Medical assistant with a problem

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I graduated in May, got hired on in mid June with a doctor who practices internal medicine. Pretty much the majority of the elderly patients have snubbed me because they miss "renee". I am guessing Renee was the person before me. Who knows.

Anyway today i tried to do the usual, call the lady back, weigh her, take her temperature, blood pressure, ask about her meds, ect. The whole time this lady is not cooperating with me. I thought to myself maybe she just doesn't hear me well? Finally she blantly yells at me that she under no conditions wants a MA to take care of her. That Renee was a nurse and by golly that is who she wanted...a nurse. This lady preceeds to tell me that she recently retired from nursing and she just doesn't trust the care of some off the streets medical assistant whose only schooling was probably no more than 6 months worth. She tells her husband its a "crying shame that they replaced a nurse with this useless person with a chip on her shoulder because of her degree..um i mean certificate.":crying2: She wouldn't let me do anything i needed to do and kept going on about my nameplate by huffing and saying CMA..thats nothing. CMA what a disgrace.

I apologized and stepped out and got the closest nurse i could fine. A nurse for another doctor but a nurse nonetheless..i couldnt' find my doctors nurse or i would of gotten her.

I feel awful. I up until this point didn't think i was useless and was quite proud of my education. Up until now i was under the impression i replaced a MA but according the nurse who i grabbed Renee was a LPN who had to move due to her husband getting orders away.

Is this what its going to be like? I'm sorry these regular patients miss thier previous caretaker but i don't feel i deserved the treatment i received from this patient. I could understand if she was sick, but she wasn't..just in for a yearly physical.:( I really don't want to go to work tomorrow. After this i took a good 15 minutes regaining my composure, and then had to stop from crying throughout the day, just typing this i am crying. If this is what its like to be working in healthcare, i don't think i can do it. You can talk badly about your healthcare all you want, but please don't call me useless and demeaning the education i received. I may not be Renee, but i'm still a person, a pretty good one at that who if given the chance, you'll grow to love me just as much. :uhoh3:

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Did only one person treat you that way? It's definitely understandable to miss the former employees, but that is no excuse for being treated like that. I wouldn't be surprised if she is nicer next time, and might even apologize. You hang in there and do what you were trained to do!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am very sorry this has happened to you. People can be so cruel sometimes. Keep your head up and return to work...don't let that mean old lady win!

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no ever since i started i have had pts look at me funny and just not sure what a MA is. And then renee..i have heard of renee many many times by patients about this person. They just don't trust my judgement.:crying2:

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btw i am enrolling into the nursing program at OU in Fall of 09. I need to pay off my student loan, while not much, still needs to be paid off before i start, and i wanted to give my education a little trip around before getting off the ride and starting a new one. I just don't feel accepted, appreciated, or trusted for that matter where i am at. Just a bummed day. :crying2:

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I am sorry you are having such a bad time.

I really hope it gets better for you soon.

Sandy

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Specializes in ub-Acute/LTC, Home Health, L&D, Peds.

(((((((airforcewife2000))))))):icon_hug: I am so sorry that you were treated that way! A CMA is a very important part of the healthcare team. Don't let her make you feel bad! I am sure there are plenty of patients that appreciate your care.:nurse: So definitely keep your chin up!!

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

I really feel for you after reading your post you must feel just terrible. THere are some people who just don't like change and they had obviously become used to this nurse who had cared for them. There is no excuse for being rude and it is horiible that you had to go through that.

I think that perseverence is the key, you need to build the relationship with your patients and this will take time, they will soon see that you are a compassionate and competent healthcare worker.

I hope things get better soon

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That's awful - I'm so sorry. But I don't think it's that unusual, nor does it have anything to do with your performance. The fact that it happened so soon at work is making you doubt yourself, that's all. In time, you'll learn how to shrug it off and say, "okay, I'll let someone you want take care of you", leave the room, and not even think about it.

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I work in a very busy hospital clinic in a VERY rural area. I have only lived in this town for 4 years. When I began working here, not only did I have to overcome being the new nurse, I had to gain the trust of the patients since I didn't grow up here. It took awhile. Most of the elderly patients took the longest to form a relationship with. Some had been patients for 30+ years and thats a lot of history.

I am actually on my last two weeks here. I can't begin to count how many hugs, home-made gifts, and even a few tears have come from these patients when they found out I was leaving! We have even shared some stories about how they felt when I first arrived. As I hug each one good-bye, I always tell them to take care and be kind to the "new" nurse!

Keep us posted and....:grpwlcm:

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Perhaps when you introduce yourself to patients, you can educate them a little bit on your educational background or qualifications? Such as: "Hi. My name is _____, and I am your/the Certified Medical Assistant today. I understand that Renee was your/the LPN, and many patients miss her. There are some differences in the roles/education of a CMA and LPN, but am fully qualified to care for you today. If you have any questions about the differences between the two titles (OR: If you have any questions about the qualifications/education of a CMA) then I would be happy to answer them for you."

Just a thought that came to mind. I am a pre-nursing student, so I'm not sure if this is something that can be slipped in the conversation/introduction or not. I would think so. That woman was so rude. Perhaps she has a personal chip on her shoulder over the whole thing. It's not as if you were misrepresenting yourself. Sheesh.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

For what it is worth, try not to take it personal. Nurses get told off, also, for one. In addition, this woman may just be one of the types that hates change. You will meet MANY more like them...the more you do, the less appreciative they tend to be for whatever reasons.

You have a right to feel proud of what you accomplished. You were hired because you possessed the prudentials they needed, otherwise, they would have gotten someone else. The next time a person acts like this, get the practitioner they asked for, and move on. It is hard, but it gets easier, believe me. And, sometimes, the patients want a nurse to do the same thing that you as a CMA is totally capable of performing. They will get used to you as time rolls on, and I am sorry this happened.

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