Which licensed health professional should be the direct supervisor of a medical assistant?

• A. CNA
• B. RN
• C. Physician
• D. CRNA

Answer: (C)

Direct supervision of a medical assistant should come from a licensed health professional who is ultimately responsible for patient care and who can authorize tasks within the assistant’s scope. A physician fits this role best because they hold the overarching responsibility for the patient’s treatment plan and can directly delegate appropriate clinical tasks to the medical assistant while ensuring patient safety and compliance with standards of care.

A licensed physician assistant or an APRN could also supervise in many settings, but among the given options, the physician is the standard direct supervisor. A CNA is not a licensed health professional capable of providing direct supervision, and a CRNA, while a licensed practitioner, is a specialized role (anesthetist) not typically the general direct supervisor for a medical assistant in a standard practice. Remember, medical assistants perform tasks under supervision and cannot diagnose or treat patients.