"I'm an uncertified medical assistant"

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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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?)

Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
LOL... this post is great... the reason this MA probably said yes when you asked if she was a nurse was because she assumed you were a regular person that wouldn't know the difference between a tech, MA, CNA, LVN, RN (ASN), RN (BSN), NP, PA, etc. The way most people that aren't familiar with healthcare see it is you are a nurse or a doctor, plain and simple. I'm sure no ill intent was ment. Also, many Doctor's offices and hospitals don't require certifications, but do on the job training for phlebotomy and MAs. If you say that you would have asked to speak to the office manager because of a little thing like that, you need to step back, take a deep breath, and realize that you've been a nurse for WAY too long and have become a "healthcare snob". I agree, I do it too sometimes, but, seriously, it doesn't take four years of college to draw blood.

:yeahthat: :yeahthat:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Ok, I think seriously, the term "nurse" is not being defined clearly. Look at this google search I did on the definition.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3Anurse&btnG=Google+Search

As you can see, it means a lot of different things and one definition is simply a person who cares for a sick or injured person.

The MA in question here DID NOT say she was a Registered nurse nor an LPN.

I doubt anyone sits MA or CNA's or whatever down and says ok, you are to ONLY refer to yourself as a MA etc.

I don't think she intentionally was out to mislead anyone.

I really think it's overreacting to say she is committing fraud or an outright liar.

A nurse to most people is simply a caregiver.

Now seeing how we have discussed this a million times here, what can be done to educate people on the differences in education?

Everyone knows what a doctor is, but no one realizes that there are different kinds of "nurses". Heck, before I started nursing school, I thought all the MA's at my doctor's office were the same kind of "nurse".

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I think that someone should sit down MAs and CNAs and explain to them that they are only to refer to themselves as MA or CNA. See problem solved.;)

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The MA in question here DID NOT say she was a Registered nurse nor an LPN. I don't think she intentionally was out to mislead anyone. I really think it's overreacting to say she is committing fraud or an outright liar.

A nurse to most people is simply a caregiver.

Now seeing how we have discussed this a million times here, what can be done to educate people on the differences in education?

Everyone knows what a doctor is, but no one realizes that there are different kinds of "nurses". Heck, before I started nursing school, I thought all the MA's at my doctor's office were the same kind of "nurse".

OP here. The assistant said she was a nurse. Given that we were standing in the midst of a large medical practice, about to draw blood and to give me vaccinations, I think the implication was clear: She was implying that she was a licensed or registered nurse, not a "caregiver." I think her ego got away from her, and when she realized she was talking to an educated consumer, she panicked and corrected herself.

That said, I have no objection to a properly educated and/or certified person drawing blood or giving me vaccinations. But I think I and every other consumer has a right to know who that person is. I'd like to see everyone required to wear name tags with their credentials on them. I'd also like to see the nurses' organizations in my state do a public awareness campaign, not to say "make sure you're being treated by a registered nurse" but to educate the public on how much science education becoming a nurse requires. I don't think most people understand how nursing has evolved, particularly over the past 25 years.

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Specializes in Lie detection.
Ok, I think seriously, the term "nurse" is not being defined clearly. Look at this google search I did on the definition.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3Anurse&btnG=Google+Search

As you can see, it means a lot of different things and one definition is simply a person who cares for a sick or injured person.

The MA in question here DID NOT say she was a Registered nurse nor an LPN.

I doubt anyone sits MA or CNA's or whatever down and says ok, you are to ONLY refer to yourself as a MA etc.

I don't think she intentionally was out to mislead anyone.

I really think it's overreacting to say she is committing fraud or an outright liar.

A nurse to most people is simply a caregiver.

Now seeing how we have discussed this a million times here, what can be done to educate people on the differences in education?

Everyone knows what a doctor is, but no one realizes that there are different kinds of "nurses". Heck, before I started nursing school, I thought all the MA's at my doctor's office were the same kind of "nurse".

I think most nurses here could give a hoot what google says a nurse is. We know what our education means to US.

Yes many of us are sensitive about people calling themselves nurses when they are not. Why do it? Why? I don't call myself a chef, or a masseuse though I may perform those functions from time to time ;)

That MA IS an outright liar, maybe she's not committing fraud in a criminal sense but she IS lying. I would never tell a patient that I can medically diagnosis or mislead them in some other way, why on earth do these people continue to do this? It doesn't make them look any better. I respect an MA taking my BP and blood just as I would a nurse.

As far as overreacting, people are certainly entitled to their feelings on this sensitive subject. i absolutely hate when someone lies about their title. It gets to me so I understand.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
I think most nurses here could give a hoot what google says a nurse is. We know what our education means to US.

Yes many of us are sensitive about people calling themselves nurses when they are not. Why do it? Why? I don't call myself a chef, or a masseuse though I may perform those functions from time to time ;)

That MA IS an outright liar, maybe she's not committing fraud in a criminal sense but she IS lying. I would never tell a patient that I can medically diagnosis or mislead them in some other way, why on earth do these people continue to do this? It doesn't make them look any better. I respect an MA taking my BP and blood just as I would a nurse.

As far as overreacting, people are certainly entitled to their feelings on this sensitive subject. i absolutely hate when someone lies about their title. It gets to me so I understand.

I still stand by my opinion. I am in nursing school and I know what it is the get a degree, but I know that before I got my first job as a CNA, I thought anyone that worked in a doctor's office was a nurse.

I will be a nurse in about 8 months and I'll feel the same way then. I know for a fact people simply do not know the difference.

Here is better source on the definition of a nurse.

http://www.webster.com/dictionary/nurse

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
OP here. The assistant said she was a nurse. Given that we were standing in the midst of a large medical practice, about to draw blood and to give me vaccinations, I think the implication was clear: She was implying that she was a licensed or registered nurse, not a "caregiver." I think her ego got away from her, and when she realized she was talking to an educated consumer, she panicked and corrected herself.

That said, I have no objection to a properly educated and/or certified person drawing blood or giving me vaccinations. But I think I and every other consumer has a right to know who that person is. I'd like to see everyone required to wear name tags with their credentials on them. I'd also like to see the nurses' organizations in my state do a public awareness campaign, not to say "make sure you're being treated by a registered nurse" but to educate the public on how much science education becoming a nurse requires. I don't think most people understand how nursing has evolved, particularly over the past 25 years.

But she NEVER said she was a RN or an LPN. Some people are just ignorant, which means they just don't know.

Like I said, I know for a fact they never tell you in MA school to NOT say you are a nurse or that it is wrong.

Nursing is caring for people, the terms registered nurse and licensed practical nurse are specific types of nurses that care for others.

I still don't see where you got the impression this woman was trying to be misleading.

That is just my opinion.

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I still don't see where you got the impression this woman was trying to be misleading.

That is just my opinion.

I'm with the OP here. Lay people equate "nurse" with RN or LVN. To be a nurse is to be licensed. To nurse someone is to care for someone or feed a baby. She did not say "I'm here to nurse you." She said "I'm the nurse." To call oneself a nurse when one is not licensed is deliberately misleading.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Not to mention that some of the governing laws cover the titles RN, LPN, and Nurse.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
I'm with the OP here. Lay people equate "nurse" with RN or LVN. To be a nurse is to be licensed. To nurse someone is to care for someone or feed a baby. She did not say "I'm here to nurse you." She said "I'm the nurse." To call oneself a nurse when one is not licensed is deliberately misleading.

I used to be a lay person and I am now realizing that all those people at my doctor's office where I am from were MA's.

I actually have something else to say about MA's, but I can't do it on a public forum and I'll be offending the good MA's out there.

With that said, I know a couple of MA's personally and I am telling you, this woman really just doesn't realize what she is saying.

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Specializes in Lie detection.
I still stand by my opinion. I am in nursing school and I know what it is the get a degree, but I know that before I got my first job as a CNA, I thought anyone that worked in a doctor's office was a nurse.

I will be a nurse in about 8 months and I'll feel the same way then. I know for a fact people simply do not know the difference.

Here is better source on the definition of a nurse.

http://www.webster.com/dictionary/nurse

Again, I don't care what the proper definition of a nurse is. I know and everyone else knows that when someone says "I'm a nurse", they MEAN RN or LPN. When someone tells me they are a nurse, they don't mean they take care of their sick uncle on the weekends while there aunt goes shoppimg! they mean they actually are LICENSED. Unless of course they are LYING like the chick in the OP's post.

But she NEVER said she was a RN or an LPN. Some people are just ignorant, which means they just don't know.

Like I said, I know for a fact they never tell you in MA school to NOT say you are a nurse or that it is wrong.

Nursing is caring for people, the terms registered nurse and licensed practical nurse are specific types of nurses that care for others.

I still don't see where you got the impression this woman was trying to be misleading.

That is just my opinion.

She knew and that is why she changed her tune when she found out the OP had a clue. I think people know it is wrong to lie and misrepresent yourself. In several states it is actually a CRIME to say you are a nurse if you are not, did you realize that?

You are entitled to your opinion, I hope you change it and hold the title nurse a little more dear once you graduate. You are working hard for it. It's not a term to be tossed around loosely . It's why some states choose to protect it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.
Not to mention that some of the governing laws cover the titles RN, LPN, and Nurse.

Which most of the public is entirely unaware of. Most MA's schools are rip offs and I know for a fact, that one particular MA school tells the MA's they are going to be working in the NURSING field as NURSES! Have you ever seen the commercials? They give you the impression that you will get out of school and be making big dollars, when in fact you only make around $8-$12 to start. they prey on ignorant people.

It's ridiculous. That's why the public doesn't have a clue about what a real nurse is or that it is a licensed position.

Have you ever heard a CNA refer to their certification as a license?

No one even bothers to correct them.

That's why I say give this woman a little slack; it may not be her fault.

See my point now?

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