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?)
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.
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.
Yes, I do realize this, my problem is that others don't. I was going to go to a MA school until I say what crap it was. YOu come out making less than you would at Mickey D's.
THe recruiter told me that I would be a nurse when I got out in 9 months.
I really didn't know better then, but I didn't attend anyway because it was a rip off.
I know three people who graduated from that school and they all refer to themselves as nurses.
They just don't know. It's too bad I don't have any contact with them anymore.
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?
No i don't see your point, nor will i. If i hadn't heard or personally witnessed numerous accounts of "the nurse" actually being an MA, perhaps i wouldn't be so gung-ho about putting a stop to it. And as a CNA, i never got the C confused for an L.
She stated she was, then when she saw the OP was going to NURSING school changed her tune. She knew.
I'm done!:deadhorse :smackingf
I didn't see that part:o .
I just know in my experience, I was told by a recruiter at a MA school, that I would be a nurse if I finished their program and I have known three other people who seem to have gotten the same message.
They graduate from a nine month program called "medical assisting" and DON'T KNOW that they are NOT A NURSE????
:confused:
Yea I know! I don't think I would want THEM drawing my blood .
Seriously , how ignorant can you be? Oh here's graduation, here's your certificate that says Medical Assistant but your a nurse??? Caveat Emptor (sp), right?
They graduate from a nine month program called "medical assisting" and DON'T KNOW that they are NOT A NURSE????
:confused:
I guess not. Like I said, I let that golden oppotunity go:uhoh3:.
You'd be surprised what people don't seem to know. I have seen CNA's who swore they were nurses, which is why I don't ever want to see a nursing home again. Too may people there thought they held titles higher than what they did.
I have seen CNA's who swore they were nurses, which is why I don't ever want to see a nursing home again. Too may people there thought they held titles higher than what they did.
And why are the CNAs misleading but the OP's MA wasn't?
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". 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"
:confused: 
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Lisa CCU RN, RN
1,531 Posts
Yes, I do realize this, my problem is that others don't. I was going to go to a MA school until I say what crap it was. YOu come out making less than you would at Mickey D's.
THe recruiter told me that I would be a nurse when I got out in 9 months.
I really didn't know better then, but I didn't attend anyway because it was a rip off.
I know three people who graduated from that school and they all refer to themselves as nurses.
They just don't know. It's too bad I don't have any contact with them anymore.