Perceived Benefits of Nurses and MAs in Family Medicine Offices
| Group | Clinician Perceptions | MA Perceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Nurses (RNs and LPNs) | Starting IVs | Starting IVs |
| Ability to answer patient questions | RNs only (not LPNs): ability to answer patient questions | |
| Assessing and triaging patient clinical concerns | ||
| Teaching patients | ||
| Ability to provide clinical information (eg, results) to patients | ||
| Independence to work with less supervision | ||
| Less on-the-job training needed | ||
| MAs | Lower salary | Lower salary |
| Trained in clerical office work | Trained in clerical office work | |
| Able to serve in back and front office | Able to serve in back and front office | |
| More malleable to on-the-job training | ||
| Often from lower SES; may connect with lower-SES patients | Sufficient knowledge to handle all office-based medical questions, education, and care |
IV = intravenous line; LPN = licensed practical nurse; MA = medical assistant; RN = registered nurse; SES = socioeconomic status.