***I don't... I REPETE I DO NOT want this to turn into an MA bashing thread!!!***
I just want some advice on how I can handle this situation I have with a close friend of mine.
She is a very hard working medical assistant at a doctor's office. However, she consistently introduces herself to people as a "nurse" RIGHT INFRONT OF ME! She actaully tells people, "we're both nurses" (referring to both her and I). I am an RN. I worked incredibly hard to get that title. I just don't know how to tell her that it is insulting to me without coming off offensive towards her.
Maybe I should just leave it alone? She just seems to be doing it more and more lately. The thing that bothers me most is that she must feel on some level that she IS a nurse and we ARE both nurses...or else why would she be okay with saying it right infront of me all the time? Should I just not say anything? I thought of throwing the whole "illegal to call yourself a nurse" thing out there, but I don't think she would mind...apparently any female in scrubs is a "nurse" to the general public anyway :chuckle:
Perhaps your friend feels that the title of Medical Assistant sounds "ghetto" because of the attitudes so many nurses have toward MA's. As her friend it seems to me that you would remind her that she is a valued and respected member of the team and that there is absolutely nothing shameful about being a Medical Assistant. Instead of regarding her as a personal affront to your education and license, you could be a bit more encouraging of her desire to continue her education. Where I come from that's what "friends" are for :)
Very sad that she feels that way. I'm not sure that she feels that way because of nurses though. She has never worked with any, and I certainly do not intend to make her feel that way (you can read the title to my post). In fact, I try to avoid ever conversing about work or being a nurse when I'm not at work! I actually think she feels that way because of the attitudes of doctor's she worked with. She has worked at many offices and she has been treated like a servant at all of them by the MD's (as she explains). I can see that this could make her feel not so proud of her title. I continue to push her towards P.A. school.
Funny, we must come from the same place. Thank you for finally posting a reply that focused on my question. However, I must ask you to think about how you would feel if someone you knew constantly regarded themselves as an M.A. but had never been one in any way, shape or form. How would you handle that? Because that is what I am asking.
Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.
I never said they were the same thing. What I said was that there is plenty of room for us all.
If you agree they are different and not the same then you should have no trouble with Nurses only wanting Nurses to use that title and defending a title we worked so hard to gain. As such I would be offend if I was an MA and someone misused my title. I see nothing wrong with this nor why you or any other MA would be upset in us correcting a misuse in title. We are simply wanting what is true to be recognized.
Ok... here is what you do. Direct her to this thread and let her read it. After reading it two things will probably happen. First she will understand just how important you feel this issue is (as obviously a few other nurses do too). Second she will get to see what nitwits nurses can be and the desire to call herself one should vanish in no time!
Very sad that she feels that way. I'm not sure that she feels that way because of nurses though. She has never worked with any, and I certainly do not intend to make her feel that way (you can read the title to my post). In fact, I try to avoid ever conversing about work or being a nurse when I'm not at work! I actually think she feels that way because of the attitudes of doctor's she worked with. She has worked at many offices and she has been treated like a servant at all of them by the MD's (as she explains). I can see that this could make her feel not so proud of her title. I continue to push her towards P.A. school.
Funny, we must come from the same place. Thank you for finally posting a reply that focused on my question. However, I must ask you to think about how you would feel if someone you knew constantly regarded themselves as an M.A. but had never been one in any way, shape or form. How would you handle that? Because that is what I am asking.
Oh, I do work with many who have become Medical Assistants with on-the-job-training only and no formal training or education. While I do recognize their lack of knowledge I would never belittle them in any way. Instead, I offer help, guidance, and I've even directed them to this website! I don't care what you call yourself, it's your actions and how you treat others that matter. :)
I'm sorry that I opened this can of worms. As the thread's title states I did not want to bash M.A.'s , and I don't think anyone here has. However I don't think the discussion can go anywhere productive from here.
Feel free to close it. No, actually...please close it?
KayceeLeeRN, BSN, RN
105 Posts
Very sad that she feels that way. I'm not sure that she feels that way because of nurses though. She has never worked with any, and I certainly do not intend to make her feel that way (you can read the title to my post). In fact, I try to avoid ever conversing about work or being a nurse when I'm not at work! I actually think she feels that way because of the attitudes of doctor's she worked with. She has worked at many offices and she has been treated like a servant at all of them by the MD's (as she explains). I can see that this could make her feel not so proud of her title. I continue to push her towards P.A. school.
Funny, we must come from the same place. Thank you for finally posting a reply that focused on my question. However, I must ask you to think about how you would feel if someone you knew constantly regarded themselves as an M.A. but had never been one in any way, shape or form. How would you handle that? Because that is what I am asking.