I'm sure this has been said.. MA's calling themselves Nurses

[AprilN, BSN, RN]

So Monday I was in a system-wide orientation for my new job as an LPN. I just graduated (so technically until i take my boards and pass.. I'm a GPN). Anyway- there was a girl in our orientation that was an MA, and said she was a nurse at her Dr's office. I was a little taken a-back by this! Call me a brat but I went through a lot to get IN to nursing school, make the grades and graduate to be able to call myself a NURSE! Does this bother anyone else??

[Boonce1]

I know I hate when they do this we had one at my office that would answer the phone and she would identify her self as a nurse. When I hear patient refer to her as a nurse I will correct them and say assisstant. I was also disturbed by a office who had no nurses at all but in their website the medical assisstance where listed as nursing staff. It is a big difference between a nurse and a assisstance yeah some go to school any where between 3 months to 18 months but as nurse we pass a liscensing exam and it is our butts on the line if u do something wrong. Who regulates MA's?

[AprilN, BSN, RN]

I have no idea.. I do know that I worked my butt off to become a nurse though! I felt kinda bad for my friend that i went through nursing school with, though, 'cause she was in orientation to be a float nurse in the same office. Which this MA knew. So she was basically putting herself up on that pedastool. Whatever, you know? I mean I'm a nurse, but I know that I am not an RN, or a NP for that matter! Maybe thats a little overboard, but I'm still a little sensitive. hehe

[Kellyma]

I know I hate when they do this we had one at my office that would answer the phone and she would identify her self as a nurse. When I hear patient refer to her as a nurse I will correct them and say assisstant. I was also disturbed by a office who had no nurses at all but in their website the medical assisstance where listed as nursing staff. It is a big difference between a nurse and a assisstance yeah some go to school any where between 3 months to 18 months but as nurse we pass a liscensing exam and it is our butts on the line if u do something wrong. Who regulates MA's?

I see your point people should tell people they're something they're not BUT as far as patients they don't care who is what. to the general public everyone in scrubs is a "nurse". Just the way it is.

[Asystole RN]

I see your point people should tell people they're something they're not BUT as far as patients they don't care who is what. to the general public everyone in scrubs is a "nurse". Just the way it is.

Except the title of Nurse is protected by law in most States.

It is the patient's right to know who exactly they are dealing with. Would be just as wrong if a RN called themselves a MD.

If I EVER heard a MA call themselves a Nurse in my presence, esp to a pt, I would flip out.

[MInurse.st]

I currently work in a clinic as a "Health Care Assistant." I perform all duties that an MA does, but I never went to school to be an MA (trained on the job).

So I don't call myself a certified medical assistant. Or a nurse. Or a doctor. Or a plumber. Because I'm a health care assistant.

Isn't it illegal to identify yourself as a nurse when you're not? I can't imagine someone walking around calling themselves a doctor and getting away with it.

[johnny depp23]

So Monday I was in a system-wide orientation for my new job as an LPN. I just graduated (so technically until i take my boards and pass.. I'm a GPN). Anyway- there was a girl in our orientation that was an MA, and said she was a nurse at her Dr's office. I was a little taken a-back by this! Call me a brat but I went through a lot to get IN to nursing school, make the grades and graduate to be able to call myself a NURSE! Does this bother anyone else??

nurse-A person educated and trained to care for the sick or disabled.

Maybe she was a nurse, just didn't have the credentials to back it up. lol

[krazievi3t6url]

I'm an MA and I work at a peds medical office. The MDs always call all the MAs NURSES. Some days she calls us RECEPTIONISTS. Other days she thinks we are janitors! I've never referred to myself as a nurse...not yet at least! Two more years and I can!

If it bothers you that much maybe you should call her out on it. Personally, I wouldn't want to be called a nurse when I'm not. More responsibility & knowledge that I do not have as an MA.

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

I just heard this the other day at a bridal shower. Someone asked what the girls did at their jobs, I hear "We work at the front desk and she's the nurse." Later on I start talking to her because I'm in nursing school, turns out she's an MA. It bothered me that she would represent herself as a nurse. Come on now, use your title correctly.

[SmilingBluEyes]

In many states, this is ILLEGAL. Yours is probably one of them. Might want to mention this the next time someone who is not a nurse is calling themselves such.

[SmilingBluEyes]

No, that is not just the way it is. Not if we educate the lay public about the differences. And we owe it to them to do so.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Even the CNAs I work with, who are considered part of the nursing staff, are quick to correct a family member or residents or anyone else who would call them a nurse. And as someone else said, the one aide said, "I don't want them to call me a nurse! I don't want to be a nurse because of the responsibilities!"