C.N.A vs Medical Assistant

[hhnurse35]

I am an LVN in Texas, but I have a friend that has completed his C.N.A. certification and is now working on his Registered Medical Assistant license because he found that the C.N.A.'s here in Houston, Tx make $10/hr or less. This is frustrating him because he really wants to become a nurse ASAP, but has to wait for a program to open up for the LVN or RN courses. Questions: 1) What is the difference, if any, between a C.N.A. and a Nurse Tech? 2) Does a Medical Assistant really make any more than a C.N.A.? 3) What is the job market like for Medical Assistants? 4) What other considerations should he keep in mind when deciding if he will complete the Medical Assistant program or just work as a C.N.A. while in nursing school once the next class starts? I would appreciate any and all input/opinions, but would really like to hear from people in or near Houston, Texas. Being a new transplant to Texas, I don't feel I know enough to advise my friend, but I am of the mindset that he is wasting his time attending the Medical Assistant program at a cost of $13,000. (He finishes in Aug and then starts nursing school in September of this year). Even he is starting to think that his school just pushed him into the Medical Assistant program as a way for THEM to make money. Also, keep in mind, my friend has to be able to pay his bills and support himself in the meanwhile until he gets his nursing license.

Thanks everyone. Let me know if you need more info to better answer my questions.

[Kaligirl02, ADN, BSN, MSN, LVN, RN, APRN, NP]

I think as far as being in Texas and wanting to do the nursing program that the CNA route would be better since he would be able to work nights and weekends. I am a MA and have been one since 06' I recently got a CNA license because the LPN program I am attending has it as a pre-req. I honestly believe that the amount of money depends on your location. I work as an MA at an urgent care facility on the weekends and get paid 20.00 an hour, I doubt you can find a CNA with that pay rate. As a CNA the rate of pay where I'm living is 11-13 an hour.... That's more than a couple of dollars if you ask me. There is a HUGE difference between a CMA and a CNA. CMAs aren't trained to do bedside care, we are more task oriented, as for a CNA is daily living activities. Ma's do ALOT of pt teaching,procedures which CNA's don't. I value my CNA skills, but if I didn't have to do the program I would not have and till this day wouldn't regret it. If my job wasn't open on the weekends I would try to get a job as a CNA though. It's better hours. Hth!

[Ambitious83]

Your friend would do better to work as a CNA and look for financial aid for nursing school. There are MA schools all over where I am, and these people just do not get jobs. Whenever I see a job listing for medical assistant, I see that they want someone with experience. I would not waste my time or money on it. He could go to school and take the prerequisite and corequisite courses for a nursing degree while working as a CNA. That would be effort well spent.

This is so true. Take it from me, I graduated for Medical assisting in 2008 and never, I mean never even got an interview or position for a Medical Assistant. There are plenty of job postings for Medical Assisting jobs but they rarely hire. I even moved out of state to see if I could get a job as a Medical Assistant, to Dallas TX to be exact and there I received a position as a floater at a temp agency but a few months down the line I was turned away because I did not have one year of experience. I asked why since I was already working with the temp agency and they stated that Doctors were looking for applicants with more experience and NOT new grads. I was devastated so now, years later I am just going to go to a fast track LVN program here in Dallas so that I CAN get a job finally. I am not bashing medical assisting in any way and I applaud anyone who has made it as a medical assistant but out of my entire class of 32 students only 4 of us has a job as a medical assistant. My other classmates has moved on to nursing school or completely gave up as a medical assistant. Some moved to other states and still did not get a job even though there were job posting but did not get hired. I felt cheated out of my money with all those false promises and commercials stating that medical assisting was the next best job out there and hiring like crazy. Tell your friend to keep looking into schools even if he has to travel but do not go to Medical Assisting school unless he does not have any bills, kids and is living with someone so he has time to find a job a year later.