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

[AprilN]

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??

[lkwashington]

The medical assistants students are taught by an RN or LPN. The MA's learn different things nurses are not trained to do until they are on the job. I dont excused this a bit. The doctor offices are hiring more MA's instead of nurses. The offices may have just one nurse and he/she is charged.

I dont like the fact more than you do about MA's calling themselves nurses. They are treated like one in the office environment. It is wrong but it happens.

[AudreyLPN]

I think everyone agrees it is wrong to call yourself a nurse when you're not. I used to be an MA at my job and I specifically called myself and introduced myself as an MA until my license came in the mail, even against my bosses wishes. There is, however, an MA at my job who has failed nursing school several times who usedto call himself a nurse. I think it did bother most of us, because like some of you said, we worked hard for this title. And, quite frankly I worked hard for my MA title too. I would list myself as whatever I am, because I'm proud of my accomplishments. It just made us feel that he was embarassed to be an MA. After telling him numerous times that's it's not right, even illegal to identify yourself as a nurse, we finally just having up and started introducing ourselves to him like so, "hi, i'm Audrey and I'll be your brain surgeon today."... I think he finally got the hint.

[DogWmn]

It is not legal to identify yourself as a nurse, no license no nurse. I have in the past called the BON about it. I know it might sound petty but these people are practicing nursing WITHOUT a license and to do so and that is fraud.

If the docs are calling them nurses they should be re-educated and explain the fraud issue and ask them to call non-nurses assistants or at least not a nurse. BTW if the doc is refering to an MA as a nurse he could also be libel for fraud representing his staff as nurses. The doc could also be sanctioned.

My doc has an MA in his office and he has never called her a nurse, he'll usually call her by name or say my assistant.

One last question aren't these people wearing ID/name tag with title???? I've worked in some very rural clinics and even then we'd wear a name tag stating Firstname last initial LPN or Firstname last initial MA or Firstname last initial Assistant.

[CrazierThanYou]

My sister in law is a CNA and works at a local MD's office with a bunch of other CNA's. They ALL call themselves "nurses" and just about everyone in town thinks that they ARE nurses.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately, only specific job titles such as 'registered nurse' and 'licensed practical nurse' are protected by the law. Therefore, someone without a nursing license is still legally able to refer to oneself as a 'nurse' because the person is not claiming to be an RN or LPN.

[WhiteScrubs]

Unfortunately, only specific job titles such as 'registered nurse' and 'licensed practical nurse' are protected by the law. Therefore, someone without a nursing license is still legally able to refer to oneself as a 'nurse' because the person is not claiming to be an RN or LPN.

Wow... you're right. Was sure that 'nurse' was protected too, and looked up the legislation online for my state, so I could site my source when I disagreed with you... nope, I was wrong. At least in my state, the protected titles are: Registered Nurse, RN, License Practical Nurse, LPN. Well, thanks for teaching me something new!

I still hold that this may vary by state, and I definitely agree that it is wrong to identify yourself as a nurse if you are not one, and the individual(s) involved need to be corrected.

[Asystole RN]

Unfortunately, only specific job titles such as 'registered nurse' and 'licensed practical nurse' are protected by the law. Therefore, someone without a nursing license is still legally able to refer to oneself as a 'nurse' because the person is not claiming to be an RN or LPN.

Depends upon the state. In my state "Nurse" is protected, only an LPN or RN may use the title of "Nurse."

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

I would think an MA would be proud enough of their title to use it.

[countryboy]

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.

DNP anyone?? sorry couldn't resist...

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

I can't believe this MA called herself a nurse at a health care facility orientation! She must know most people there know the difference.

[gaspasser2b]

Lying about being a nurse is unique to nursing as a profession. I have not run into anyone lying about their title as doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc... Since I've been enrolled in nursing school, I have come across quite a few people claiming to be an RN, (one of which I'm currently in school with who, ironically works as an MA in a doctor's office) . I agree with the OP. This is a huge slap in the face considering the amount of hard work, dedication, and effort I'm putting into nursing school. I can only imagine how those nurses already licensed feel about these imposters. Why is it that any and everyone working in the health care field without licenses have the audacity to represent themselves a nurse?!? IMO this is new phenomena is not only extremely annoying, but is also down right disrespectful to the individuals who are practicing LICENSED nurses.

[RossayRN]

Happens too often with MAs, CNAs, etc. My brother had me thinking his fiance's mom was a nurse and had given her some anxiety meds that were hers (I'm thinking why would she try to treat her daughter with meds that aren't prescribed to her?) come to find out that she was a CNA. here's a site that lists the 28 states that currently have a "Nurse protection clause" in which nurse is only to be used by RNs and LPNs. This link is below:

Title "Nurse" Protection