I asked my doctor to get me a licensed person to give me an injection

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been sick with pneumonia x 12 days and through this illness my left ear has plugged up, loud roaring noise and definately don't hear as well on the left side.

I went to the ENT today and have fluid behind the ear drum and had a hearing test which showed a significant hearing loss due to damage to the auditory nerve which Dr. ENT says was caused by the virus which caused the pneumonia. We don't know what caused the pneumonia, but whatever. I do trust him.

He suggested a shot of depo-medrol. I said "do you have a licensed person who can give me that shot?" His eyes got big and serious and said "Why?". I said "because I prefer a licensed person draw up my meds and give me the injection". He said "well I can give it to you but I haven't given one in years and my best MA gives shots every single day, we give alot of depo-medrol in this office. I said "Ok". He did not like me asking that question and was kinda flippant saying she gives shots every single day.

MA comes in the room and I asked her what her experience was and she said she had been in the Army as a medic x 12 years and had alot of experience and understood my concern. I told her "well you know alot of MA's think they are nurses, say they are nurses and they are not. I went to school for 4 years to be able to say I'm a nurse and I really have a problem with MA's who don't understand their scope of practice". She didn't say too much other than so you are a nurse? and she added I won't let an MA draw my blood so I know how you feel.

She gave a good shot, I didn't even feel it. I felt justified in asking the doctor for a licensed person even though he didn't appreciate it. If for nothing else so he knows that some people do object to unlicensed persons giving them injections.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I agree you have a right to ask for a licensed nurse.

Thank You

I think you just went a little far, or overboard in your explanation to her. It seemed a little accusatory?

In hindsight I agree.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
Yes, I'm a surgical resident.

That's awesome, congratulations! I understand the "TiredMD".

I'm also active duty Navy, which probably colored my opinion on your post quite a bit.

My EMT is 48 y/o and recently got out of the Navy. My dh is also a previous Navy Officer, not a doctor however.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

While I probably should ask those questions (especially where it concerns my 3 children) I don't know that I would have said that statement about many ma's call themselves nurses.

I do ask to speak to the Dr. when I call the pediatrician about one of my kids. You see, at this point the "nurse" that is going to call me back is #1 his MA and #2 I am a nurse and figure I have already done/know whatever the nurse/MA is going to tell me, so I request the Dr. even if it means a wait.

When I took my kids in for Flu shots this year I went to another Dr in the same office. They called it a "nurse visit" since the kids were only getting shots. The MA comes out to get my kids, has all the vaccine drawn up and goes to give it to my son first, before she hit the skin, vaccine was squirting out of the needle and ran down his arm! I said outloud "oops!" and wiped it off. Then when she did my daughter she did the SAME THING! I said OOPS again, she didn't get it. That made me seriously question #1 her technique and #2 wether my kids got the FULL amount of vaccine (Which I doubt!)

So yes, I think I would ask where it concerns my kids, but not so much me. I would not however say what you said to that MA.:chair:

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Specializes in Operating Room.

...I do trust him.

He suggested a shot of depo-medrol. I said "do you have a licensed person who can give me that shot?" His eyes got big and serious and said "Why?". I said "because I prefer a licensed person draw up my meds and give me the injection". He said "well I can give it to you but I haven't given one in years and my best MA gives shots every single day, we give alot of depo-medrol in this office. I said "Ok". He did not like me asking that question and was kinda flippant saying she gives shots every single day.

MA comes in the room and I asked her what her experience was and she said she had been in the Army as a medic x 12 years and had alot of experience and understood my concern. I told her "well you know alot of MA's think they are nurses, say they are nurses and they are not. I went to school for 4 years to be able to say I'm a nurse and I really have a problem with MA's who don't understand their scope of practice". She didn't say too much other than so you are a nurse? and she added I won't let an MA draw my blood so I know how you feel.

First, I want to say I don't mean to be the jerk of the group, but I think you were TOTALLY out of line the you confronted the doctor and the MA. Everyone should be concerned with the healthcare they are receiving, however, I feel that what you said and the way you acted was more condescending than a slap in the face. After being a health PROFESSIONAL for over 30 years, you should be able to get your point across in way that won't demean or question others scope of practice. I'm sorry, but I think you very unprofessional. I'm surprised you didn't ask the Doc if he was board certified.

Just my .02$

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
First, I want to say I don't mean to be the jerk of the group, but I think you were TOTALLY out of line the you confronted the doctor and the MA.

No you're not a jerk. I asked for opinions and I didn't ask for only positive opinions. I'm a realist. I make mistakes like anybody else. Open mouth, insert foot.

I don't feel in the least unprofessional asking for a licensed person to give me an injection. I believe that's my right to do so. I am no fan of MA's who insist on impersonating nurses but this thread is not about MA's. It's about my rights to ask for a licensed nurse. I had a shot once that hit a nerve in my leg and I limped for months. Yes it was an MA and also it was the wrong dose of the medication, twice the dose ordered. I realize nurses make mistakes but I believe that's less likely with a licensed person who has a license to protect. Dr's generally don't care except about the bottom line.

I also stated that in hindsight I realized I should not have said what I did to the MA. She was extremely nice about it.

I'm surprised you didn't ask the Doc if he was board certified.

Respectfully, I'm surprised you made that comment.

He is board certified, has done surgery on me x 2 and I hold him in the highest of regards. We've worked together well on the floor. But, no I would not have had any hesitation asking him if he was board certified if I didn't already know. Problem is people don't always take control of their health care decisions.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

My opinion is that is it came across as quite condescending to tell the MA you were were a BSN and the comment about MA's thinking they were nurses.

This particular MA said nothing of the sort and I think she deserved more respect.

MA's get what type of education. Twelve months? A phlebotomist in this area gets six months and I see some of them get blood from people that no one else can and get it in two seconds to boot.

Why are we always downplaying experience and so much focus on licenses? Yes, a license makes you legal, but it doesn't guarentee competence.

Give MA's a break.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I agree with Dutchgirl...I wouldn't want an MA giving me an injection. Period. That particular MA might have been very intelligent, competent etc but at the end of the day, she is an MA. I don't care that she's working under the MDs license...some MDs are thinking more of dollar signs than patient safety.

I was in the ER and they tried to have the ER tech discharge me..I did what Dutchgirl did and refused. I didn't go into it, just asked to talk to a nurse instead. I had some background in healthcare but what if I had been a patient who was clueless about my diagnosis? As it was, I had questions about one of the meds they were giving me and some of the instructions and this kid was clueless.(and he was a kid, couldn't have been older than 20)

I think every patient has the right to decide who does procedures on them. Dutchgirl, you did nothing wrong, IMO. Frankly, I think MAs should stick to taking vital signs and maybe some receptionist work but THAT topic has been debated ad nauseum on these boards.:chair:

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Specializes in Operating Room.
My opinion is that is it came across as quite condescending to tell the MA you were were a BSN and the comment about MA's thinking they were nurses.

This particular MA said nothing of the sort and I think she deserved more respect.

MA's get what type of education. Twelve months? A phlebotomist in this area gets six months and I see some of them get blood from people that no one else can and get it in two seconds to boot.

Why are we always downplaying experience and so much focus on licenses? Yes, a license makes you legal, but it doesn't guarentee competence.

Give MA's a break.

MAs don't necessarily get 12 months of school, at least not where I am. The reason why experience can be downplayed is because it is a subjective thing. Someone can have 12 years experience in a job and be a flipping moron. Experience doesn't guarantee competence either. It just means in some cases that you managed to fly under the radar enough so you don't get fired.

Now, me personally, I wouldn't have even felt the need to justify my opinion to the doc or the MA..Just would have said, "Doctor, I want a licensed person to give me my shot" gotten my injection and left. If the doc didn't like it, too freakin' bad.

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Dutchgirl,

I don't think your question was out of line, but your explanation was. We all have not only the right, but the responsibility to ask questions of our healthcare providers. If you only want an RN or LPN to give you injections that's fine, but that should be the only thing said to the MD and leave your personal opinion out of it unless asked. I think any misgivings should be directed at the MD, not the MA who's just trying to do her job. (Unless of course she's doing something completely out of line.)

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Specializes in CVICU-ICU.

If you had to choose between a MA with medic experience and office experience and a brand new RN who has given 5 injections since obtaining that degree that you think assures knowledge who would you pick to give your injection?

I surely know who I'd be picking.

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I understand where you are coming from Dutch. Also think you may have been a little sensitive (or insensitive depending on how one wants to look at it) because you are sick. Also think you were ok in starting this thread. You are talking about something that happened to you and want the responses of others. If this site were to limit thread contents based on how many times the same topic came up in one form or another, there would be a very slim amount of threads and posts.

I try not to say much about this situation because I have some very strong opinions based on my own experiences. I feel that if I start expressing my views, then I would have to express all my views out of fairness. Some of the things I would have to say are so politically incorrect that they would not be allowed on this board. But, again, I hear ya. You had every right to ask that question and to make that request. It took some chutzpah on your part to come right out and say it. More power to you.

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I wonder why the former medic is working as an MA rather than as an LPN. She is most likely getting paid less. If you ever get a chance to ask her, pass on her answer. And hope you get better soon.

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