RN's in dr. offices

Some do, but generally the pay is lower than it would be if you worked in a hospital.

Reimbursements are are down, so why pay for a RN when you can get a CMA?

I see a lot of jobs that say "Wanted: CMA/LPN"

But around here the MD offices will advertise "EMT/LPN/CNA/CMA" they'll hire whoever...

I was just at my Dr's office and the front desk lady said "the nurse will be right out!" Of course, it was a CMA that she was calling a nurse.. grrr....

most highly specialized groups do still hire RNs along with CMAs. (Example: surgeons, endocrinologists, cardiologists) Rns are used primarily for pt education, technical diagnostics done in the office setting, and triage... Along with anything else that requires a licensed person to do. IE: Coumadin and Lovenox titration---administration of IV meds---addressing legal matters with clinical staff.

In cardiology offices, RNs titrate Coumadin and Lovenox, do stress testing, and administer IV meds. In surgeons offices, they assist with minor surgeries and handle complicated wounds etc. In endocrinologists offices they handle the complexities of diabetic, adrenal, and thyroid pts. In all offices, they address the medical -legal issues that may come up with the clinical staff. Makes me mad when CMAs are introduced as "nurses" too!! :hlk:

I graduated in August, and I was hired as an RN before I graduated. I'm the ONLY RN working at my office. There are 5 different family practice locations with this company.. and she has hired a few RNs, but most are MAs and many don't have any title and are in school. We all do the same thing, and yes it does annoy me when others (who are not nurses) introduce themselves (or are introduced) as nurses.

I previously worked in a pediatricians office and our company ALWAYS hired RN's. Yes the pay is lower than a hospital/LTC/acute care facility but you also are not dealing with the acuity of patients that you would be in the previous. Not saying it is not stressful because it definitely is....just a different type of stress!

most highly specialized groups do still hire RNs along with CMAs. (Example: surgeons, endocrinologists, cardiologists) Rns are used primarily for pt education, technical diagnostics done in the office setting, and triage... Along with anything else that requires a licensed person to do. IE: Coumadin and Lovenox titration---administration of IV meds---addressing legal matters with clinical staff.

What ebear said. I would add that those specialized practices traditionally are only hiring experienced RN's. For instance, a cardiology practice will hire the RN's from a Cardiac Care unit, etc.

It's tricky with MAs taking over a lot of the technical parts of patient care. I got my first job in a LARGE (48 exam room) FQHC, Family Practice, and they *need* RNs, but not for checking in patients. We do case management, meds management and administration, phone and walk-in triage, wound care, immunization visits, UTI visits, etc. Fortunately for us, each RN has an assistant that does our paperwork for us (Medicare, med refills, etc) so we can focus more on our patient schedule. But most ambulatory settings seem to be struggling with clarifying the vague role that a REAL NURSE would play in their practice.

I notice a few of you mention the CMA introducing themselves or the front desk staff doing the the introducing the CMA as A NURSE. The CMA AND the front desk staff need to be aware that this is ILLEGAL. No one that is not a nurse can use this title, nor should the front staff be doing this. I found this happening in the LTC setting often. The CNAs would sometimes refer to themselves as the nurse. And sometimes the residents would call the CNA "the nurse" and the CNA would not bother to correct the resident. Not okay and totally illegal.

I know this was not the point of the post but I read that and I just had to point this out. That it not only bugs me but it is ILLEGAL and can have legal consequences.

Thank you to all the very informative posts. I am learning so much here!! When I visit my doctor's offices or my kids pediatrician next I will definitely ask about their hiring of RN's vs. MA's. Who should I ask in the office, the dr or the office manager?

Thanks!!:redbeathe

As far as a plain old general care doctor, RNs probably wouldn't be hired. The office I work at has one RN, she's our medical supervisor/manager, but then there's two CMAs and me, the CNA. At my family doctor, there are a few LPNs and one CNA; I actually asked the doc once why she didn't have a CMA, she told me that it's a pet peeve of her's to hear somone who isn't a nurse be called a nurse, so she only hires RNs and LPNs but finds that she doesn't really have a lot of things that would require an RN and those things she can do herself.

But, at offices that have a lot of procedures, like a ob/gyn or surgeon, I'm sure that they would need RNs or at least LPNs and not CMAs because of surgical dressings, etc.