Medical assistant using the title of nurse.

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Specializes in Ambulatory (Urgent care) & Home Health.

I know this has been discussed before BUT I was just wondering if there is a commitee or association that's working on stopping this. I've heard so many horror stories about M.A's giving medical advice and triaging, I recently had a bad experience with a M.A (called herself a nurse) and she clearly didn't know what she was talking about . What are the laws regarding this ?

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

Unless you are a licensed nursing professional (LPN, RN, NP, CNS, NE, etc.), it is illegal in all 50 states to use the title "nurse," and the people doing so can be prosecuted as practicing nursing without a license: a felony.

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A NURSE IS A NURSE IS A NURSE...YOU WANNA BE CALLED A NURSE, THEN GO TO SCHOOL AND GET YOUR DIPLOMA, TAKE YOUR BOARDS, AND THEN I'LL CALL YOU A NURSE. TIL THEN...YOU AIN'T A NURSE.

LOL. Plain as i could say it:)

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Specializes in Ambulatory (Urgent care) & Home Health.

Oh wow I didn't know that. Thanks.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Unless you are a licensed nursing professional (LPN, RN, NP, CNS, NE, etc.), it is illegal in all 50 states to use the title "nurse," and the people doing so can be prosecuted as practicing nursing without a license: a felony.

I got caught out on this one, because I've said the same thing. When I researched it though, currently only 25 states formally protect the title of nurse. Arghh:mad:

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Specializes in Ambulatory (Urgent care) & Home Health.

I just looked it up and from what I see only 28 states have laws protecting the nurse title. Including my state California.

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Specializes in Ambulatory (Urgent care) & Home Health.

I just looked it up and from what I see only 28 states have laws protecting the nurse title. Including my state California.

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Specializes in Gyn/STD clinic tech.

wow, only 28 states!? i thought it was all 50 states.

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It should be all 50 states. It is just as difficult to become a nurse in the other states as it is in the mentioned 28 and that should be acknowledged by all state legislative bodies.

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What gripes me are caregivers that are not licensed or certified advertising as "Baby Nurses" and offering newborn care.

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In our facility there are LPNs that are working the role of a MA-we hire few LPNs now.

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Specializes in Ambulatory (Urgent care) & Home Health.

At my old dentist the dental assistants were "Dental nurses". What a crock.

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