Ok I know people are sick of hearing about the MA's calling themselves nurses threads, but I just need to vent for a minute here. Because I am irritated right now. I belong to another online forum (non nursing) that I have been a part of for like 3 years. One of the people I know posted a thread the other day, saying she knew there were a lot of people who work in the medical field, and she was just curious what they do.
2 people, 1 of who I know, both said they are MA's. Then commented that the only real thing separating them from RN's is the pay. Oh and the fact that they are not allowed to push narcotics. One commented that where she works they are even allowed to start IV's under the doctors license, so it really is just the pay that separates her.
I get that people think all nurses are are med pushing poop cleaners. But I would love to see an MA go work in the ICU, or manage 8 patients on a busy Med/Surg floor, or read the strips on a telemetry floor.
The thread is a few days old, and no longer active so I am not going to comment in it. Which is probably good, because I doubt I would have been very nice. OK end vent.
Just yesterday in the Dr. office the MA introduced herself as Mary- one of the nurses here. and then she asked me what I do for a living-well her face changed few colors in the next minute or so..
It is a little irritating but this is how MD's feel when NP's introduce themselves as "your Dr". Although as a disclaimer I thik the knowlege gap is smaller in the second instance.
One of the many reasons I like my doc is that in her practice, the MA's do not try to be nurses. They do a good job and are honest about their credentials. For that reason I happily let them give me IM injections, draw blood, discuss my lab results with me, and whatever else they need to do. They like to learn, they like to do a good job, and we get along well. I provide teaching and encouragement when they need it, and the environment is a good one; I have yet to see turnover in that office in two years.
It is possible for docs to keep their MA's happy without having to call them nurses.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
They do the vaccinations on my kids in the clinic we go to, so you bet they "give meds"
I forget that they do vaccines and stuff in clinics. I also think some MA's are able to work flu clinics and stuff, but I'm not 100% sure.
I will give my own personal experience (so take that for what it is worth!) I am a former MA currently in school to become an RN. I went through a 2 yr program degree program. "They don't know what they don't know" is EXACTLY right in my opinion. I will justify that by saying that I do feel like I received a very good education for an MA and I do feel somewhat insulted by some of the posts that imply that MA's are idiots. The school I attended told us that MA's are basically nurses that can't give meds so I agree that the schools are major culprits in why MA's feel that way.
I had noidea how much I didn't know! I am relatively intelligent and thought I knew enough that I could breeze through nursing school with little effort. I definitely have more knowledge than someone with no medical background, but I am having to work very hard for every "A" I get in school!
I definitely do NOT think that MA's are idiots. I think that they work hard to learn what they do as well. But then again, I have only worked in hospitals really, with a little homecare. So I will be the first to admit that I don't really have a lot of 1 on 1 experience with MA's.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
just for some more insight, as a military medic i did all the above without a license or under a rn/md.
a military medic is also allowed to take the exam for an rma/cma certification.
c. a formal medical services training program of the united states armed forces.
for routes 2a, 2b or 2c, if the applicant graduated within the last four years, proof of work experience is not required. if graduated over four years ago, proof of current work experience is required.
i am in two year rn program and just started my first semester this aug. i find that there is a big difference between the rn program and my military training (10 months, 3 phases including clinicals) and that is learning why you are doing something. in my military training we were taught how to do something well such as inserting an iv. we were taught the basics of why but in nursing school everything is explained as to why you are putting an iv in. i find that if i am able to pass the rma/cma exam then the education i received allows me to speak for cma's. they are basically taught the same way as medics and that is they are a jack of all trades. you shouldn't feel insulted by the ma's comments and although not necessarily true, do hold some validity in the different levels of care out there for unlicensed persons. not having a license allows a ma to do all sorts of things she or he shouldn't do but if that cma causes harm to the patient the md or rn is held accountable.
there is a lot i don't know about ma's. i don't normally let things like this get to me. doesn't directly affect me, i just let it go. but there was a bit more to the conversation, so it just peeved me a bit. hence the vent, lol
I will give my own personal experience (so take that for what it is worth!) I am a former MA currently in school to become an RN. I went through a 2 yr program degree program. "They don't know what they don't know" is EXACTLY right in my opinion. I will justify that by saying that I do feel like I received a very good education for an MA and I do feel somewhat insulted by some of the posts that imply that MA's are idiots. The school I attended told us that MA's are basically nurses that can't give meds so I agree that the schools are major culprits in why MA's feel that way.
I had noidea how much I didn't know! I am relatively intelligent and thought I knew enough that I could breeze through nursing school with little effort. I definitely have more knowledge than someone with no medical background, but I am having to work very hard for every "A" I get in school!
I have never looked down upon a MA, a CNA, or ST because they are not a Nurse.
I don't think anyone has implied that MAs are idiots...I think the gripe is that some (not all) think a monkey can do an RN's job. And that SOME present themselves as Nurses when the title is earned by taking the required classes, earning a degree, and passing a very tough exam. Then and ONLY then can we call ourselves Nurses, but really you don't even FEEL like a Nurse until you've worked as a Nurse. So the title is revered and held in high esteem to many of us. If you want to be called "Nurse"...earn it the way the rest of us did. If you choose to be a MA, then be prepared to stand behind the title and career you chose to pursue. Be honest and be respectful.
I totally get what you are saying; it irks me to no end, as well.
I am currently in a clinical rotation at a community health clinic where MAs, LVNs, and a couple of RNs work. It's often hard to tell the difference between the three here because mostly everyone is doing the same task, although the nurses are stuck with more of the documentation/charting. Luckily, the MAs carry themselves in a proffeional manner, much better than that of a lot of other MAs I have seen. However, the physician will still call for a "nurse" when she needs assistance. :sigh:
Yes. They can do whatever the doctor that employs them permits them to do, as they are working under the physician's licensure.
True, but the patient has the right to be given the injection by an RN or MD if they request it. My family members have been trained to say the following in the MD's office:
"I respectfully request a registered nurse for my treatment and care."
In most states, if an RN is not present on site, the MD has to provide the meds/injections. Just get a few people to repeat that phrase a few times a day and maybe docs will get the hint.
It is my observation that, "I work in the medical field" is code for, "I am a (check one):
MA
registration clerk
medical records clerk
dietary host/ess
It is also my observation that the number of times someone interjects "I work in the medical field" into the conversation is inversely proportional to the amount of correct medical information they contribute to the conversation.
The shame is that these people have important jobs, but have some need to disguise them as something else, rather than recognize their own contribution to patient care.
This post needs to be on calligraphy on fine linen paper or something. Clever and oh so true.
Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.
You guys are gonna love this. In the state of California in order to practice as a medical assistant all you need is proper training. This training is defined as...
Prior to performing technical supportive services, a medical assistant shall receive training, as necessary, in the judgment of the supervising physician, podiatrist or instructor to assure the medical assistant's competence in performing that service at the appropriate standard of care.
Such training shall be administered in either of the following settings: 1) Under a licensed physician or podiatrist, or under a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, a physician assistant or a qualified medical assistant, or 2) in a secondary, post secondary, or adult education program in a public school authorized by the Department of Education, in a community college program provided for in the Education Code, or a post secondary institution accredited or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education in the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Sounds like RNs and LVNs can build legally practicing Medical Assistant.
MAs are unable to do a lot of the things that RNs do. In California MAs cannot start or d/c IVs, cannot chart puppilary responses, not allowed to insert urine catheter, and the list goes on. Which means in the state of California money is not the only thing that separates RNs/LVNs from MAs. It appears that education (training), scope of practice and a license separate them.
Why do for profit schools like Kaplan tell MAs they are almost nurses?. Its about the money. The more people they get in, the more they can crank out, and the more money they rake in.
I definitely do NOT think that MA's are idiots. I think that they work hard to learn what they do as well. But then again, I have only worked in hospitals really, with a little homecare.
I have worked with MA's who are excellent at what they do, and they introduced themselves to the patient as an MA and wore a name tag as such.
It is only recently I have noted when going to a walk in or medical office the MA "cloke in invisibility", no name tag, not introducing themselves.
I ask the MD point blank is that your registered nurse who will be back to do the bloodwork,etc.
If the answer is no, I request the MD do the interventions. Have not yet had a problem.
If the individual introduces themselves as an MA and is professional, I do agree to having them carry out the orders as appropriate.
I definitely have more knowledge than someone with no medical background, but I am having to work very hard for every "A" I get in school!
Zaphod, BSN, RN
181 Posts
Just yesterday in the Dr. office the MA introduced herself as Mary- one of the nurses here. and then she asked me what I do for a living-well her face changed few colors in the next minute or so..
It is a little irritating but this is how MD's feel when NP's introduce themselves as "your Dr". Although as a disclaimer I thik the knowlege gap is smaller in the second instance.