Medical Assistants the new RNs???

Published

Is it me or are more and more doctor's offices replacing RNs with MAs? Some places go as far as letting them do histories, injections, and give results. As a nurse I have worked as a patient care tech/cna but I also know the level of critical thinking it takes to be an RN so it does bother me that MAs seem to be given a lot of RN responsibilities. As fellow nurses I wanted to know your thoughts?

I think my home state, a person doesn't have to be certified to be an MA, the doctor just has to be willing to let them work under his/her license and then take the liability for them if needed. But, there are a few schools here and there that teach a CMA course (it's actually a diploma program) then allow the students to become certified, if you want to call it that.

Now, I've never received care by an MA (I always ask if it's not printed on the person's name badge), but I do work with an MA. She's never called herself a nurse, at least not that I've heard, but she does seem to be a little bit "uppity" because, in her words, "CMAs are trained for the front and back of the office, so we're more valuable then nurses 'cause they can just do one thing." My response: "SERIOUSLY???"

Anyway, our LPNs and the RN are quick to correct her, and often wind up reporting her. Honestly, from what I've seen, she is competent in the tasks that she performs, which is basically what I do plus giving injections (the only one we do is Vitamin B-12 to weight loss patients). She gets paid the same thing I do, too!

I think at the end of the day, it depends on the person and their education. I've heard of some MAs in my area that aren't certified and think they are the best thing ever, so to speak... But, at the end of the day, a nurse is a nurse and an MA is an MA. The two things aren't the same thing (I'm including LPN and RN in "nurse," of course.), and shouldn't be confused. The best way to cut confusion? For the MA to not refer to themselves as the nurse, and to correct the doctor or patient when they are referred to as the nurse.

FYI: I don't know how many times I've had to correct patients when they say "Well, you're the nurse, right?" I respond that I'm not a nurse, but the nurse assistant, and they will be seeing the nurse shortly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OMG!!! That is appalling! If a doctor asked me to do that, I would say HELL TO THE NO! I know what I can and can't do as an MA.

Like I said in my response to this post, it is mostly the doctor's fault hiring people that are not well prepared to do the job. I have been an MA myself. I was not allowed to do a lot..it hurt me in the long run because I am certified to do a lot and did not get to use those skills. I did not find a job for the past 2 years because of this. That is why I am furthering my education.

In NJ though, there are way too many MA's and not enough jobs to fill the position. The pay is lousy most of the time too! Cost of living is growing and salaries are not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a Certified Medical Assistant and I love it! I work at a big hospital in Chicago and I'm afraid this is true. I do a ton of RN work for half the pay. Where I work the RN's are more like high paid secretaries. Thats why I 'm in school to finish up my RN (not just the money, its what I always wanted to be). It's complete bs the Nurses seem to LOVE not dealing with pts. I get an attitude when I ask one to do an nijection or an EKG when I have several orders to do and docs breathing down my neck. RN's will never be facsed out but in some places there job description is cut down, Which really blows since people are paying all this money for school and for what!?!?!?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh and at some practices they do hire MA's out of high school and train them, but thats so they don't have to pay them the right starting pay right, so instead of making $12-$13 an hr, they would pay at $8-$9. They don't hire certifed MA's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.
Not all MAs are "equal". My DD is an MA at an urgent care clinic. She was eagerly hired by the Manager there when he saw that her experience was as a Combat Medic with 2 Iraq tours. The experience one gets as a combat medic cannot compare with schooled MAs and the Medic course for the Army is quite lengthy.

The urgent care clinic does not hire RNs either. However, the MAs there do not hold themselves out to be nurses. My DD is in the process of getting her RN/BSN.

I declined to hire a MA for my clinic, and I hired a LPN instead even though she cost, literally, twice as much. I have to pay for her salary out of my gross, and the other NP in the practice went with a MA so she could take home more of her net. I think I'd have wet my pants trying to hire your daughter in a hurry though! To me, having someone that knows how to assess a patient and has a background in pathophysiology and pharmacology (as opposed to just learning how to jab someone with a needle, lol) is going to save me so much time I"ll be far better off. I also think the patients will be better off as well, and I put my money where my mouth is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I am a Certified Medical Assistant and I love it! I work at a big hospital in Chicago and I'm afraid this is true. I do a ton of RN work for half the pay. Where I work the RN's are more like high paid secretaries. Thats why I 'm in school to finish up my RN (not just the money, its what I always wanted to be). It's complete bs the Nurses seem to LOVE not dealing with pts. I get an attitude when I ask one to do an nijection or an EKG when I have several orders to do and docs breathing down my neck. RN's will never be facsed out but in some places there job description is cut down, Which really blows since people are paying all this money for school and for what!?!?!?

Why on earth are you going to school to be a nurse if you have nothing but negative things to say about the profession? Maybe that's the dysfunction that describes your floor, but it isn't the reality for most RNs. And I would never take marching orders from an MA. Never.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I declined to hire a MA for my clinic, and I hired a LPN instead even though she cost, literally, twice as much. I have to pay for her salary out of my gross, and the other NP in the practice went with a MA so she could take home more of her net. I think I'd have wet my pants trying to hire your daughter in a hurry though! To me, having someone that knows how to assess a patient and has a background in pathophysiology and pharmacology (as opposed to just learning how to jab someone with a needle, lol) is going to save me so much time I"ll be far better off. I also think the patients will be better off as well, and I put my money where my mouth is.

Good for you for standing up for the nursing profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Seriously!? Who do you think you are? You are really something else! I never said I had no respect for my nurses, I admire them and look up to Nurses, and aspire to be a great one, like the few good nurses that are out there.

Medical Assitants are damn professional at what we do. Everyone has there opinions, and its ashame you seem to feel threatened by MA's. We are work for pt care, we work together for our pts!

If you had the option of hiring an MA or an LPN, if you prefer the LPN, thats your right, but don't hire an LPN because you think an MA isn't good enough or becuase in your eyes we were professional enough for you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

LOL..Nurses are amazing, thats why we are all on this forum to begin with. I never stated anything bad about RN's and didn't mean to offend any RN's, but don't talk down about MA's either.

But yes on my floor, the RN's are more like secretaries. "march orders" you guys are funny, it is just how it is on my floor, and unfortunatley the RN's i work with give the RN profession a bad rap, they are lazy ass hell. Again on MY floor.

I did not mean to offend any RN's, I truly LOVE all (GOOD) RN's.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Based on your OP, it sounded like you had very little respect for the nurses you work with.

We (nurses) are advocates for our patients and our profession. That's why it is vital for us to stick up for our profession when we see others trying to encroach on our "territory," so to speak.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.
Seriously!? Who do you think you are? You are really something else! I never said I had no respect for my nurses, I admire them and look up to Nurses, and aspire to be a great one, like the few good nurses that are out there.

Medical Assitants are damn professional at what we do. Everyone has there opinions, and its ashame you seem to feel threatened by MA's. We are work for pt care, we work together for our pts!

If you had the option of hiring an MA or an LPN, if you prefer the LPN, thats your right, but don't hire an LPN because you think an MA isn't good enough or becuase in your eyes we were professional enough for you!

Who do I think I am? I think I'm a nurse. I even have a license that confirms that, so in my case it is not a delusion. ;) You didn't say you had no respect for nurses, but your post sure demonstrated a lack of respect. And no, it isn't PC to point it out, but a medical assistant does NOT meet the standard definition of a Profession (the noun). You can behave professionally (the adverb) but you are not a member of a profession. I declined to hire a MA b/c I wanted a nurse. They are not comparable, not matter what they told you.

"Threatened by MAs." :lol2: If they start replacing independent, Doctorally prepared FNPs with MAs, let me know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NO, thats completely understandable, and i really didn't mean to offend anyone, I apologize truly.That's how I felt when I saw others talking bad about MA's wheatheryour for us or not.

Yikes, i did come out like that huh!? I do respect my nurses, they are my superiors and I do as i'm told, but like I said, my floor, is weird.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion