Medical Assistant in Hospital??

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

I have a question my SIL lives in San Diego and just got her medical assistant certificate and says she is now working at one of the hospitals in San Diego so my question is this...can a MA work in a hospital?? I was under the impression they only worked in clinics and Dr's offices. Thanks for sheading light on this!

:idea:

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yep you can be a medical assistant and work in the in a hospital i am one and i do my label is a health service assistant but its the same thing i just took my nclex lvn and im waiting to get my results. but yeah she is telling the truth.

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

[. but yeah she is telling the truth.[/size]

Very interesting here in TX I have NEVER heard of that, not saying it cant be done, just never heard of it. Thats why I was asking. Thanks for sheading light on my question, may I ask what areas of the hospitals use medical assistants and what they are allowed to do. I really appreciate your info I had no idea!! ;)

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

In Texas an MA can work in a hospital as a nursing assistant or patient care technician. Very very common.

ETA: They give baths, take vitals, help patients with ambulation, assist with meals, answer call lights, and in some places they are trained to do foleys (yes - insert), sterile dressing changes, phlebotomy, ekg's and other procedures. They are not allowed to give medication or do anything involving an IV in general.

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

procedures. They are not allowed to give medication or do anything involving an IV in general.

Well yes I forgot about nursing assistants my SIL is just UGH here is the story, she JUST got her MA in CA and said she is working at a hospital "doing the same thing the nurses do" she insists she can do bloodwork and interpret it, give IM, SQ, IV meds and start IV's. I am in nursing school and she just keeps telling me how I am wasting my time cause she is already basically a nurse with just her MA. It just pisses me off!! :angryfire So that is why I was asking if what she is saying is true. I figured she would be doing the basic role of a Nursing assistant if she was working in the hospital just didnt know about the other stuff. Thanks!

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well i give injections, draw blood i just dont start iv's i dont give medication threw iv's basicly i dont touch iv's because that is out of my scope as a ma i dont care what she say being a ma is not just like being a nurse i have been doing both parts of it. but depending where you work is another thing she may get exposed to alot though plus being a ma you dont make good money so dont worry your hard work will pay off

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

Thanks Mistiblue I am just frustrated with her and now my in laws are driving me insane with" OH B said she is doing this and this have you done that yet?" or " B is practically a nurse why is it taking you so long!" @@ Whatever but any way thanks for enlightning me to what all MA's can do I had no idea!!

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Thanks Mistiblue I am just frustrated with her and now my in laws are driving me insane with" OH B said she is doing this and this have you done that yet?" or " B is practically a nurse why is it taking you so long!" @@ Whatever but any way thanks for enlightning me to what all MA's can do I had no idea!!

Hey...I know this is late, but I just searched for this because there is a girl at my hospital that is training to become a medical assistant, and I was suprised to hear her say she gave an injection. I didn't realize they were allowed to do that.

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I have a question my SIL lives in San Diego and just got her medical assistant certificate and says she is now working at one of the hospitals in San Diego so my question is this...can a MA work in a hospital?? I was under the impression they only worked in clinics and Dr's offices. Thanks for sheading light on this!

:idea:

Don't let your inlaws get to you, you know that a MA is NOT even close to a nurse. I was an MA for 3 years, got my LVN and now working on my RN. MA's do not possess nearly the same critical thinking skills or knowledge that a nurse has. I am not saying there is anything wrong with being an MA, it's a great job and a great stepping stone to a nursing career however it is a very trainable job where as nursing is much more skilled. Keep toughing it out in school and just understand a nurse is a nurse and an MA is an MA.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Well yes I forgot about nursing assistants my SIL is just UGH here is the story, she JUST got her MA in CA and said she is working at a hospital "doing the same thing the nurses do" she insists she can do bloodwork and interpret it, give IM, SQ, IV meds and start IV's. I am in nursing school and she just keeps telling me how I am wasting my time cause she is already basically a nurse with just her MA. It just pisses me off!! :angryfire So that is why I was asking if what she is saying is true. I figured she would be doing the basic role of a Nursing assistant if she was working in the hospital just didnt know about the other stuff. Thanks!

Oooooo, you're not wasting your time. She's not basically a nurse, she's an MA, big difference.

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Ignore them :)

A nurse is so very different from a MA. It sounds like she might feel a little self conscious about the fact that she is a MA and you will be a nurse. But that is her problem; you shouldn't have to worry about it!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

And as Grandma used to say "I could glue fur to my whole body, and attach a long tail and i still wouldn't be a cat"

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