LorraineCNA

Just a few more points. I edited my original post but apparently it got lost in cyberspace. We are qualified to draw up meds. We learn the same "Six Rights" they teach in nursing school. It's also our office policy that all injections are also checked by either another MA or the nurse prior to administration. As for the reaction point, that's why we're not permitted to do any injections unless Doc is on-site. My school BTW was 6 months, 4 days a week followed by a 3 month full-time externship (where I ended up staying on). Oh...and yes, it does ire me that the cashiers at ALDI's grocery make the same money I do. However, with no certification or licensure mandatory, that's not likely to change. Lorraine

Sorry, I realize this is an old thread but I haven't been here for awhile. I'm a CMA. I work in a very busy family practice. I draw blood, do ekg's, BP's along with other vitals, AI's, PPD's, etc. We also take sick calls...which consists of simply getting the pts info, allergies, etc. documenting their symptoms and leaving a message for the doc. At no time do we do any assessing of pts sx. We were actually well informed in school in regards to scope of practice. If someone calls and says "Is this the nurse?" I do tell them EXPLICITLY that I'm not the nurse and identify myself. I paid almost $7,000.00 for my schooling and my pay is lousy. I actually make LESS than I made as a CNA. That being said, I really enjoy my job. The hours are great, I love (most of) the patients. We don't have a lot of patient turnover so we know most of the pts on a more personal (for lack of a better term) than I'd ever get to know anyone in another type of setting. I am certified by the AAMA and had to sit for an exam to become certified. There IS a difference between certified and non-certified MA's and the AAMA has stringent regulations for qualifying programs. The schools must be certified by either the ABHES or CAAHEP before you're eligible to take their exam. I too, take issue with the misrepresentation of pay...AND the misrepresentation of title. Most of us CMA's would like to see certification (at least) mandatory for MA's. It gives the rest of us, who take pride in our positions, a bad rep when a doc can just pull someone off the street and train them. Someone I believe had mentioned meds? I'm sure this doesn't compare to nursing school but we did have to learn I'd say around 200 meds and their classifications...just so you know...we don't all just learn M.O.M. Lorraine

Hi there! I'm a CMA in a busy family practice. We always confirm appointments a few days ahead. When we call we remind the pt to bring a list of their current meds along with the dosages. Some still forget but for the most part they're pretty good with it. Some just bring a bag with their meds, either way, it's good.:) Lorraine CMA, CNA

Like the other posters suggested, it's usually easy enough to find the training for free. Get the phone book out and call the LTC facilities near you and ask if they offer the classes, most do. The test isn't difficult (I took it in PA). The written part was very easy. The clinical is nerve-wracking, but not hard. Lorraine CMA, CNA

I don't know where you are location-wise. I'm a MA in Pennsylvania and there are very few openings here for LPNs outside of the LTC arena. Docs offices here hire mostly MAs and RNs. We have one RN for 5 MAs. She's going to retire end of this year and she doesn't seem sure that they're going to replace her...which is IMHO absurd. I'd hate not having a RN around to work with. Lorraine CMA, CNA

I'm in PA and I'm legally allowed to give injections here. I seriously considered LPN school here. Unfortunately, the nearest school was 45 minutes away and even farther for clinicals. I had two kids still in school at the time and couldn't imagine having to leave here in the winter at God knows what hour to get to a 7:00 a.m. clinical in East Jabip (sp?...lol). Also, there are little to no jobs here for LPNs outside the LTC facilities. The hospitals are pretty much PCTs and RNs and the doc's offices all hire MAs. I knew I didn't want LTC, every facility I worked in as a CNA was short-staffed and an accident waiting to happen. Lorraine CMA, CNA Lorraine

Nope, there is no "license" for MAs. Just voluntary certification. That's another problem, there are so many different agencies offering "certification". Some of them don't even require formal schooling. I'm certified (CMA) through the AAMA, as far as I know they're the only certification that you absolutely HAVE to have a formal education and it has to be approved by either the ABHES or CAAHEP. RMA is through the AMT (American Medical Technologists), they have a clause where you can sit for their exam if you've been in the workforce as a MA for five years. CMA and RMA are the most widely accepted certifications. There are many others out there however, with negligible requirements. Some don't even require an exam...another reason I'd like to see some kind of required standard in place. Lorraine CMA, CNA

Just goes to show the differences in pays across the board. I took almost a 3.00 an hour pay cut going from CNA to CMA. Good point on getting paid what the market demands. Lorraine CMA, CNA

Oh, I highly doubt the physicians would support it. They'd be crazy to. Just figure what the doc where I work saves by having us 5 MAs instead of having to hire receptionists and nurses. Plus, we're all interchangeable (MAs) someone from back office calls off, you just pull someone from front office. It's a win-win situation for the docs. Lorraine CMA, CNA

I understand that aspect. However, if the docs couldn't get MA's for a Walmart wage and had to compensate us better, would they not be inclined to go back to hiring licensed personel? The reason they hire us now is that there is such a drastic difference in what they have to pay a nurse. If they had to pay a MA closer to the amount they have to pay a nurse, they wouldn't be so quick to hire MAs instead of nurses, putting more nurses back into offices. Please don't think I'm saying I should make nurse's (even LPN) wages, everyone says "if you want nurse's wages, go back to school to be a nurse". I never said I thought we should make nurse's wages. Lorraine CMA, CNA

I don't think we expect to as "monitarily valuable" as LPNs. I do however expect to be more "monitarily valuable" than an employee at Wally-World. I work for one of the major hospital networks in PA and one of my co-workers whose daughter just started at Wal-Mart about 3 months ago is now making very close (within $1.00 an hour) to what I'm making. I do expect more than that when I'm giving injections, drawing blood, etc. Heck, a secretary makes more than we do and we do all the "secretarial", billing AND back office work. Reviews are coming up shortly and the girls who have been in this office for years have already told me to never expect more than .20 an hour raise. :uhoh21: Oh well...at least I really like my job, I'm obviously not in it for the money. Lorraine CMA, CNA

I think that's rather presumptuous. I have no desire to become a nurse. I like performing the "technical" duties. I also like the diversity of the position. There's also a good bit of responsibility involved in the job. That's akin to saying that LPNs are "entry-level" nurses or CNAs are entry- level. I know CNAs and MAs who have been in their positions for years and consider it their career choice. Lorraine CMA, CNA

OBRA went into effect in 1987 so CNA isn't that new. I wasn't aware of the the military aspect as I have no background in that area. Lorraine CMA, CNA

Actually, I like that aspect of it myself. I guess the aspect I DON'T like about it is the fact that I can make the same pay at Walmart (well...almost). It just seems to me that MAs are kind of a non-entity in the medical community. No one seems to know exactly who we are or what we do. Mandated educational standards and licensure/certification might get us a bit more respect...and hopefully better wages. Lorraine CMA, CNA

>...some of my coworkers were just hired off the street That's part of the reason that I think licensure or at least mandated certification should be put in place. Where I work, we also do 90% of the injections (AI's, immunizations, etc.). I don't think it's a good idea for someone "hired off the street" to be giving injections or even drawing blood. Lorraine CMA, CNA