MA and LPN in Dr's offices

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

In my area, most clinics (GP's anyway) hire MA's and have no qualms about trying to pass them off as RN's. (RN's are not allowed by law to do phone triage, yet countless clinics allow MA's to act in this role). Where I am personally a patient, they do have a very few LPN's on staff and maybe an RN or two, the bulk of "nursing" staff is rounded out with MA's, some certified, some not.

Now, in the clinic where I work, there are 14 RN's on staff for 5 MD's and two OD's (total staff is 40+). Our specialty does not employ LPN's, but the company as a whole DOES, and compared to where I receive care, very few MA's hold clinical positions.

So clearly things vary from facility to facility.

ktwlpn, LPN · Aug 2, 2015

Experience in any setting should be your priority.The ever shifting needs of your local healthcare community may present you with many great opportunities by the time you get your license....The opposite may be true,too.Keep your mind open to anything and don't count on Monday through Friday straight out of the gate,it's unlikely.

Mkelly · Aug 2, 2015

Yea that's how it's going now...just take things as they come. The experience I'm gaining now will be with forever and help me do what I want with it at the end. I work when ever they need me pretty much, weekend, holidays. So I'm just looking forward to one day!!! Thanks!

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Aug 11, 2015

I have worked in three separate clinical offices as an LPN: Allergy/ENT, Family practice, and most most recent job in Occupational Health. My first job hired a mixture of LPN/MA's but passed us all off as nurses. The LPN's were paid significantly more though. In my second job, it was originally designated for an MA but after they interviewed me they wanted me and gave me LPN rate. I worked with one other LPN and the rest MA's. We were attached to a pediatric office where they utilized all LPNs. This seems to be the trend in my area -- very few MA's to be found in pediatric offices, almost always LPN, so thats a place for you to start. My last and most current job was originally designated for an MA as well but LPN was acceptable. I took the job because I had a need for a very set schedule due to my husband's work schedule and the demands of our three kids. Lets just put it this way: i will never accept a position that was designated originally for an MA. I was paid $15/hour starting out but was quickly doing the job of the lead nurse (never did anything out of scope) and not being paid for it. So they wanted my skills but didn't want to pay me for them. They eventually (after 1.5 years) bumped to me $18/hour but it was too little too late at that point, I just felt plain take advantage of! Some offices are great, some not so great, like all places. I find this is what big hospital systems are doing: They post the job as an MA but in the small print state that LPN cert is also acceptable. So to the average LPN they then assume they will be an LPN in their position. This isn't so. You will be paid far less and be referenced as an MA. No disrespect to MA's but I earned my title. So while my skill set was generally more advanced than the MA's I was still paid on an MA pay scale. I no longer apply or accept positions that say "LPN acceptable" after it posts for MA. It is possible to find actual LPN roles in doctor's offices though but be aware many offices (other than speciality offices) are moving to more hours of availability: i.e.: open every Saturday and week day hours into the evening. It's all about patient experience right now so its moving towards not being standard bank hours and days as it used to be. Good luck!!

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Aug 11, 2015

In my area, most clinics (GP's anyway) hire MA's and have no qualms about trying to pass them off as RN's. (RN's are not allowed by law to do phone triage, yet countless clinics allow MA's to act in this role). Where I am personally a patient, they do have a very few LPN's on staff and maybe an RN or two, the bulk of "nursing" staff is rounded out with MA's, some certified, some not.
Now, in the clinic where I work, there are 14 RN's on staff for 5 MD's and two OD's (total staff is 40+). Our specialty does not employ LPN's, but the company as a whole DOES, and compared to where I receive care, very few MA's hold clinical positions.
So clearly things vary from facility to facility.

Question for the poster;

If RN's are not allowed to do phone triage, then who is?

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Aug 11, 2015

I am confused to how people are defining "phone triage". In allergy/ENT we obviously had patients call all the time with symptoms/issues. If it was something other than "My allergy injection is red and puffy, what do I do" or something obviously routine, we spoke with the docs for further direction and relayed that to the patient....

Mkelly · Aug 11, 2015

I'm in NY and have heard the same about pediatric offices. They hire lpns. My children's peds office has lpns, and really hours I could work out with the kids. I just hope by the time I'm done with my program and finally have my license I can find something, I would hope with me being a cna for 2 years at the finish of the program will help me out gaining employment. Idk. A small clinic or doctors office is my goal. With some hard work and luck....I hope I get there. Hoping they keep needing lpns. Heard so many things from people, online, news, etc about this "fading out buesness" lol just scared of not finding it in the clinics or offices, guess I could always do ltc nursing it's just very hard for me, the environment is not thrilling, I feel I would be a better nurse else where, but that's just me, everyone has their own desires!

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Aug 11, 2015

The "phasing out LPN's" thing has been around forever. True, most hospitals no longer hire LPN's and in some areas, LPN jobs can be scarce. I am in an area with a lot of hospitals, a lot of doctor's offices, and a lot of nursing homes, not nearly enough RNs to fill those spots (Even with the over flow of nurses) so LPNs are most definitely still utilized in my city. LTC is extremely hard, I have worked it as a nurse and STNA. I haven't been in LTC since 2009 but am interviewing for a position Wednesday. Only considering it because it's an up and coming idea of "homes" and there is a 10:1 ratio -- which I can more than deal with! I was used to 30:1. Instead of LTC, I am going for a skilled/rehab where I can hone my skills. I am hoping this will make it a different experience for me. LTC really, really burned me out after 4 years so I can understand not wanting to work in that field. If you do any clinical in an office just really network and show that you would be a good part of their team. They could hire you in the future or recommend you for other offices!

DarkEyed · Aug 12, 2015

Here in the Midwest many of the doctors office nurses are LPNs.

bmarjie1 · Aug 15, 2015

I work in Washington state in the Tacoma area, and we have a pretty good mix of LPN's and MA's in the offices. I currently work in an independent Family Practice facility with 10 providers and we have 4 RN's, 7 LPN's, and 5 MA's (which is a higher ratio of licensed staff than most FP offices). We utilize the RN's for Care Coordination/Case Management and Triage. Technically LPN's are not supposed to triage in WA, we are only supposed to gather information. In WA, the MA's are not allowed to take verbal orders, administer injections of controlled substances or from a multidose vial, or refill medications based on Standing Orders, so the LPN's allow a greater office flexibility. I have been greatly challenged in my current job as I am now also ACLS certified and Anticoagulant/Coumadin certified as well.