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.
Aside from whether what she said to the MA and doc was tactful (sorry Dutchie, I think what was said to the MA was a bit much), there was no need for her to be "professional". She was the patient.
I respectfully disagree. If I understand the OP, she identified herself as a RN (professional) hence should conduct herself accordingly.
HOWEVER....the OP was miserably ill, and most assuredly human, therefore capable of mistakes. There is a saying that we make horrible patients; combine that with the fact that many of us have a touch of Axis II (personality disorder; although I'm not saying the OP does)...well, stuff happens. The OP has since acknowledged that in hindsight she was wrong (for those of you who didn't read every post); perhaps she will even apologize to the MA--as difficult as that might be.
i havent read through all of the responses but...wow would i be angry if i were that MA. you basically insulted her experience right to her face. I would be beyond P.O'ed.
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.
I will ask her next week when I go back and I will be apoligizing to her for the comment I made. I was not talking about her calling herself a nurse and I think she knew that but I want to make sure she knows I was not acusing her of anything just nervous rambling.
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.
I did make my choice. The doctor offered to give me the injection or the medic with 12 years experience. I choose the unlicensed medic who did an excellent job and I did tell her that.
I will be apoligizing to her for the comment I made. I was not talking about her calling herself a nurse and I think she knew that but I want to make sure she knows I was not acusing her of anything just nervous rambling.
That would be very professional of you. Actually, professional or not, it would be a kind and humble act that would probably make both you and her feel better.
I will ask her next week when I go back and I will be apoligizing to her for the comment I made. I was not talking about her calling herself a nurse and I think she knew that but I want to make sure she knows I was not acusing her of anything just nervous rambling.
That says a lot about the type of person you are. I hope we all will handle similar situations with as much class.
You also handle criticism in a very professional manner (which is a lesson I sorely need to learn).
I hope you are on your way to a speedy recovery! :)
I give you credit, Dutchie. Not everyone would be willing to go back and make amends. Especially since there wasn't anything wrong with your request (only the delivery of it) in the first place.
I give you credit, too, for receiving this thread's input with grace. Some of it has been pretty harsh (ironic, as that's what you were being criticized for), yet you have kept your cool and responded well.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I hope your next meeting with the MA goes well.
Dutch posted this for some feed back, but I don't think she deserve being bashed. So she didn't handle it well, and if you had read the thread you would have seen that she herself said that in hindsight that she could have handled it differently.
I agree it is frustrating as some MA's do protray themselves as a nurse, not right. But alas another thread.
Heartfelt thanks jmgrn65 for your post. I appreciate you taking the time to carefully read the question and the responses. I don't feel bashed because I know what the question was and those answers, whether they be positive or negative, are all I am interested in. I wouldn't have asked if I only wanted positive reactions. Been here long enough to know that's not gonna happen no matter the question.
There are too many posters who just read what they want to and are only too anxious to jump on the flaming bandwagon for which this question was not intented.
I have on several occasions posted that in hindsight I should have handled it differently but that's just jumped over as though I had never written it. But it makes no difference.
***Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read and answer appropriately.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Dutchgirl, I have to also say that I have admired your responses to our comments. I hope that I was not harsh myself, but it is hard to take things in grace when we are being criticized, no matter how lovingly. I see that you are a real, girl. A great nurse to team up with!
PMHNP10
1,041 Posts
I respectfully disagree. If I understand the OP, she identified herself as a RN (professional) hence should conduct herself accordingly.
HOWEVER....the OP was miserably ill, and most assuredly human, therefore capable of mistakes. There is a saying that we make horrible patients; combine that with the fact that many of us have a touch of Axis II (personality disorder; although I'm not saying the OP does)...well, stuff happens. The OP has since acknowledged that in hindsight she was wrong (for those of you who didn't read every post); perhaps she will even apologize to the MA--as difficult as that might be.