I'm an RN working in a rural outpatient clinic. Over the years the administration has reduced the number of RNs to 3 in a clinic with 9 providers onsite and 3 provider's at satellite clinics. They hire some MAs, CNAs, CMAs and in some cases, Jane Doe off the street. They "train" these new hires to check patients in, take histories, vitals and assist the physician with minor surgical procedures, start IVs and give injections. They are also "trained" to work the phone which involves appt scheduling, phone triage, dispensing medical advice regarding anything from constipation to chest pain and medications, calling test results-normal and abnormal. Not all of them call themselves nurses, but when a patient speaks to them, most of the patients assume they are talking with a nurse because of the way the office is set up. We're all referred to as "the nursing staff". I work directly for one physician, with an MA as my partner and a scheduler who also helps with some of the phone work. My question is how legally liable am I, as the RN, for actions by these co-workers, or information given to the patients by them? The clinic tells us we have no liability but it concerns me. Thanks for any feedback!!!!
