Can a Medical Assistant give Flu vaccines in a lab without a Dr. in the lab?
You all do realize that there is a very big difference between a nurse practitioner, a nurse, and a medical assistant, right? A NP is a graduate level nurse (with a master’s degree) who can independently see and treat patients, They can write prescriptions, order labs, order procedures and care for patients across a spectrum of disease states. A nurse is a trained professional – with education and experience in nursing care. They are responsible for implementing care ordered by the doctor (or NP or PA), especially in the hospital. They can pass out meds, give injections, monitor for changes in health. A medical assistant is a person who may or not have had some formal training in basic medical care – how to do blood pressures, draw blood, give injections, do vital signs. They cannot give medications. But a medical assistant in a clinic that has been trained can give injections if allowed by their state’s law and ordered to by the Doctor, NP, or PA.
