen overnight. I went though semester after semester of taking a class here and there.

I don't know your situation, but there is always a Plan B. If you want to be an RN be one!

[Heather333]

I have had bad experiences with MA's posing as a nurse. I recently had to have a tetorifice shot which was given to me at my GP's office. The MD says the nurse will be in to give you your shot. The MA comes in and gives me the shot in the TRICEP instead of the deltoid even after I corrected her. Needless to say, the Dr and I had an exchange of words and I promptly found myself a new MD. MA's are not nurses and should not be addressed as such.

Heather