Yes, I know there are mutiple threads on this already, but as it was happening I knew I was going to have to post this.
So my doctor is on vacation, I had to go to another doc. The MA was sent in to do vitals (didn't wash hands or sanitize them AT ALL) I had to have my ears irrigated. I said that I was sorry she was stuck with the job, it was gross.
"That's ok, I was a combat nurse and have seen worse than this" she said. I asked "So you're a nurse?"
"Not quite, in the army it's different. I could totally challenge the boards and be an RN but I choose to just be a MA. In the army I was a PA." So I thought for a minute and asked, "You were a physician's assistant?" She nodded, "Yep, and I've seen a lot more gruesome stuff than this"
I just don't get it at all. Would a PA really demote themselves to MA? Naahh.
I do have some experience on this subject. I was a 91C in the US Army during the 91W Conversion. You start out with "medic" emt training and you can go onto a specialty c, d, e and so on. "C" being termed Practical Nurse in the Army Nurse Corp....civilian would be lpn/lvn. Keep in mind the military did not license/certify at this time (it is now required in the transition). When I discharged I had legitimate RN training in a military hospital on surgical/ICU/OB units that I was unable to use because of lack of licensing, opportunities made available to me but like a dummy I didn't take advantage of civilian licensing. At the time I thought it was unnecessary thinking my life would not exist beyond the military. Generally speaking a medic depending on when they served can have nursing training, but NOT PA, physician assistant training. MEDDAC or Field medics work under LT's and above in the Army with LT's generally being PA's and Major's being MD's. Hope this info helps. Having the nursing training again, doesn't make them a nurse, but it is possible for the training to be there. On the AARTS transcript for 91WM6 (my job title was Practical Nurse) included nursing clinical credits as well as certification as NREMT-Basic (NREMT-B), with certifications in Advanced Provider Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (A-PHTLS), and Advanced Provider Basic Trauma Life Support (A-BTLS). If this helps great if not, sorry.
Being from my background.....MA with nursing training plausible, PA, NO WAY
by the way I am a NCMA, I am awaiting admittance into UAA's RN program and the NCMA lets me work 8-5 for my 2 kids. Great hours for finding daycare and going to school. Please don't flame me.
Specializes in Neurovascular, Ortho, Community Health.
Yes, I know there are mutiple threads on this already, but as it was happening I knew I was going to have to post this.
So my doctor is on vacation, I had to go to another doc. The MA was sent in to do vitals (didn't wash hands or sanitize them AT ALL) I had to have my ears irrigated. I said that I was sorry she was stuck with the job, it was gross.
"That's ok, I was a combat nurse and have seen worse than this" she said. I asked "So you're a nurse?"
"Not quite, in the army it's different. I could totally challenge the boards and be an RN but I choose to just be a MA. In the army I was a PA." So I thought for a minute and asked, "You were a physician's assistant?" She nodded, "Yep, and I've seen a lot more gruesome stuff than this"
I just don't get it at all. Would a PA really demote themselves to MA? Naahh.
Kidaroo102
9 Posts
I do have some experience on this subject. I was a 91C in the US Army during the 91W Conversion. You start out with "medic" emt training and you can go onto a specialty c, d, e and so on. "C" being termed Practical Nurse in the Army Nurse Corp....civilian would be lpn/lvn. Keep in mind the military did not license/certify at this time (it is now required in the transition). When I discharged I had legitimate RN training in a military hospital on surgical/ICU/OB units that I was unable to use because of lack of licensing, opportunities made available to me but like a dummy I didn't take advantage of civilian licensing. At the time I thought it was unnecessary thinking my life would not exist beyond the military. Generally speaking a medic depending on when they served can have nursing training, but NOT PA, physician assistant training. MEDDAC or Field medics work under LT's and above in the Army with LT's generally being PA's and Major's being MD's. Hope this info helps. Having the nursing training again, doesn't make them a nurse, but it is possible for the training to be there. On the AARTS transcript for 91WM6 (my job title was Practical Nurse) included nursing clinical credits as well as certification as NREMT-Basic (NREMT-B), with certifications in Advanced Provider Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (A-PHTLS), and Advanced Provider Basic Trauma Life Support (A-BTLS). If this helps great if not, sorry.
Being from my background.....MA with nursing training plausible, PA, NO WAY
by the way I am a NCMA, I am awaiting admittance into UAA's RN program and the NCMA lets me work 8-5 for my 2 kids. Great hours for finding daycare and going to school. Please don't flame me.