What do LPNs do in doctor's offices? Are they like MAs or can they do more?

[vpace91]

I'm currently a medical assistant but I want to get my LPN. I was looking up LPN positions in my area to find out how the job market was, and I noticed that some physician offices hire LPNs. But the job descriptions seem to list many of the same things the MAs do. Is there no extra responsibility? I live in Pennsylvania, and I don't know about other states, but here MAs are allowed to give injections, draw blood, etc. I've never worked in an office that had an LPN so I don't know what they do in that setting.

(And no, I'm not trying to start any MA vs. nurse debates! I'm not one of those MAs that refer to themselves as nurses. I hate that as much as you guys do! lol)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Scopes of practice are determined at the state level, so there is a lot of variability. In my part of the country, MAs work is limited to the office/clinic but Physician-employed LVNs are permitted to do some hospital 'rounding' tasks for physicians such as aggregating information (lab & diagnostic test results, nurse's notes, etc) as well as acting as a Physician scribe during rounds. This is carefully controlled through medical staff but seems to work OK.

In the office/clinic setting itself, I don't know that there is a great deal of difference between LVN & MA functions. Physicians that are more attuned to the increasing importance of patient satisfaction (e.g., looming MACRA changes) prefer to utilize LVNs because they want patients to see that there is a qualified office nurse available. The title "nurse" is legally protected in my state, and misuse can (and does) result in legal consequences.

[RuralNurseRN]

My experience has been that the role of the MA in the office is more limited than the LPN. MAs can take vitals, prep charts, give immunizations and most meds, and do prior authorizations. LPNs do triage, IV hydration, port flushes, and administer narcotics and allergy shots.

The main difference in my state is that MAs are not allowed to make medical decisions-only relay information to the provider who makes the decision. Licensed nurses (LPN and RN) are expected to use critical thinking skills to make decisions such as doing an assessment of a patient prior to administration of an allergy injection and deciding whether injection is appropriate or not based on that assessment.

[caliotter3]

In a nutshell, your job duties would be determined by your place of employment. You might ask around to find out any specific differences. At any rate, obtaining an LPN license can only broaden your opportunities.