Medical Assistants in the office

[SHELLYBELLYRN]

This is probably going to open a can of worms.............but how do you all feel about replacing nurses in the office setting with Medical Assistants? How (if at all) do you feel it affects patient care?

Do any of the MA's in your offices refer to themselves as "nurses"? Have you had any problems with the knowledge base of the MA's? How are they with patient education?

May be just my situation, but I have run across some significant problems in this area................and not sure how to address it...........or even if I can address it.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I was talking about the LVN's posts and a community college around her that offers an AD in medical assisting because I am pretty sure there is.

San Antonio is close (depending on your idea of close in Texas), but not realistic for people if they don't have transportation or that much money.

I'm not gonna post what college that is because it's close to me. You didn't even want to post what state you lived in, why would I post that community college on a public forum? If I post that someone would very easily be able to identify me.

[am27]

OrganizedChaosLVN: Why would you post the name of a school that you don't even go to? k you're right; that'd be crazy

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Why would you post the name of a school that you don't even go to? k you're right; that'd be crazy

I have attended all three of those schools, actually. So since I have I'm not going post the colleges.

[nursel56]

Medical assistants don't lack a scope of practice.

What is the scope of practice of a medical assistant? In some states medical assistants have a clearly stated scope of practice, but in some states there is no law on the matter.

Source: Understanding Medical Assistant Practice Liability Issues Medscape

If you care to look into it further, you'll find that there is a huge variability from one state to the next on the subject of all unlicensed assistive personnel, and there is not a standardized test that all Medical Assistants would take that is comparable to the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN for nurses.

[enuf_already]

What is the scope of practice of a medical assistant? In some states medical assistants have a clearly stated scope of practice, but in some states there is no law on the matter.

Source: Understanding Medical Assistant Practice Liability Issues Medscape

I thought you would have done your own research before you declare other people are incorrect, but there you are. Medical Assistants are not regulated in all states the same way nurses are with the NCLEX.

The NCLEX doesn't regulate anything. It's a test but I think your point was that MAs don't have to take a specific standardized test to be an MA. There are a few certification tests where I am but there's even confusion on which MA qualifies to take which test.

Each state has a board of nursing who sets the rules and regulations and scope of practice for nurses (and sometimes MAs and CNAs) in their state.

In my state, an MA pushing conscious sedation would get a clinic shut down. MAs in my state are not allowed to provide patient education. They can reinforce the education a provider has already reviewed with the patient but cannot initiate teaching on their own, even if a provider tells them to.

[nursel56]

The NCLEX doesn't regulate anything. It's a test but I think your point was that MAs don't have to take a specific standardized test to be an MA.

Yes, that's exactly what I meant-- thanks! I'll fix it.

[am27]

The NCLEX doesn't regulate anything. It's a test but I think your point was that MAs don't have to take a specific standardized test to be an MA. There are a few certification tests where I am but there's even confusion on which MA qualifies to take which test.

Each state has a board of nursing who sets the rules and regulations and scope of practice for nurses (and sometimes MAs and CNAs) in their state.

In my state, an MA pushing conscious sedation would get a clinic shut down. MAs in my state are not allowed to provide patient education. They can reinforce the education a provider has already reviewed with the patient but cannot initiate teaching on their own, even if a provider tells them to.

MAs can be trained on the job for anything within reason. Which makes sense with all of the various specialties and increasing amount of in clinic procedures. And I can't even think of a scenario I was ever in that I initiated or even was in the situation to initiate teaching. The way you phrased it (reinforce what provider has gone over) is exactly how I would describe it.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

MAs can be trained on the job for anything within reason. Which makes sense with all of the various specialties and increasing amount of in clinic procedures. And I can't even think of a scenario I was ever in that I initiated or even was in the situation to initiate teaching. The way you phrased it (reinforce what provider has gone over) is exactly how I would describe it.

Define "within reason".

[pixiestudent2]

Nothing against MAs.... But holy god! I would never in a million years, let one do sedation on me.

That is scary, I wonder if their patients know what's going on....

[lindarn]

Of course, patients don't know what is going on.

That is why doctors refer to them as, "nurses", and no one is the wiser.

Lindarn, RN, BSN CCRN, (RET)

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACNW)

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Of course, patients don't know what is going on.

That is why doctors refer to them as, "nurses", and no one is the wiser.

Lindarn, RN, BSN CCRN, (RET)

SOMEWHERE IN THE PACNW)

*shake my head* I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss.

[ixchel]

This thread is from 2002.