MA's being used as "nurses"

[Jeanbean]

Hello all! I work in a private practice office in which I am the only RN. There are several MA's and one LPN. My concern is that the MA's are referred to as "nurses". The patients often do not know that their "nurse" really isn't one. We all have the same job descriptions and duties, and I was told shortly after starting work (by a non-nurse office manager) that they consider MA's, LPN's and RN's to be the same (it is interesting, though, that I am paid an RN wage). We all are responsible for phone triage one day a week. The team leader for the "nursing staff" is also an MA!! Has anyone else run into this type of situation??

[crisscross]

I think it's time to give MA's the respect they deserve. No, they are not "nurses" and they do not have a license but they are trained and educated and not "pulled off the street".

For the most part, it's not the MA's fault that she is referred to as a nurse. The public sees anyone in the office in scrubs as a nurse just as they see our PA or NP as their "Dr". Our phlebotomists are called nurses by the pts because they don't know any better.

It's funny, I don't see the doctors getting all bent out of shape when the PA is referred to as "Dr Susan" by the pt. He's not stomping around ranting and raving about his education and license. Our medical records guy is often mistaken for the doctor and our Doc isn't throwing a hissy fit about it. He just laughs, like the professional he is. He's not so insecure as to think that this guy is actually going around impersonating a doctor!

Unlicensed assistive medical personnel are here to help, not usurp your position. They are not stupid, lazy morons. Well, not any more than anybody else.

[robynv]

Thank you so much!

After reading how MA's were thought of on here it made me sick. Thanks to everyone who stuck up for MA's. We go to school and work hard too. I know it's not the same education and not for nearly as long, but we still work hard for what we do. I want to work in a DR. office and just want to supplement my husbands income and to have something of my own. This makes sense to me now. My foot is in the door and I'll have a job.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Nobody thinks MA's are useless. I have made it very clear that there are very good MA's and they have a responsible and much needed job. The problem is that many MA's go around calling themselves a "nurse", or "I'm Dr.So & So's nurse". How many times have I called a doctor to get an order and someone calls back and says they are the doctors nurse. I take the order, ask for their name and title and 9 x out 10 I get medical assistant. It is against the law for nurses to take orders from anyone other than an LPN, RN, NP, or a Dr. MA's are great! Those that impersonate nurses are misleading the public and doing so unlawfully. I have no issues with the job MA's do. Please read carefully!

[lgnurse20]

We are referred to as "nursing staff". I am the RN and there is an MA. I have actually been yelled at for delagating to the MA. She answers questions and sometimes does things that are so far out of her scope. I went on vacation and the office manager (non-clinical) actually had the MA administer BCG and it is chemo...makes me sick!!!!!!

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

see below

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Thank you so much!

After reading how MA's were thought of on here it made me sick. Thanks to everyone who stuck up for MA's. We go to school and work hard too. I know it's not the same education and not for nearly as long, but we still work hard for what we do. I want to work in a DR. office and just want to supplement my husbands income and to have something of my own. This makes sense to me now. My foot is in the door and I'll have a job.

:kiss :yelclap: :yeahthat:

I am MA going to school to be a nurse. When patients call me nurse I always correct them and tell them I am a certified medical assistant. Not only because I think other nurses deserve the respect, but after I finish nursing school and become an RN I want to wear by title proudly knowing I worked for it.

As far as respect, I think MA's should be respected too. In the future I will proudly were my RN title, but for now, I proudly wear my ceritified medical assistant title...I love coming on this site, but it is true that many people bash medical assistants on here. I know this is on old thread and everything, but I have seen people doing it on new threads...

[lgnurse20]

I honestly don't mind MA's being called nurses. A lot of patients don't know what a medical assistant is just like they don't understand what a CNA is in the hospital. What gets me is when MA's are practicing outside of their scope.

[crisscross]

We are referred to as "nursing staff". I am the RN and there is an MA. I have actually been yelled at for delagating to the MA. She answers questions and sometimes does things that are so far out of her scope. I went on vacation and the office manager (non-clinical) actually had the MA administer BCG and it is chemo...makes me sick!!!!!!

So, where is the MD during all this?

[lgnurse20]

For a Nurse to administer BCG or Lupron the MD is suppose to be on campus. This could be in the OR or doing rounds. Many times BCG and Lupron are scheduled as Nurse visits. My office manager did not want to reschedule BCG so she had the MA do it. The docs are working on getting the office manager out. Anyone who manages a office should know the scope of a MA and RN.

[Christine996]

Hello everyone. It is nice to see that we all can talk to different nurses. I am writing in reply to the people on this site who don't understand why MA's are being hired for nursing positions. Why shouldn't we be hired for nursing positions we have put our time and money into going to school to become a medical assistant. I have received my degree in Medical Assisting just the same as all you other nurses have received a degree. I have learned medical terminology, injections, CPR, IV's, medical office management, and alot of other things. I am very upset with all of you who think we are just hired from the street and showed how to do things once or twice. Who do you honestly think would take the risk of being sued now days. I hope you all change your minds about medical assistants. Some of us who are hired have a right to be there. :angryfire

Concerned and upset,

Christine996

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

why shouldn't we be hired for nursing positions we have put our time and money into going to school to become a medical assistant. i have received my degree in medical assisting just the same as all you other nurses have received a degree.

i don't think anyone believes you shouldn't hired for medical assistant positions, but no one should claim that an ma is a nurse, or vice versa :). there are differences in the schooling and the roles, or we'd all have the same legal titles.

the main objections many posters have had on this site is doctors referring to ma's as nurses (and in some cases ma's referring to themselves as nurses.)

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the responses- I'm glad I'm not the only person dealing with this- I'm also glad that MA's are somewhat limited in their duties. They are not limited at my office at all- they do phone triage, cath pts, change sp tubes, instill intravesical chemotherapy, etc. I have brought my concerns to the docs several times, and now am looking for another job because I cannot watch patient safety being compromised anymore.

chemotherapy!!!!!!!!!! I, as an RN, cannot even TOUCH chemotherapeutic agents until I am certified......... thats how it is in my area, anyway. And cath patients?????!!!!! Isnt all this practicing nsg without a license???? I wonder if they are even aware.