LPN versus CMA

[PeepnBiscuitsRN]

I was thinking at first of going for my Medical Assistant degree, since I want to work in a clinic so badly. I heard so much about how LPN's are getting phased out and only CMA's are getting jobs at clinics, and CMA's are higher up than LPN's. This of course coming from recruters from CMA programs. It would seem that the only difference between CMA's and LPN's are the fact that Med Asst's. get training in lab and x-ray. Well, I already am a certified Phlebotomist, and so I have that going. Any of you guys and gals work alongside Med Assts? Anyone work in clinics? :balloons:

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

So what would you do when A PATIENT who doesn't know (or care) about the differences in tile refers to you constantly as a "NURSE"? Do you risk offending the patient (to the point of that person not wanting to return to the practice, thereby losing income for the entire office staff) by correcting them...or gracefully smile, knowing that when referring to yourself or other staff members, you will use correct titles?

That is an interesting point, and something that I have witnessed for myself for MANY years. I have seen nursing administrators sometimes introduce CNAs to patients as "their nurse". Especially older patients, who hold a more traditional idea of nurses wearing white, carrying bedpans and passing medications. It is hard for many to comprehend that nurses have progressed in the directions that they have, and refuse to accept change. Not sure how to answer that one.

[nursingis4me]

The reason I asked that very question is because I currently work in a mutli-specialty office (it includes family medicine, greiatrics, and GYN) where ALMOST ALL of the patients-and some of the docs-refer to the medical assistants (4 of us) as "nurses"--yet we have no true LPNs or RNs located anywhere in the office, on campus (I work at an osteopathic medical college/university), or at any of our 3 other healthcare centers. "What to do, what to do :smiley_ab? Oh, I know---STOP BEING SO DAGGONE PETTY and just do your job to the very best of your ability and skill level!!!"

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

So what would you do when A PATIENT who doesn't know (or care) about the differences in tile refers to you constantly as a "NURSE"? Do you risk offending the patient (to the point of that person not wanting to return to the practice, thereby losing income for the entire office staff) by correcting them...or gracefully smile, knowing that when referring to yourself or other staff members, you will use correct titles?

I sure don't see how nicely correcting someone would offend the person to that degree!!

I worked as an assistant to a dermatologist. I wore scrubs and set up instruments for biopsies, handed instruments to doctor, bandaged up patients afterwards. I would sometimes get "thank you nurse" and I would ALWAYS say, "your welcome, but I'm not a nurse (yet), I'm Dr. Smith's assistant" with a smile and that NEVER offended anyone.

We had many return patients and I would never let someone assume I was a nurse without correcting them. That would be the same as lying to them. I was not (and still am not) qualified as a nurse, so I wouldn't want our patients to think they could ask me something I wasn't qualified to answer, or perform something I wasn't qualified to do.

[nursingis4me]

I sure don't see how nicely correcting someone would offend the person to that degree!!

I worked as an assistant to a dermatologist. I wore scrubs and set up instruments for biopsies, handed instruments to doctor, bandaged up patients afterwards. I would sometimes get "thank you nurse" and I would ALWAYS say, "your welcome, but I'm not a nurse (yet), I'm Dr. Smith's assistant" with a smile and that NEVER offended anyone.

We had many return patients and I would never let someone assume I was a nurse without correcting them. That would be the same as lying to them. I was not (and still am not) qualified as a nurse, so I wouldn't want our patients to think they could ask me something I wasn't qualified to answer, or perform something I wasn't qualified to do.

When you work in setting where a good portion of the patient population is older, you must remember that these are people who have different values than you do and may take offense at something which you may deem to be a "kindly correction". These patients are usually of the same age as your very own grandparents, and should be therefore given the respect that position so richly deserves; this may mean biting your tongue when trying to correct them-however "gently" you phrase it-sometimes an elderly patient views you as being disrepectful to your "elders" and won't want to come to a practice where the staff is considered to be disrepectful (even though you weren't). This may be a beloved patient by the doc, so to have that (patient gets "offended" and leaves the practice) happen would cause him or her to question your ability to provide the patients with the care the docs deemed necessary; remember, while we are there to assist the docs and provide patient care, it is also a service industry-one in which an unoffical mantra is "the patient/customer comes 1st (and is usually right-as ultimately patients generate income and jobs for us all)."

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

When you work in setting where a good portion of the patient population is older, you must remember that these are people who have different values than you do and may take offense at something which you may deem to be a "kindly correction". These patients are usually of the same age as your very own grandparents, and should be therefore given the respect that position so richly deserves; this may mean biting your tongue when trying to correct them-however "gently" you phrase it-sometimes an elderly patient views you as being disrepectful to your "elders" and won't want to come to a practice where the staff is considered to be disrepectful (even though you weren't). This may be a beloved patient by the doc, so to have that (patient gets "offended" and leaves the practice) happen would cause him or her to question your ability to provide the patients with the care the docs deemed necessary; remember, while we are there to assist the docs and provide patient care, it is also a service industry-one in which an unoffical mantra is "the patient/customer comes 1st (and is usually right-as ultimately patients generate income and jobs for us all)."

I completely understand the point of being resepctful to the eldery and that the generation they come from, anyone in scrubs and helping them is a "nurse". However, by not correcting someone, and letting them assume you a nurse, is deceitful. Don't you think they would be more offended to learn after some time that you are not in fact a "real nurse" (and I'm using that term only as I think that's how they would see it).

I agree that the patient always comes first and that also means being completly honest with them. By letting them assume something that isn't true is being dishonest.

I still don't see how correcting someone with a smile (and not being smug or snippy) could offend them. If the patient is that beloved of the doc or vice versa, I couldn't see them leaving a doc they've been with for years because of a very nice MA saying "thank you ma'am. I'm not a nurse yet, but hope to be one some day (if that's the case). I'm flattered you think so highly of my skills" :)

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

So what would you do when A PATIENT who doesn't know (or care) about the differences in tile refers to you constantly as a "NURSE"? Do you risk offending the patient (to the point of that person not wanting to return to the practice, thereby losing income for the entire office staff) by correcting them...or gracefully smile, knowing that when referring to yourself or other staff members, you will use correct titles?

I may offend the pt., but the pt. deserves to know the truth, about who takes care of them.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Oh, I know---STOP BEING SO DAGGONE PETTY and just do your job to the very best of your ability and skill level!!!"

Tell the BONs it's "pretty."

[nursingis4me]

I completely understand the point of being resepctful to the eldery and that the generation they come from, anyone in scrubs and helping them is a "nurse". However, by not correcting someone, and letting them assume you a nurse, is deceitful. Don't you think they would be more offended to learn after some time that you are not in fact a "real nurse" (and I'm using that term only as I think that's how they would see it).

I agree that the patient always comes first and that also means being completly honest with them. By letting them assume something that isn't true is being dishonest.

I still don't see how correcting someone with a smile (and not being smug or snippy) could offend them. If the patient is that beloved of the doc or vice versa, I couldn't see them leaving a doc they've been with for years because of a very nice MA saying "thank you ma'am. I'm not a nurse yet, but hope to be one some day (if that's the case). I'm flattered you think so highly of my skills" :)

Hopefully, you'll never have that experience, but I know that it can and does happen-based on personal work experience (18+ years work experience); people react differently to corrections-no matter how kind-so sometimes you have to keep your thoughts in check~just know that it doesn't help you in trying to educate the patients on proper titles/terminolgy when the physicians refer to the medical assistant staff as "nurses" (that same patient may say to themselves that the word "nurse" must be correct, if the doctor is using it).

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

Hopefully, you'll never have that experience, but I know that it can and does happen-based on personal work experience (18+ years work experience); people react differently to corrections-no matter how kind-so sometimes you have to keep your thoughts in check~just know that it doesn't help you in trying to educate the patients on proper titles/terminolgy when the physicians refer to the medical assistant staff as "nurses" (that same patient may say to themselves that the word "nurse" must be correct, if the doctor is using it).

Well, that's a different case entirely. I could see how correcting them could offend them if they just heard the doctor refer to you as "nurse".

I was never referred to as "nurse" by any of the docs I worked for, so I didn't run into that problem. I would always correct patients who referred to me as "nurse".

BTW, thanks for keeping this conversation so polite. These threads can get nasty when people have different opinions. :)

[nursingis4me]

Well, that's a different case entirely. I could see how correcting them could offend them if they just heard the doctor refer to you as "nurse".

I was never referred to as "nurse" by any of the docs I worked for, so I didn't run into that problem. I would always correct patients who referred to me as "nurse".

BTW, thanks for keeping this conversation so polite. These threads can get nasty when people have different opinions. :)

1st things 1st---you're very welcome! It is wonderful when people who have never actually met can converse respectfully.

I'm also very glad to hear that your docs refer to you in the proper manner-it makes your job of "politely" educating patients about your actual title a lot easier! Here in PA, a lot of the docs put anyone who isn't an actual "physician" or "physician assistant" in a general category of "NURSE"-and that isn't fair to the licensed RNs, LPNs, or to anyone else working as an allied health professional.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

1st things 1st---you're very welcome! It is wonderful when people who have never actually met can converse respectfully.

I'm also very glad to hear that your docs refer to you in the proper manner-it makes your job of "politely" educating patients about your actual title a lot easier! Here in PA, a lot of the docs put anyone who isn't an actual "physician" or "physician assistant" in a general category of "NURSE"-and that isn't fair to the licensed RNs, LPNs, or to anyone else working as an allied health professional.

Are you currently enrolled in nursing school or going to in the future? Sounds like you'll be a great nurse, as I hope to be next August!

[nursingis4me]

Are you currently enrolled in nursing school or going to in the future? Sounds like you'll be a great nurse, as I hope to be next August!

Thanks for the encouragement!

I just got released from a student loan garnishment I received for not paying back the loan I got while in school for medical assisting (I know, dumb not to pay it on my own-but the end result is that it's now PAID IN FULL and I am once again eligible to receive aid), so I'm now looking into attending LPN school (or even RN school) on a part-time basis. I'd like to specialize in the geriatric population-as you can see from my previous posts, it's an area that's near & dear to me.

Although I know of a few LPN or RN schools in the Philadelphia, PA area, does one have any thoughts on the part time programs in the area (full time isn't an option-I have to continue to work, as 2 incomes-mine & my husband's-are needed to run our household)?