Is MA same as LPN

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I:m a brand new licensed LPN looking for a JOb. I've noticed a few facilities looking for MA's.. according to the job description its seem to be the same as a LPN. Ive applied to a few but got no responses back...

my question is are they the same, and if not, what are the difference between both of them ??

Specializes in OB.

No, they are not the same. An MA is a medical assistant . They are certified (not always)they are not licensed like LPN's are. An LPN is a licensed practical nurse as you may already know.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

A medical assistant assists the physician in some aspects of patient care. They can be certified or not. Their scope of practice can vary some from office to office, though they often "room" the patients, take vitals, ask some preliminary screening questions and the like. Sometimes they may give injections, but generally the physician has to be present for that. Present usually means in the office.

LVNs can do those things but their license allows a wider scope of practice than what's allowed of the MA.

The MA is supervised by the physician. The LVN can also be supervised by the physician... but the LVN might not be allowed to supervise the MA as they're not CNAs.

From a purely functional standpoint, an LVN can do the job duties of an MA, and many private clinics and physician offices are hiring MAs instead of LVNs simply because the MAs can be paid less. BUT an MA would not be able to function as an LVN, at least not legally.

An LVN can function as an MA in a private practice simply because the LVN would not be utilizing the full range of her scope of practice as a licensed nurse. I have seen numerous job postings that are directed at "MA/LVN," so you may want to look for those. Also, I've seen where an office or clinic will cross-post the same job opening under separate "MA" and "LVN" headings. So, if you see an "MA" posting, check for an "LVN" posting, too.

But keep in mind that, if your competition is an MA, the job will not be paying much.

Specializes in Urgent Care, Pulmonary Med, Primary Care.

As a RMA with a diploma, and military background, I can tell you that LVN/LPN is different from MA. I feel that and know very well that LVN/PN's have more in depth training. I mean there is no such program for MA to RN, so that should be a good clue that obviously LVN/PN is of higher scope of practice and I respect the LVN/PN.

You graduated from a practical nursing program, became licensed after passing the NCLEX-PN, and nowhere in that time did you come across the term "medical assistant" and what they do? This seems odd to me.

As a RMA with a diploma and military background, I can tell you that LVN/LPN is different from MA. I feel that and know very well that LVN/PN's have more in depth training. I mean there is no such program for MA to RN, so that should be a good clue that obviously LVN/PN is of higher scope of practice and I respect the LVN/PN.[/quote']

I'm glad to hear that and sad to say not all MAs do respect the title of nurse. I am an LPN and I worked for a short time in a local doctors office that was part of a huge network of docs. They staffed mainly MAs but quite a few LPNs as well, many of my classmates included, and I often heard many of the MAs refer to themselves as nurses, to the patients. Even some of the doctors called them nurses- I think it's just easier for them to have some blanket term for us all. One day I had to take aside the MA I worked with after hearing her say "yes" when a patient asked "are you a nurse?" And inform her that not only was it unethical for her to call herself a nurse, it is actually illegal.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Pulmonary Med, Primary Care.

On my first or second day in urgent care a patient asked me after I obtained their vitals and histories if I was a "nurse". I said "No, I'm actually a Medical Assistant. I'll be assisting the physician in your care today." The pt didn't freak out by any means. They deserve the right to be informed. It bothers me that in my previous position as a MA that the staff would refer to me as a "nurse" to the patient. I'm NOT a nurse!!! I have a diploma, not an associates or a BSN. Believe it or not, those are not something you find at the bottom of a Lucky Charms cereal box. I strongly feel that those who are witnessed as passing themselves off as a nurse should be counseled and in that they should sign a document clearly stating the legal ramifications if they continue to pass themselves of as a "nurse". That is all.

I'm glad to hear that and sad to say not all MAs do respect the title of nurse. I am an LPN and I worked for a short time in a local doctors office that was part of a huge network of docs. They staffed mainly MAs but quite a few LPNs as well, many of my classmates included, and I often heard many of the MAs refer to themselves as nurses, to the patients. Even some of the doctors called them nurses- I think it's just easier for them to have some blanket term for us all. One day I had to take aside the MA I worked with after hearing her say "yes" when a patient asked "are you a nurse?" And inform her that not only was it unethical for her to call herself a nurse, it is actually illegal.

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And I can just picture her rolling her eyes when you turned your back, as has been my experience. They don't get it, nor do they care.

I worked in a clinic where the front desk staff referred to "the nurses" even though the ONLY nurse there was me. When I pointed this out, again came the eye roll and "oh, you know what I mean" and "we call all the girls that". Girls....yeah, I can see the confusion being simplified in this manner

Specializes in Urgent Care, Pulmonary Med, Primary Care.

Yeah, seen and heard it.

:no:

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

As previous posters have mentioned, MAs and LPNs are not the same.

Here's a detailed article about LPNs: https://allnurses.com/lpn-lvn-corner/licensed-practical-vocational-893129.html

And here's a detailed article about MAs: https://allnurses.com/cna-ma-nursing/medical-assistants-890876.html

And I can just picture her rolling her eyes when you turned your back as has been my experience. They don't get it, nor do they care. I worked in a clinic where the front desk staff referred to "the nurses" even though the ONLY nurse there was me. When I pointed this out, again came the eye roll and "oh, you know what I mean" and "we call all the girls that". Girls....yeah, I can see the confusion being simplified in this manner [/quote']

Oh yeah she sure did...and was like "well we all do the same stuff so what's the diff?" I told her she'd find out what the "diff" was when she went to nursing school.

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