"CAN I DO THAT?" CHECK LIST!

If you are unsure what medical assistants can do, then first go through this check list:

When in doubt, ask yourself...

Was the skill or task taught in your basic medical assisting program? —OR—

 If it was not included in your basic medical assistant education, have you since completed a comprehensive training program, which included this particular skill or clinical experience? Or has your supervising physician/licensed healthcare practitioner in charge thoroughly trained you in a particular skill?

 Has this task become so routine in the medical assistant literature and in the medical assistant practice (e.g. venipuncture, injections, ear lavage, wound debridement, screening patient test results) that it can be reasonably and prudently assumed to be within your scope?

 Is the skill/task in your hiring agency policy and procedure manual?

 Does carrying out the task fall within the "reasonable and prudent" standard for medical assisting?

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If you answered YES to all the above questions: the task is likely to be within your scope of practice. However, it is highly recommended to check with all available resources to verify this first. Do not guess! Get the facts.

If you answered NO to any of the questions above: then the task is very likely not within your scope of practice. Do not do it.