Medical Assistants being called nurses

Nurses Relations

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  1. Are you comfortable with MAs calling selves Nurses?

    • 56
      Are you receiving info in your MDs office from an MA who says they are Nurse?
    • 29
      Is it self to pose as a nurse if you are an MA in MD offices
    • 66
      Why are MDs allowing MAs to pose as nurses
    • 101
      Why is it not being addressed by BNE that MAs can not identify as Nurses
    • 31
      Who should give you diagnostic info if not md an MA?

13 members have participated

I have serious concerns about Md offices hiring medical assistants and calling themselves nurses. They are given diagnostic results and education to pts, but identify as nurses . I have had the experience and new immediately that I was not speaking to a nurse ended up calling 911 b/c the md would not return call, the MA was uncomfortable taking note to md and I was a post op pt. I am RN of 28yrs and out of 7 providers only one hires licensed nurses, were name badges. These other offices refer to the MAs as nurses and really have not seen this address. How long would it take if I said I was an md in an office before it would be addressed as a very serious matter? I think it is perfectly fine that Mds want to hire MAs, but is it ok that they say they are nurses and they are doing nursing duties? How comfortable are you with not knowing who is talking to you at the mds' office? I know it is not legal so why is this not a serious concern?

First off let me say this:

Any MA who calls themself a nurse is breaking the law in most every state and so is the MD.

Second: MA are just as important as nurses are so get off the typical RN high horse.

I have been in this business for more than 30 years and nurses, particularly RN are ruining it for everyone. You want too much money, too much power for very little work.

As a medic AND an MA I see so many RNs who are so egocentric its just sickening.

Get over yourself. Maybe its time to retire and let someone else carry on.

Who was on a high horse?

And RNs "want too much money"? I doubt you realize the level of responsibility and accountability RNs take on. Codes and EMT type stuff is only one itsy bitsy facet of what nurses (yes LPNs, too) are responsible for. We are responsible for HUGE chunks of the entire healthcare spectrum, from cradle to grave, not just first response, though we often function as first responders as well, when necessary.

Even as a lowly LPN in LTC, I have more on my plate than most MAs or EMTs on the outside looking in would ever dream. In addition to filling both of those roles as required, I'm also accountable for the care provided by multiple unlicensed personnel. In addition to managing any and all acute emergencies that may arise, I'm ALSO held accountable for the mundane, time consuming and unending management of the ongoing treatment of chronic conditions.

Non-nursing healthcare workers like Techs, MAs, EMTs, etc. fulfill very important roles, but they often fail to realize just how many hats we nurses have to wear. We wear your hat and the secretary hat and the respiratory therapist hat and the social worker hat and the direct caregiver hat and a dozen other hats you didn't even know existed. Every day. Every shift.

How many medical assistants do you know who are responsible for acting upon a high BP instead of just reporting it? How many EMTs, once the code's over, have half a dozen other patients who never stopped being painful, scared, needy and medically fragile?

Specializes in ob, med surg.

The staff at my son's doctor's office refers to their MA's as nurses. Drives me crazy. And I correct them every time. Having said that, the vet tech's at my Dog's vet, call themselves nurses also. I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

In our state, MDs tried to get the state to allow medical assistants to be able to give meds. They said "no big deal" but the nurses of the state lobbied our legislature to drop the amendment. Medical assistants don't take the level of pharmacology or nursing classes, to deal with an adverse reaction or identify and treat a seriously ill patient. Medical assistants are NOT nurses. If they want to be addressed as nurse, they should spend the time and energy to go to nursing school!:arghh:

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

It is common for a doctor's office including those working in hospital group settings to call out to their patients in the waiting room, "the nurse will see you now." Even before starting nursing school, I would often ask the nurse who they told me to go with what type of nurse, why nursing, and other related questions. Over the years, I've heard responses as RN, LPN, MA, CNA, and even x-ray or related personnel whom the front desk would refer to as a nurse.

This afternoon, my wife and I discussed the matter, and she never heard of "nurse" being a protected title, and didn't see the fuss. While I do see the "fuss" (and it is not a fuss), I also see that just like trademarks, patents, etc. can be lost if they are not protected, so can protected titles from the standpoint if an industry is not continually educating the marketplace, then what? Can we expect that if a law is passed with little to no funds for marketing, education, enforcement that people will understand and obey the law?

Thank you.

Specializes in Anesthesia, ICU, PCU.
First off let me say this:

Any MA who calls themself a nurse is breaking the law in most every state and so is the MD.

Second: MA are just as important as nurses are so get off the typical RN high horse.

I have been in this business for more than 30 years and nurses, particularly RN are ruining it for everyone. You want too much money, too much power for very little work.

As a medic AND an MA I see so many RNs who are so egocentric its just sickening.

Get over yourself. Maybe its time to retire and let someone else carry on.

You sound bitter. Take some deep breathes and relax next time you spend 2 hours in Dunkin Donuts parking lot waiting for a call. Or take an extra refill of coffee as you're filing medical records at the office, it'll give you some pep.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Maybe these non-nurses working in doctors' offices should have a new, "nursey" title. How about "FN"? It would be short for "Faux Nurse"; that way they could have a title that sounds like a nurse, without all that pesky responsibility.

Who was on a high horse?

And RNs "want too much money"? I doubt you realize the level of responsibility and accountability RNs take on. Codes and EMT type stuff is only one itsy bitsy facet of what nurses (yes LPNs, too) are responsible for. We are responsible for HUGE chunks of the entire healthcare spectrum, from cradle to grave, not just first response, though we often function as first responders as well, when necessary.

Even as a lowly LPN in LTC, I have more on my plate than most MAs or EMTs on the outside looking in would ever dream. In addition to filling both of those roles as required, I'm also accountable for the care provided by multiple unlicensed personnel. In addition to managing any and all acute emergencies that may arise, I'm ALSO held accountable for the mundane, time consuming and unending management of the ongoing treatment of chronic conditions.

Non-nursing healthcare workers like Techs, MAs, EMTs, etc. fulfill very important roles, but they often fail to realize just how many hats we nurses have to wear. We wear your hat and the secretary hat and the respiratory therapist hat and the social worker hat and the direct caregiver hat and a dozen other hats you didn't even know existed. Every day. Every shift.

How many medical assistants do you know who are responsible for acting upon a high BP instead of just reporting it? How many EMTs, once the code's over, have half a dozen other patients who never stopped being painful, scared, needy and medically fragile?

Well-written and well-explained, but I seriously doubt our Seafaring Froggy Friend is going to recognize that.

People who claim nurses "want too much money" have never taken on what RNs have to do. People who complain that nurses have an attitude about having their professional titles slopped onto everyone who feels like using it has never HAD such a license, and therefore can't seem to understand the complaint. THEY have never worked as hard as a nursing student to complete their schooling, pass the licensing exam, and survive professional practice.

When one is ignorant of reality, it's easy to claim superiority. At least, it is for some.....

Oh, and Froggy? I don't know what you mean by RNs "ruining it for everyone", as though there were some kind of special privilege at stake that is being recalled due to an RN doing something wrong.

When a box of candy is put out for staff and one person grabs half of it, I'd say that was "ruining" the treat for the others. So what is being "ruined" in your estimation?

I don't know what has made you so angry, so bitter, but I doubt it's because a platoon full of RNs spoiled something in your life. Unless, of course, the spoiling was grandly deserved. :sarcastic:

I start out as an MA, then went to nursing school and became an RN. After more than 40 years, I truly don't remember what they called me or what did patients 'assume'. I worked along side RN's and LPN's and did largely the same job...for less money. After I became an RN, I later applied for an office position, for the hours....but opted out when they offered me only 1/2 of what I was getting I was getting in the hospital and no benefits. I think that ALL the liability lies with the MD in what he has his MA's doing. They should know what their scope of practice is and that varies from State to State. I proudly wear my name tag in any official position, but I try not to worry about what others are doing. If someone in an office gives me strange or conflicting info, yes, I will mention it to the MD if appropriate. Once, an operator told me my husband needed to see an eye doctor when I called to say he had a severe HA and unequal pupils and asked for an emergency appt. I told her she obviously wasn't the MD and to NOT make diagnosis on things she didn't understand....and I told the MD, too. Even RN's do sometimes make assumptions that are wrong and give out incorrect information. As I said, it's always up to the MD in an office who has the final liability.

The bottom line is the DOCTORS want to keep their piece of the medical payment pie. Do not care if misinformation given by the hired help hurts the patient.

Medical assistants are NOT qualified to interpret or report lab results.

My sister in law was given incorrect information regarding urinary tract infection results via a MA.

She is a diabetic, was also confused from the infection . Had enough smarts to call me.

She still has kidney function.. thanks to the NURSE in the family.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I start out as an MA, then went to nursing school and became an RN. After more than 40 years, I truly don't remember what they called me or what did patients 'assume'. I worked along side RN's and LPN's and did largely the same job...for less money. After I became an RN, I later applied for an office position, for the hours....but opted out when they offered me only 1/2 of what I was getting I was getting in the hospital and no benefits. I think that ALL the liability lies with the MD in what he has his MA's doing. They should know what their scope of practice is and that varies from State to State. I proudly wear my name tag in any official position, but I try not to worry about what others are doing. If someone in an office gives me strange or conflicting info, yes, I will mention it to the MD if appropriate. Once, an operator told me my husband needed to see an eye doctor when I called to say he had a severe HA and unequal pupils and asked for an emergency appt. I told her she obviously wasn't the MD and to NOT make diagnosis on things she didn't understand....and I told the MD, too. Even RN's do sometimes make assumptions that are wrong and give out incorrect information. As I said, it's always up to the MD in an office who has the final liability.

If, as a licensed nurse, you don't see the distinction between what nurses and MAs do, then your school either failed you, or you weren't paying attention.

There is more to nursing than just tasks.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

This thread is weird

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