Medical Assistants being called nurses

[Ethicsrn4life]

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?

[nursestacey62]

I was a medical assistant for many years before going back to school to become an RN. I was trained in school to give injections, read and write prescriptions, interpret abnormal lab results, and other things you think they are "clueless" about. On the other hand, I have worked with MA's who were not very well-informed about what lab results need to be brought to the doctor's attention, etc. Many of the good MA's go back to school because the pay is so low. I was called "nurse" at times and didn't like it but most patients don't know what a medical assistant is and it was easier for the receptionist to call me a "nurse" than explain my job description.

[folkfaerie]

I agree that MAs should NOT be referred to as "nurse" by ANYONE! As nurses we worked VERY hard to get through nursing school & pass the NCLEX. I am very concerned by unlicensed & often inexperienced MAs, CNAs, etc., giving information, advice &/or "education" to patients, clients, residents, guests (all names used to refer to people receiving health care) &/or their families.

[#NurseB]

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 obviously have no idea what nurses are responsible for. As an MA once myself (now RN) I can say that your post is the most ignorant, unintelligent thing I have read.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

This thread is weird

What's weird is some person who can barely read and write identifying herself as a nurse.

[CantDecideUsername]

I work as a "MA"

I never went to an actual program, but I do administrative work and take vitals. I wear scrubs which makes me look professional.

Whenever someone refers to me as a nurse I get extremely uncomfortable. I correct them right away because I just think it's strange to be referred to as something that you're not.

I really don't understand MA's who allow ppl to think they're nurses... I don't understand Lpn's who pretend they're RN's and I really don't like NP's/PA's who let people think they're physicians

I think it's highly inappropriate

[caliotter3]

I would be surprised as all get out were I to find out that the person working with me in an outpatient setting was a licensed nurse. I just automatically assume I am dealing with some form of medical assistant. So far, have not run into the problem of any of these persons referring to themselves as nurses. Just lucky I guess.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

quote: "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."

No it is not common. What happens is the person who comes to the waiting room says "maggie " and i go with that person to be weighed and have my VS taken and i am shown to an exam room. I don't need the aggravation of dealing with a fake nurse if I am sick. I am there to see an MD. This whole charade makes me, the patient, very uncomfortable.

[LadysSolo]

Add Ohio to the list of states who restrict the title of nurse to licensed nurses (LPN or RN). Medical assistants and STNAs and nurse aides MUST identify as what they actually are. It is illegal to pass yourself off as a nurse if you are not. That being said, I know of no one actually prosecuted for it.

[unicoRNurse]

The title of "nurse" isn't about being on the "RN high horse" (mine's a unicorn, by the way), proving how hard we've worked in school, or making sure others feel "less than." It's about professional licensure, and legally defined and codified scopes of practice. Just sayin'.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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.

Whoa! What a nasty post! On so many levels!

[CantDecideUsername]

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.

LOL

You're cute

(#rolleyes)

[Anna S, RN]

My PCP's answering message said "If you want to speak to Dr. So-and-so's nurse, press 1, Dr. Other's nurse, press 2..." and so on.

I also heard staff referring to each other as "nurse," as in "The nurse will weigh you and take your vital signs now."

None wore ID badges. I knew they weren't nurses by their lack of knowledge.

I asked my doc if there were any licensed nurses working there. He said "No, they're all MAs." I told him that "nurse" is a legally protected term, and that it's against law to refer to someone as a nurse when they are not. I added: "If you had an NP working here, you wouldn't refer to them as a doctor, would you?"

He changed his answering machine message to refer to the MAs as "assistants", and they no longer call each other "nurse." They still don't have ID badges, though.