I had a curious encounter at the doctor's office today. When I went in for my physical, a woman in scrubs came in ahead of the doc. She was wearing scrubs but no name tag. We hadn't met before, so I asked if she was a nurse. Yes, she replied.
I then presented her with paperwork outlining the shots I needed for school. As she looked over the paperwork, she volunteered that she was not a nurse but, in fact, a medical assistant. Oh, really? I replied. Where do you go to school for that? (I was genuinely curious.)
Well, she replied, she didn't go to school. She wasn't a "certified medical assistant," in her words, but "had a lot of experience." In fact, she'd been a CNA for 16 years, but this particular medical practice, as she explained it, "isn't like a hospital and doesn't care if you're ceritified." Hmm. Later on, the doctor sent her back to draw blood.
What would your reaction be? Obviously, she called herself a nurse, and she isn't one. (I wonder if she would have volunteered that info had she not seen my paperwork.) She called herself a medical assistant, then volunteered that she wasn't credentialed. I know nothing about MAs. Is that kosher? And what level of license does someone have to hold to be allowed to draw blood? (For what it's worth, this is the only person I've dealt with in many years at this doctor's office who wasn't wearing a name tag with credentials. Is there any kind of identification requirement?)
Ok, I'm really glad that the pride is there and I hope you do well. I really do. I know that I and I'm quite sure that many of the other nurses here are not out on any witch hunts. If standing up for our profession AND patients makes us wrong, well I don't wanna be right!
See, when we as licensed professionals sit back and do nothing, say nothing, well that puts a stamp of approval on it. Then unlicensed personnel moves in and takes our jobs. Many offices/clinics already use them now instead of nurses. Is that good? Is that SAFE for our patients? Not all the time. So this goes WAY beyond vanity or pride. I see it as a domino effect. That is why I implore students and new nurses to think about stuff like this.
You guys are just starting out. Do you want to have a career? If none of you stand up what do you think will happen? Yes sure, I know you are probably rolling your eyes at this but I'm trying to show you something here. There are a LOT of people like the one in the OP's post. Many that lie about their status. Plan now for what you will say/do when you experience it. Please do/say SOMETHING.
Oh, no. I'm not . I know how hard it is for nurses to get respect.
Ok, I'm really glad that the pride is there and I hope you do well. I really do. I know that I and I'm quite sure that many of the other nurses here are not out on any witch hunts. If standing up for our profession AND patients makes us wrong, well I don't wanna be right!
See, when we as licensed professionals sit back and do nothing, say nothing, well that puts a stamp of approval on it. Then unlicensed personnel moves in and takes our jobs. Many offices/clinics already use them now instead of nurses. Is that good? Is that SAFE for our patients? Not all the time. So this goes WAY beyond vanity or pride. I see it as a domino effect. That is why I implore students and new nurses to think about stuff like this.
You guys are just starting out. Do you want to have a career? If none of you stand up what do you think will happen? Yes sure, I know you are probably rolling your eyes at this but I'm trying to show you something here. There are a LOT of people like the one in the OP's post. Many that lie about their status. Plan now for what you will say/do when you experience it. Please do/say SOMETHING.
I'm not rolling my eyes at you. I like coming here because I like hearing what you all have to say even when I may not fully agree. ...good points, though....definately things to consider.
Playing devils advocate. While working as an MA (now is nursing school) I worked for an FNP whom I over hear tell one of his patients what the difference between him and an MD was. "We are basicly the same thing, but I just don't work in a hospital." There is one in every group, even nurses. I can't believe how long this post has gone.
Playing devils advocate. While working as an MA (now is nursing school) I worked for an FNP whom I over hear tell one of his patients what the difference between him and an MD was. "We are basicly the same thing, but I just don't work in a hospital." There is one in every group, even nurses. I can't believe how long this post has gone.
and this is funny because medical students and physicians seem to have a cow over the midlevels being equated with MD/DO because they feel it is dangerous, however many have no problem calling their MA's "nurses". Interesting isn't it?
honestly........., get over it. Some people take issues way too far. I really don't think there are alot of people out there lying and purposely being malicious and saying hey I am a nurse, jut so they can be liars and malicious. I know many CNA's in nursing home settings and in the hospital and lots of the elderly patients and family visitors for that matter say "nurse, nurse-can you get me some water ??" and they just answer instead of correcting them. And they just take care of it instead of being rude and correcting them. If it was an issue that needed to be handled by the nurse, they tell them, I am a cna, I will get your nurse. If they need their old father to have a glass of water or to take them to the potty, the cna takes care of it. If it is an issue of something she can't handle she just goes and asks the nurse and the nurse comes and takes care of it. Honestly, not everything needs to be blown so far out of proportion. I sure that will make alot of people mad. But oh well, it is reality.
There are no credentials for "medical assistant". There are all kinds of certificate programs and such, but the term is just a catch all for people just like her. Those who don't have credentials. My sister went to work for a doc as a secretary and ended up as a "medical assistant". Medical assistants do exactly that assist.
They receive on the job training to give injections and take blood, do vital signs and so forth. As a side note, you don't need any type of credential to draw blood, even in a hospital. As long as you have a high school diploma many hospitals will hire you as a lab tech/phlebotomist, and just train you as you go.
That may be true in some cases. I have an associates degree as a Medical Assistant. Our local college offers it. Its two years long. Our clinic does not hire a medical assistant unless they have gone to school for it. I am sure it varies from state to state.
I would have called a halt to the whole visit, demanded to speak with the office manager, and told her that my insurance would not be charged for that visit. Even if MAs are not required to be certified by that state, the way she introduced herself is fraudulent. I would also have told the office manager that I would be calling the BON to report someone who claimed to be a nurse.
Harsh? Perhaps, but people who are licensed and certified worked too hard to get those licenses and certifications.
True, you should not claim to be something you are not. Acccording to the BON in our state, it is not fraudulent to call yourself a nurse as long as you don't say LPN or RN. That is fradulent. I don't like people calling themselves CMa's if they have not gone to school either.
I read on a non nursing message board that this girl is a "medical office assistant" (like I currently am), which is mostly reception/dest work.
She said and I quote "we're like nurses, just not as qualified". :eek: Holy man. I'm not even in nursing school yet and did I ever light into her. NOT EVEN FREAKIN CLOSE TO A NURSE!!!!
We went a few go rounds with posts, but I seriously think she didn't get it. She still thinks she's "almost like a nurse" :banghead:
There are so many other things in life to worry about then this. I wish that was all I had to worry about.
I'm already proud to be a future RN. I hope I never get to the point where I need to put other people's flaws/shortcomings on a platform to feed my pride.
The majority of RNs I encounter at my place of employment (animal hospital) seem to be total blockheads who think they know everything and are better than everyone. I have no idea where the attitude comes from, but I'm definitely not the only one who's noticed it. Of course, we have a few who are always polite and respectful. Those are the nurses that make me want to be a nurse, too. I think they do more for elevating the profession than the nurses out on witch hunts for "fake nurses" and other evils do.
Amen. I am a student also. There is alot of nurse snobbery out there. But there are some great ones too.
honestly........., get over it. Some people take issues way too far. I really don't think there are alot of people out there lying and purposely being malicious and saying hey I am a nurse, jut so they can be liars and malicious. I know many CNA's in nursing home settings and in the hospital and lots of the elderly patients and family visitors for that matter say "nurse, nurse-can you get me some water ??" and they just answer instead of correcting them. And they just take care of it instead of being rude and correcting them. If it was an issue that needed to be handled by the nurse, they tell them, I am a cna, I will get your nurse. If they need their old father to have a glass of water or to take them to the potty, the cna takes care of it. If it is an issue of something she can't handle she just goes and asks the nurse and the nurse comes and takes care of it. Honestly, not everything needs to be blown so far out of proportion. I sure that will make alot of people mad. But oh well, it is reality.
Three years ago I stared working on the unit I'm presently on, if a patient even used the word "nurse" in a sentence, the NA would immediately leave to tell the RN that the patient needed them. See, they didn't bother to ask what the patient needed because if it was something they could assist with, they would have to do it. Interesting how these NAs never had a problem ensuring that the patients knew they were not the nurse.
I know many CNA's in nursing home settings and in the hospital and lots of the elderly patients and family visitors for that matter say "nurse, nurse-can you get me some water ??" and they just answer instead of correcting them. And they just take care of it instead of being rude and correcting them.
Hello. I'm Jane/John, your CNA, and I would be glad to get you some water. Relatively easy and polite way of informing someone regarding who you are. In a health care setting, it is not only courtesy but it is also a sign of respect to take the opportunity to introduce yourself to your patients and explain who you are, even if you are the housekeeper assigned to clean their room. Ever consider how the patient or family may feel when they realize that the "nurse" who gave them water cannot provide them an analgesics? People not taking the time to introduce themselves and explain who they are ACTUALLY CAUSES more problems in the long run. Patients and their families become confused as to who is who, they wonder if anybody knows what they are doing, they wonder if the staff even really cares about their patients.
honestly........., get over it. Some people take issues way too far. I really don't think there are alot of people out there lying and purposely being malicious and saying hey I am a nurse, jut so they can be liars and malicious.
Actually I think most MAs and CNAs know they are not nurses, although there may be some that believe they are "just like a nurse," and therefore that entitles them to use that title. They may not be malicious liars, however they certainly are ignorant. In a court of law, ignorance is not a justifiable reason to break the law. The issue IS NOT about whether an MA, or CNA for that matter, is qualified to the job they were trained to do. The issue is about misrepresentation within a health care setting. It's dangerous. That is what nurses are concerned with regarding this issue.
Frankly, I think it's a total cop-out when people claim it's easier to just let patients believe the person taking care of them is a "nurse" rather than explain what they actually are.
I realize that when a patient yells "nurse, nurse" that they are trying to get someone's attention. I just don't think it has to be rude to inform the patient regarding who you are. So often I see staff enter a patient's room and start doing things without even bothering to tell the patient who they are and what they are doing. I think the simple act of introduction and explaination can circumvent some issues that develop between staff and patients/and or families.
I like coming here because I like hearing what you all have to say even when I may not fully agree. ...good points, though....definately things to consider. 
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:eek: Holy man. I'm not even in nursing school yet and did I ever light into her. NOT EVEN FREAKIN CLOSE TO A NURSE!!!! 
:banghead:
Lisa CCU RN, RN
1,531 Posts
Oh, no. I'm not
. I know how hard it is for nurses to get respect.
I am taking all ya'll are saying to heart.