MAs call themselves Nurses at my office..opinions please?

Nurses Relations

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  1. Is it okay for MAs to refer to themselves as nurses?

    • 185
      No way!! They are not nurses and do not have same scope of practice as LPN or RN
    • 1
      Might be okay...depends on the circumstances.
    • 1
      It's okay as long as no one gets hurt.
    • 6
      Don't care if they call themselves nurses.

193 members have participated

Hi,

I have been an LPN for 2 1/2 years and am a new Grad-RN since 9/2011. I got a job working at a Dermatology Office last November. It's the only job I could get, and I am making the best of it. They have me training to work with all the providers...general pathodermatologists, cosmetic dermatologists and the Moh's Cancer surgeon. It was not my first choice, but I am very grateful for the opportunity and grateful to all who are helping train me.

My question is this...while I have the GREATEST respect for the Medical Assistants who work there and really know their stuff, they refer to themselves as nurses to the patients in person and when making phone calls to patients. I have to say, as someone who worked SO hard for my RN, this really bothers me. I'll reiterate...I respect them, BUT they are not nurses. I wouldn't even think of referring to myself as a PA or MD. One of the MAs said it just makes it easier to refer to all of us as nurses.

May I have your opinions on this matter? I don't want to rock the boat as a newbie. There are other RNs who work in the office. I haven't asked them if it bothers them. Would it bother you? Thanks!!!

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Protecting our profession is one thing (very important!) but the REAL issue is in protecting the public. We are obligated to report these instances. It is illegal and should be treated as such.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

In this state, it takes 2 years to obtain a CMA degreee and 9 months to get a LPN. The MAs would be offended to be called a nurse, lol.

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But MAs are NOT licensed medical professionals. I cannot imagine what an MA would study for two years.

MAs learn technical tasks, that assist an MD to examine patients, and learn/do, other, "nurse like skills", that in my opinion, are used to fool his/her, patients, into believing that they have professional staff looking out for their patients. A medical, "bate and switch", at the expense of innocent patients.

JMHO and my my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN ,CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Certified Medical Associates have an Associates of Science degree here. They go to the community college for 2 years. It is more than twice as long as the LPN program (9months) and the same length as the ADN program. I have no idea what the curriculum entails and I don't really care. That really wasn't the point. I do think, hypothetically, if I had an associates degree and the (hypothetical) LPN next to me did not, I'd be a bit peeved if you "demoted" me to that status, lol.

They don't call themselves nurses in our office anyway, so you can relax. As it is, we don't happen to have any LPNs. We have a dozen or so CMAs, and one RN. The MAs are very specific to say the are "CMAs," not "MAs" and not nurses. They are clearly very proud of being CMAs. They do not want to be confused with nurses. It is not a step-up in their eyes, at best a lateral move. However, they absolutely do not want to be mistaken for CNAs. They want to be sure people understand CNAs go to "training" for 2 weeks. They go to community college for 2 years. Probably longer with the pre-reqs. I will admit to previously having been very ignorant, thinking them to be interchangeable with CNAs. I have been set straight on this point, lol.

They do take a professional licensing exam. They sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

The American Association of Medical Assistants' Certifying Board has collaborated with the NBME since 1977 to provide high quality test development, administration, scoring, and psychometric services in support of the CMA (AAMA) credentialing program. The Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) credential is awarded to medical assistants who have completed an accredited postsecondary medical assisting program—including a practicum—and passed the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination offered by the AAMA’s Certifying Board. The exam is a rigorous assessment of the knowledge necessary to perform medical assisting administrative and clinical procedures. Following initial certification, the CMA (AAMA) must recertify every five years by continuing education or exam to demonstrate continued competence. For more information about medical assisting and the CMA (AAMA) credential, visit the AAMA website at: www.aama-ntl.org.

OK, I C&P the curriculum from the local CC for you. 6 full time semesters, 101 credit hours including pre-requisites.

MEDICAL ASSISTING PROGRAM ASSOCIATE DEGREE

PRE-REQUISITES: ENG 090; MAT 060; RED 090; CIS 110, 111, OR 113; OST 080 OR 131

Humanities Electives: ART 111, ART 116, HUM 110, HUM 120, HUM 121, HUM 122, HUM 123, HUM 130, HUM 150, HUM 160, HUM 211, HUM 212, HUM 220, MUS 110, MUS 112, MUS 113, PHI 210, PHI 215, PHI 240, REL 110, REL 111, REL 112, REL 211, REL 212, REL 221, SPA 111, SPA 112, SPA 211, SPA 212.

*Course work which can be completed prior to admission to the program CANDIDATES MUST MAINTAIN A 3.0 TO PROCEED.

Expository Writing

Orientation Med.

Law & Ethics

Admin. Procedures I

Exam Room Proc. I

Prof. Research & Reporting Terms II

Admin. Proc. II

Drug Therapy

Lab Proced. I

Exam Room Proc.. II

Externship

Clinical Perspective

College Accounting

General Biology I

General Chemistry I

Medical Coding/Billing

Symptomatology

Prin. of Mgmt.

General Psychology

Principles of Public Health

Intro. To Communication

College Algebra

Admin. Proc. III

Anatomy & Physiology I

Anatomy & Physiology II

just wanted to also point out that CMAs must recert every 5 years, which is more than nurses in some states have to do. now who sounds more "professional," lol.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

That's the same school, LPN program, which, by the way, requires a only 2.5 as opposed to a 3.0.

The point of all this is that the medical assistant bashing in this thread is misplaced. From a anthropological point of view it is interesting. Nurses have to feel superior to someone, so they kick around the MAs. OK, intellectually I understand why. My point is, you picked the wrong group. Many MAs are licensed professionals and better educated than half the people here who call themselves nurses. On this forum it has become generally accepted dogma that LPNs and RNs deserve the same title and respect, so by the same token you are going to have to extend that to MAs, be they the degreed or diploma brand. In short, I think you need another group to feel superior to. Perhaps you should be trash talking the hospital volunteers. :cheeky:

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

The point of the thread was not to bash or disrespect MA's or anyone else but to state that it is not correct for anyone to call themself a nurse if they have not earned that title. MA's deserve respect...but that has nothing to do with their title.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Not all states have CMA status and I don't get the feeling there is any trash talking. As a nurse with a Doctoral degree I am sure you understand the legalities of someone using the title "Nurse" and it has become legally protected in most states which has also been supported by the ANA......

Title "Nurse" Protection :Title "Nurse" Protection

Background

Restricting use of the title "nurse" to only those individuals who have fulfilled the requirements for licensure as outlined in each state's nurse practice act is a protection for the public against unethical, unscrupulous, and incompetent practitioners. Nurse practice acts describe entry level qualifications such as education, practice standards and code of conduct for continued privilege to practice nursing. Limiting use of the title "nurse" to only those who have satisfied the licensure requirements ensures the protection the public deserves.

At least 37 states are known to have language in their Nurse Practice Act; either explicit in restricting use of the title "nurse" to only those who are licensed or implicit language restricting use of any words implying the individual is a licensed nurse.....

AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KS, KY, MD, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY

Related Resources

The OP intent was calling attention to a situation in her office and not necessarily pertaining to your place of employment nor your state. The MA's, in your state, take a certification exam and not a licensing exam.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
That's the same school, LPN program, which, by the way, requires a only 2.5 as opposed to a 3.0.

The point of all this is that the medical assistant bashing in this thread is misplaced. From a anthropological point of view it is interesting. Nurses have to feel superior to someone, so they kick around the MAs. OK, intellectually I understand why. My point is, you picked the wrong group. Many MAs are licensed professionals and better educated than half the people here who call themselves nurses. On this forum it has become generally accepted dogma that LPNs and RNs deserve the same title and respect, so by the same token you are going to have to extend that to MAs, be they the degreed or diploma brand. In short, I think you need another group to feel superior to. Perhaps you should be trash talking the hospital volunteers. :cheeky:

From some of your previous posts on this forum, it's obvious that you feel superior to non-NP nurses. What makes your DNP any better than a BSN other than your scope of practice?

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I don't know where you got such an idea, dirtyhippygirl, for nothing could be further from the truth. I have spent the plurality of my career as a non NP. I am not so much into self loathing. ;) I feel neither superior nor inferior to anyone. You have essentially given voice to the quintessence of my own posts in this thread, lol.

Your second query is a different thread for a different time.

The primary debate in this has been, should medical assistants refer to themselves as nurses. We are in perfect agreement, no, they should not. Nor should nurses not as qualified as medical assistants refer to themselves as thus. Can we agree on this as well?

Statements such as "they like the status bump" or something to that effect (I'm not going to go back and look) seem to imply that medical assistants are somehow "less than" nurses, were interpreted by me as pejorative. If there were not then intended to imply (incorrectly as it turns out) that medical assistants are inferior in status or education to nurses, I am not sure how I misinterpreted the meaning of this remark and others of the vein that I shall not bother to go back and quote. Forgive my misunderstanding then. I am quite sure the posters meant something else entirely. I'll wait with interest for them to explain what it was they did mean.

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Wow, what state do you live in? My nursing curriculum looked nothing like that. I also noticed you added the pre-reqs in with the CMA's curriculum. And MA's are certified, not licensed, there is a difference. The main issue is when someone hears the title "nurse" they expect someone who has a certain knowledge that is taught to nurses. MA's are taught the how, LPN's are taught the how and the why and the what to do, and are exposed to much more through clinicals and such. With all this being said, I do not think MA's are any less than me, it is not a battle of who is better, it is a matter of what is legal and what is not. And like someone else says, the only person who matters is the patient anyway.

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MY nursing curriculum in my Diploma program:

NURSING FUNDAMENTALS

ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY 1 & 11

MICROBIOLOGY

CHEMISTRY 1 & 11

NUTRITION

MED SURG I II III

PHARMOCOLOGY PEDIATRICS OB PSYCH NURSING

SPEECH and ENGLISH

CHILD PSYCH AND ADOLESCANT PSYCH

MY BSN program added:

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

ORGANIC CHEMISTY

INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING

PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

AMERICAN HISTORY

COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING

A PLETHORA OF OTHER CLASSES AND REQUIRED ELECTIVES

I am sure that I left other classes out.

The point is that MAs learn how to be, "gofers", for doctors in an office setting., and to do tasks.

RNs and LPNs, are TAUGHT how to care for patients, and their special medical/surgical needs, observe changes in their condition, and KNOW how to react and treat, the changes in the patients' condition.

Yes, MAs have their place, but for an MA to state to a patient or family member, that they are, "just like a nurse", is fraud, and deliberatly misleading, and devalues the education, skills and knowledge of REAL nurses.

JMHO and my NY $0.02

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

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