MA's diagnosing illness!

TeenyBabyRN · Sep 29, 2003

Originally posted by jemb

Personally, I'd like to see the clinics that have RNs post it on their doors, and those without any nurses post "no licensed nurses on premises", so the public has a chance to know what to expect.

This part made me LOL as I tried to picture people lining up to be treated at a place that posted "no licensed nurses on premises". I suppose those same people who insist on thinking that nurses do nothing but make beds, empty bedpans, fluff pillows, and give sponge baths would be the first ones in line. They deserve the care that they get (or don't get) IMO.

sjoe · Sep 29, 2003

"because of the label, many people are fooled into thinking that an urgent care clinic is a step down from an ER."

Amazing what these profit centers can get away with by misleading labels. I have wondered the same thing myself. Ditto for the "patient care technicians," etc. in LTC and hospitals. Very misleading, as demonstrated by the fact that many patients and their families call these people "nurse so-and-so." While the CEOs smile all the way to the bank.

stella123 rn · Sep 29, 2003

One of the things I hate is when you call for an appt. and the receptionist wants all the details of why you want to come in. That just burns me. I know they need to know how much time to block out but my gosh come on.... I am not going to go into detail over the phone with someone who has less training than me. They just keep on pushing if I am vague. Once I was having painful intercourse and she was like "what kind of pain? How Often? When did it start?

smk1, LPN · Sep 29, 2003

I hate when you call for the advice nurse and wait on hold for 15 minutes and then the person who picks up is a medical secretary or someone other than a nurse and they transfer you to the advice nurse after you give then your symptoms. they can't help you anyway so what in the world was i on hold for the first time then? they should just have you leave a message for the nurse to call back if the wait time is over 10 minutes or so. I know some systems do this and i like this better than waiting on hold for a uap.

kids · Sep 29, 2003

I used to work for a VERY large multispecialty clinic in my town that uses MAs and inhouse trained lay people to do Peds triage and advice AND these staff members call out prescriptions to pharmacies. Clinic admin seems to think it is just fine because they are working from published protocols.

Note I said I used to work there, I kinda got railroaded out when I became to vocal about the situation.

mattsmom81 · Sep 30, 2003

Nurse wannabees throwing around diagnoses and medical information is a major PIA...specially this week. I guess they can't resist trying to sound important...and like the power trip, eh?

Just dealt with a respiratory therapist who I caught teaching and diagnosing to friends and coworkers of a comatose woman...heard him tell them a flat EEG meant brain death and she would have a repeat in the am...this was AFTER I refused to discuss the patient's dx with them, asked them to leave ICU (at request of immediate family)and had given them the general report of 'critical' with no details. They need to go to the family for more details than that.

Now I don't mind RT's teaching FAMILY about RESPIRATORY issues...but this was way out of line, IMO.

Apparently these non-nurses haven't heard of HIPPA either...

Trouble is, I occasionally will hear a nurse overstepping their bounds and giving confidential info and medical diagnoses too freely too.... Their license I guess.

tonicareer · Sep 30, 2003

Well I have taken medical assisting classes and one of the first things and the thing that is continually drilled into our heads was that Ma's cannot diagnose. However many doctors and clinics do not hire people who are trained in a Medical Assisting program. They hire relatives and friends or just off the street. By the way the person who "assists" at the dentist office or cleans your teeth may not be properly trained either. I would complain in writing to the facility about what the "MA" said. Just a nametag or someone saying they are an MA doesn't make it so.

mattsmom81 · Oct 1, 2003

Originally posted by kids-r-fun
I used to work for a VERY large multispecialty clinic in my town that uses MAs and inhouse trained lay people to do Peds triage and advice AND these staff members call out prescriptions to pharmacies. Clinic admin seems to think it is just fine because they are working from published protocols.

Note I said I used to work there, I kinda got railroaded out when I became to vocal about the situation.

Those MA's work real cheap...and the docs feel OK with it cuz they are working under their medical license. Seems risky to me, but guess the docs are going with the $$$$$...

Just like the hospitals are....:stone

Trishikins · Oct 24, 2003

UGH! Being a CMA, myself, I can't even imagine doing something like diagnose someone...(let alone send one home with something broken!!..sorry to hear that had to happen) Unfortunately, its fairly common practice. Have seen it done many times, with even the most "innocent" of things. Educating a patient and giving lab results are our major problems at our clinic. We're told over and over not to, and yet it falls on deaf ears, reguardless. Heck, I don't even tell a patient whether or not their BP is normal, due to the fact thats an assesment on my part. My standard reply is "You can discuss that with the doctor". Perplexing looks are only half of the responses I have gotten with that over the years, but I'll take dirty looks over a pink slip any ol' day.

I too wish there were another term to call us. the "Medical" part throws everyone off, and next thing you know, the patient is calling you a nurse. You try your best to clarify you aren't, and just as you think things are cleared up, your doctor calling you "My nurse" and pharmacists paging for "Dr so-in-so's Nurse". Its quite frustrating. Maybe some MA's get off on the power trip, but its quite uncomfortable for most. We've had countless meetings with staff to NOT refer to us as nurses. Alot of good its done. MA's are a great asset to the clinic, and I'm proud to be one, but when we allow ourselves to be called a nurse, it disrespects those that have worked hard to get that title. The only educating MA's should be doing is educating the public we are NOT nurses. Thats it! :)

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2003

Please complain in writing. A phone call is likely to be blown off.

There is more and more of this kind of thing going on all the time.

So many people want to be what they are not. If they think they know so much, - I'd like to see them try and get the education that they think they don't need.

I worked with a CNA once, she was a really good CNA most of the time except for one thing- she thought she was a doc. We used to jokingly call her "Doctor Debbie."

A pt would ask a question, and she'd shove herself in front of the RN and start answering the question like she knew what she was talking about.

When a pt needed to be cleaned or changed, she'd sometimes stand in the doorway, telling me how I could be doing it better, instead of helping me.

When she started going to LPN school, you should have heard her whine about how hard it was- "They are making us trace the path of a drop of blood through the entire circulatory system! And we have to memorize the names of ALL the bones!!!"

We kept telling her, we know! We've all been through it!

FINALLY, she started to get it. She started correcting pts when they called her "nurse"- "I'm not the nurse. I'm the nursing asst. Can I help you with something?" etc. She starting actually ASSISTING, instead of standing there lecturing. She finally realized the importance of the "little things" like pts always having fresh water, clean towels, ACCURATE V/S. She even stopped spouting her "medical" opinions.

As for this MA at your husband's doc's office- I think the doc would put a stop to her "practicing medicine" post haste if you inform him in writing what she said concerning your husband's condition.

My best wishes for excellent care and a full recovery for your husband.

MandyInMS · Oct 24, 2003

Originally posted by stella123 rn
One of the things I hate is when you call for an appt. and the receptionist wants all the details of why you want to come in. That just burns me. I know they need to know how much time to block out but my gosh come on.... I am not going to go into detail over the phone with someone who has less training than me. They just keep on pushing if I am vague. Once I was having painful intercourse and she was like "what kind of pain? How Often? When did it start?

grrrrrr..that gripes me too stella..I know most of the staff @ my MD's office ,so they usually don't quiz me..but has been a time or two with a new secretary/MA I've had to be a little blunt .All they really need is my name so they can have my chart pulled,and they pretty much schedule the same amount of time for everybody anyways..some take more/less time..I'm sorry, but my medical info is on a need to know basis.

itsme · Oct 24, 2003

I agree with you there 100%. I have been known to be in one of my crabby moods and was attempting to make an appt, an the receptionist was getting on my nerves about WHY I needed to be seen- I told her I know they book for 15 min. appts, so just give me one of those. She kept insisting, so I politly told her she could read my chart after my appt to know why!