What is the average nurse's opinion on medical assistants

[maeskmio]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so please go easy on me if I just asked a stupid question. It's just that I need an outside answer from nurses about my workplace troubles. I've been a male non-certified medical assistant at a large practice for almost a year now and I'm just a highschool student. Even though before this job I had virtually no experience as a medical assistant I was still hired part time because of my impeccable computer skills. The other medical assistants at my job are all certified and I'm not, so anything that involves direct patient care (Drawing blood, checking there weight, bringing them to there room) goes to the CMA's, I'm perfectly fine with that. I'm used as the receptionist and also do a lot of clerical work. My problem is my interaction with the other medical assistants and the nurses. They are all kind to each other for the most part but whenever they look at me they act like I murdered there family or something terrible like that. Whenever they hand me a patients file they won't even look me in the eye and its obvious they say rude things about me when i'm not in the room because when I walk into the break room all the talking stops. I get along very well with the physicians and the APRN and even the patients tell the physicians how well I work and how friendly I am. I don't even bring my cell phone to work because I don't think it's appropriate to be on it while patients are in the office. I am the only male on the staff besides some of the doctors. My question is do nurses not like medical assistants? and is there any way that I can improve my workplace etiquette because obviously i'm not making a very good impression on the nursing staff (theres about 4 LPN and 2 RN)

[schnookimz]

I don't understand the difference between certified and not certified. If you aren't certified and aren't providing patient care, how are you an ma?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Agree with PP. Maybe part of the problem is that you are working under a title that you do not deserve. In some states (like mine), clinical titles are legally 'protected' so it is actually illegal to identify yourself as a licensed or certified clinician if you are not. Your employer may not be aware of this issue, but that would not protect you from being charged as an imposter. This is a liability issue also. Health care services are delivered on the basis of an 'implied contract' between the clinician and patient. We (clinicians) are obligated to function under the rules and regulations of our defined scope of practice & patients trust that we identify ourselves accurately when we are providing services.

If you're functioning as a 'records' clerk, receptionist, or something like that, then that's what your job title should be.

[maeskmio]

I'm basically the receptionist but the practice manager is too nice to say that to me

[maeskmio]

Agree with PP. Maybe part of the problem is that you are working under a title that you do not deserve. In some states (like mine), clinical titles are legally 'protected' so it is actually illegal to identify yourself as a licensed or certified clinician if you are not. Your employer may not be aware of this issue, but that would not protect you from being charged as an imposter. This is a liability issue also. Health care services are delivered on the basis of an 'implied contract' between the clinician and patient. We (clinicians) are obligated to function under the rules and regulations of our defined scope of practice & patients trust that we identify ourselves accurately when we are providing services.

If you're functioning as a 'records' clerk, receptionist, or something like that, then that's what your job title should be.

In my state you do not have to be certified or licensed to be a medical assistant. In my state most clinics that need medical assistants don't require you to be certified, and I have never claimed to be certified or to have any education in medical assisting

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

In some states you can work as an MA without being certified. Only when you are certified can your title be CMA. Many outpatient facilities don't care if you're certified or not. The tasks done are the same.

[jetsy62]

You are in high school so this is where I would expect this type of behavior, not a medical practice. If your state does not require certification, then it is no one's business what the firm that hired all of you decides to call you or any of the others. If you are comfortable doing so, I would have an informal talk with the practice manager and ask for a different title. Just say that "some" (this could be patients, co-workers, sales personnel, etc.) are getting confused by the medical assistant title and could you have another and give some suggestions of things you would be comfortable with.

[Fiona59]

Honestly, my first thought was which doctor are you related to?

You are still in high school, have computer skills, and are male. Not your typical hire. Is there a different wage scale for students in your state and you are "cheap labour"?

It could be your any of the things I've questioned.

Speaking as a potential patient here, I wouldn't feel much confidence regarding my health records security around a teenaged boy. I know it's not nice or politically correct but there is my answer. I wouldn't be happy with a girl in 12th grade seeing my records either.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I'm basically the receptionist but the practice manager is too nice to say that to me

I'm sorry to hear that you are being treated poorly at work--regardless of certification or licensure, no one deserves that. I would approach the practice manager and ask (politely, you don't want it to come off as a "demand") if you could have you official title changed to "clerical assistant" or something like that. You can tell him/her that you think that better reflects your job responsibilities.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

Hun, you are describing very common behavior in the realm of female dominated professions. Just read some of the other posts here on allnurses or google "lateral violence in nursing." They are probably jealous that the docs talk to you and not them. Keep your chin up and don't let them bother you.

[nursel56]

I have no problem at all with medical assistants in general - sometimes we get into some lively discussions about the title of "nurse" but that isn't the issue here.

I know that the difference in training requirements is vast between the states, with some having no requirements or defined scope of practice at all.

The job is almost always divided into "front office" and "back office"...if you aren't allowed to call a patient into a room I'm wondering why you are called a medical assistant at all. The job of a receptionist or some computer related title is just as valuable to an office as the others.

Not knowing the various personalities at play here it's difficult to say for sure but a small office environment is very vulnerable to a few individuals creating a toxic culture for the entire place. I worked in one place with one male receptionist where all the ladies fell over themselves trying to make friends with him so gender alone shouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle.

If it's a toxic culture and you know you aren't contributing to it yourself your options are pretty limited. Otherwise you can either adopt a title change or seek training in those back office tasks where certification is optional in your state.

[maeskmio]

Hey guys, thanks for all the advice :) . I had a little chat with the practice manager and I told her about some of the things I had been experiencing and that I thought it would be best for my title to be changed, we both agreed on receptionist and she said that my pay would stay the same so hopefully that makes my time at work a little less hostile. All in all I don't care about how i'm treated at work I only care that i'm doing at least something to help the community. Even if it is just as a medical receptionist