MA's Calling Themselves Nurses?

[Sheri257]

Ok, we've just switched doctors under our medical plan. So I go in for a routine checkup, etc. at this clinic. They tell me the nurse will be with me shortly. Of course, since I'm a student, I always ask nurses how they like their jobs etc. So I ask: You're a nurse, right? She nods. How do you like the job ... blah, blah blah ... Not once did she correct me. Then I ask where she went to school. When she names the school, I'm confused because I've never heard of it.

That's when she says, "Oh ... I'm an MA."

Then the doctor comes in, and tells me "the nurse will be with you shortly." I'm like ... what nurse? Then I find out that everybody at the "Nurses Station" is actually an MA, but everyone, from the receptionist to the doctors, are referring to these MA's as nurses. My husband, who has to go in fairly frequently, says they told him the same thing ... that these MA's were nurses.

Now, I don't know if there's actually anything wrong with this, and maybe this isn't a big deal but, it seemed really weird to me. I've been to other doctor's offices where the staff was very careful to tell me they were MA's, not nurses. Especially when I asked if they were a nurse or not.

Any thoughts? Is this allowed? Why would even doctors refer to MA's as nurses?

[SmilingBluEyes]

Everywhere I have worked, cna's and ma's have always been considered "Nursing Staff" Is it illegal for them to call themselves "nurse" or just illegal if they call themself "RN" or "LPN"?

It's illegal to use the title of "nurse" in ANY form unless you are licensed nurse. MAs are NOT nurses and may not be referred to as such by anyone.

[SmilingBluEyes]

And folks, this may be an "old" thread, but apparently, it's still a current issue. If you have new or more current articles or new stories related to this issue, I would kindly ask a new thread be started, as large thread like this do take up a lot of bandwidth. Thank you!

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

I agree that this is a continuing problem in many settings.

I just called my physician's office a few weeks ago and asked to speak to the nurse. The receptionist put the MA on the phone (I know this because I met both the RN and the MA and know their names). I again asked to speak to the nurse, because the question I had could not be answered by an MA. I was really polite with my request. He immediately got and attitude and in a defensive tone said "I am the nurse". I didn't call him on it at that point because I didn't think it would be effective. I plan to report this behavior to the physician the next time I see her.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I agree that this is a continuing problem in many settings.

I just called my physician's office a few weeks ago and asked to speak to the nurse. The receptionist put the MA on the phone (I know this because I met both the RN and the MA and know their names). I again asked to speak to the nurse, because the question I had could not be answered by an MA. I was really polite with my request. He immediately got and attitude and in a defensive tone said "I am the nurse". I didn't call him on it at that point because I didn't think it would be effective. I plan to report this behavior to the physician the next time I see her.

Better yet, report it to the BON and Board of Medicine, if the physician does not change this situation. Many won't bother----or don't seem to mind MA's being mistaken for nurses, just be aware.

[RedSox33RN]

And folks, this may be an "old" thread, but apparently, it's still a current issue. If you have new or more current articles or new stories related to this issue, I would kindly ask a new thread be started, as large thread like this do take up a lot of bandwidth. Thank you!

Thank you! It is a current issue.....at least for me. I just posted a similar thread a while ago in the Nursing Student forum. I know I have to let it go, but I've worked too hard to get even this far, and it chaps my rearend.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/ma-saying-shes-the-same-an-rn-132610.html?highlight=wannaBEanRN

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I work as an MA, assisting a nurse practitioner who always refers to me as her nurse. I tell the patients I am her assistant, and not yet a nurse but am in school to become one.

I think that docs etc may see it as easier to call their assistants nurses because that's what the general public finds easier to expect and it may be easier than explaining the difference should someone ask (I know that doesn't make it right tho)

I told my supervisor that I am going to take the LPN test in January so that I can be a nurse. She said why bother, all the patients think you are a nurse anyway. I explained that yes, but I would like it to be legally so

[sjrn85]

I work as an MA, assisting a nurse practitioner who always refers to me as her nurse. I tell the patients I am her assistant, and not yet a nurse but am in school to become one.

I think that docs etc may see it as easier to call their assistants nurses because that's what the general public finds easier to expect and it may be easier than explaining the difference should someone ask (I know that doesn't make it right tho)

I told my supervisor that I am going to take the LPN test in January so that I can be a nurse. She said why bother, all the patients think you are a nurse anyway. I explained that yes, but I would like it to be legally so

I wonder how much it would matter to your supervisor if she suddenly found herself slapped with a fine (or worse) because she was improperly referring to you as a nurse.

This is even worse than a doc calling an MA a "nurse"; as an NP, your supervisor should know better and should be the last person to diminish the profession.

Be careful that you don't mislead patients either, or you could find yourself answering to the BON. Doing so could interfere with your plans to become a legitimate member of the nursing profession.

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I always represent myself honestly. She may have been tongue-in-cheek since my job won't/can't change if I get my LPN anyway. I think the point she was trying to make was more along the lines of its silly to get the LPN now and then graduate in the spring and be an RN by July.

My supervisor refers to me and the other two MA's as MA's, but the NP I work closest with is the one who refers to us as nurses.

[sjrn85]

I always represent myself honestly. She may have been tongue-in-cheek since my job won't/can't change if I get my LPN anyway. I think the point she was trying to make was more along the lines of its silly to get the LPN now and then graduate in the spring and be an RN by July.

My supervisor refers to me and the other two MA's as MA's, but the NP I work closest with is the one who refers to us as nurses.

That's a violation of the nurse practice act in just about every state. She should know better.

Try calling her a PA sometime and see how she reacts. :rotfl:

[Bipley]

Before starting Nursing School, I worked in a Nephrologist office as a secretary. He let 2 nurses go and hired MA's to save money. Time came for this doc to get his yearly TB test. The MA used an entire new bottle for the test instead of the 2 cc's she was supposed to use. There was enough in the bottle for 14 skin tests and she used it all for the one test!!!! Immediately after, the Doc knew something was wrong. He went back and looked at the bottle, called his dermatologist and poison control, the local ED, and finally called his faithful RN that he had just recently laid off. Looks like he will probably have a few false positive readings in the next few years, but no permanent damage. The next week, the MA's were gone and the regular LPN and RN were back to work.........with a nice fat raise. I thought it was a valuable lesson learned.

Impossible.

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

When I was in nursing school I remember professors telling us that no one should assume the title of nurse unless they are indeed a nurse.

I used to work in an assisted living facility where there were only 2 licensed nurses and the rest CNA's and Medication Technicians. The administrator ALWAYS referred to them as nurses. This facility did not require a licensed nurse to be on the premises for 24 hours as long as one was on call. They used to market this facility as having 24 hour nursing care. That is SO misleading.

[ayndim]

Maybe the next time a dr refers to a ma as a nurse, a good reply would be "I went to this other doctor once for ?? and she said the samething. Well actually it was a NP/PA but doctor, np, pa there really isn't a difference, right? I just call them all doctors." Bet it would burn them up and hopefully drive home a point.:angryfire