Why become a CNA? Be a Medical assistant instead

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Miwila

274 Posts

You can keep the MA position. What works for you will not automatically work for everyone else. Personally, being an MA has no appeal. As has been stated above, newbie MA's have a hard road finding work and besides being an MA is a 9-5 job. One of the main reasons becoming a CNA interested me is because of the flexible schedule that allows me to work alternative shifts and pursue other interests, such as continuing my education.

juliaann

634 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

What the OP describes is not at all what my experience was as a CNA. I got hired to a hospital with no experience with no problems. I worked my behind off every shift, and yes, it's exhausting and painful at times, but that's the job! It's not right for everyone. I had time in my shift to do everything that was required of me, and go above and beyond for my patients. I did turn. I did bed baths. I did chat with the patients. I did my vitals. Good time management is KEY, and not something that can really be taught in a 2 or 5 week CNA course.

Your work environment and co-workers also make a huge difference. Being staffed adequately is important. Having a CNA buddy that you can go to to ask for help turning a patient (and you have to be willing to help them, too!), saves your back. Work in a no-lift facility. Everyone's going to have a person or two they cannot get along with - but trying to can really go a long way.

I've found, as a peer interviewer for CNA applicants to my hospital, a TON of people in my area (Tulsa, OK), have invested money and time into MA school and were unable to find jobs. I'd say 1/2 of the applicants I interview have gone to school at some point for medical assisting, and are now looking for a CNA job because they're desperate.

Most clinics in my area use LPNs instead of medical assistants, since they have a much broader scope of practice.

Just my 2 cents. I would never suggest someone go to a medical assisting program. No, being a CNA is not easy or right for everyone, and it's definitely not glamorous, but the experience I gained in my year as a CNA has taught me invaluable knowledge of patient care, and allowed me the opportunity to prove to myself I've got what it takes to be a nurse.

My advice: work in a hospital. Learn everything you can. Make sure you can handle long, hard 12 hour shifts and still want to provide the best care possible. Keep an eye on job postings, and when an advanced unlicensed job comes open, put in your transfer! I now have an amazing job getting hands-on patient care experience that I look forward to going to every day! If I hadn't been a CNA, I wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. :) There are definitely good things to be said about being a CNA.

jessesgirl13

28 Posts

What works for you might not work for everyone else. In my area, i don't remember ever seeing any hiring ads for MA's, but there are tons for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs. I'd rather invest my time and money in a career where i actually get to help people, and if that includes dealing with poop and pee and vomit. And there is nothing wrong with that. and as for it being "impossible" to find work in a hospital, that just means that you're not asking the right people. Just because you jumped to a conclusion doesn't mean that you're right.

ctmed

316 Posts

Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.

I can understand not wanting to go through the more horrible parts of CNA. The lack of respect and hard work gets on my nerves at times, too. However, I have also met many MAs in agency that could not get a job and had to do CNA work to pay the bills. At least in my area, there is very low turnover for MAs or even Phlebotomists. stories of classes that graduate 30 folks where only one person found a job (and only because they knew someone) is commonplace. Some of the schools also gave me quite a bit of sticker shock!

Just something to consider. Any job with any degree of autonomy is going to have stiff competition and be hard to get into. I know of lab techs who have been in the same place for years or decades with no intention of going anywhere while CNAs rotate in and out on a monthly basis it seems some places.

I'm a nursing assistant at a hospital and I can tell you, depending on what type of unit you're on, it's not necessarily better.

sonomala

416 Posts

I agree 100% with the first post

CNA is a tough field. I hated almost every single second of working in the nursing home.

Lets face it jobs, it depends where you live. Where I live and am studying to be an MA, MA jobs out number CNA 5 to 1. Most of our last graduating class had offers from the places they did externship at. But its not that way in all areas. Out here starting MA salary is 14 an hour. Where Nursing homes have wait lists, agencys offer 1 to 3 hours a week to CNAS

I love what I'm being trained in: EKG, blood draw, diagnostic testing, assisting in complicated exams, taking cultures, preparing lab samples, performing lab tests, billing, phone and in office triage, intensive First Aid, patient education.

I love the respect that I get from nurses and doctors when I tell them what degree I'm working on. "wow you'll go far" "def we need more" "You are going to learn so much and be able to help so many people" these are just a few of the examples.

75 percent of all those I've met in the other health programs at the college I'm at (RN, radiology, MLT, even Massage) are former or currently working CNAs and every one of them hated the field. They want out because you don't get paid well, you don't get respect, and the working conditions are terrible in addition to a complete lack of respect from most people in the medical community.

CNAs do not get paid near what they deserve, they don't get respect for the excellent care they provide.

ctmed

316 Posts

Specializes in PACU, LTC, Med-Surg, Telemetry, Psych.
I agree 100% with the first post

CNA is a tough field. I hated almost every single second of working in the nursing home.

Lets face it jobs, it depends where you live. Where I live and am studying to be an MA, MA jobs out number CNA 5 to 1. Most of our last graduating class had offers from the places they did externship at. But its not that way in all areas. Out here starting MA salary is 14 an hour. Where Nursing homes have wait lists, agencys offer 1 to 3 hours a week to CNAS

I love what I'm being trained in: EKG, blood draw, diagnostic testing, assisting in complicated exams, taking cultures, preparing lab samples, performing lab tests, billing, phone and in office triage, intensive First Aid, patient education.

I love the respect that I get from nurses and doctors when I tell them what degree I'm working on. "wow you'll go far" "def we need more" "You are going to learn so much and be able to help so many people" these are just a few of the examples.

75 percent of all those I've met in the other health programs at the college I'm at (RN, radiology, MLT, even Massage) are former or currently working CNAs and every one of them hated the field. They want out because you don't get paid well, you don't get respect, and the working conditions are terrible in addition to a complete lack of respect from most people in the medical community.

CNAs do not get paid near what they deserve, they don't get respect for the excellent care they provide.

Wow, I wish that were true around here. As I posted above, most of the facilities may have 1 to 6 MAs that stay there for long periods while CNAs are a dime a dozen. The schools around here are also VERY questionable.

I agree with you. It seemed I had more respect getting folks drunk as a waiter/ bartender when I was younger than CNA now. Sad, considering I think helping sick folks out is much more important to society than giving some idiot their 5th gin and tonic so they can pee on Bourbon Street. Plus, if someone tried to hit me, spit on me, or were being obnoxius I could get them kicked out!

Miwila

274 Posts

Working as a CNA is the right fit for me right now. I enjoy what I do, and it works right into my life. I could care less if people "respect" it or not. People who look down on others because of what they do for a living are superficial anyway and not worth thinking about.

All you have to do is google the words "Medical Assistant" and you'll find websites with MA's talking about how they can't get jobs to pay off their 16k student loans. The path is not covered with roses for MA's.

jolly_tamale

45 Posts

Specializes in LTC, CNA/SPN.

You can't even take the state CMA test in our state until you have been working as a CNA for at least six months. I think that it is definitely good that you aren't a CNA anymore because it's obvious it wasn't for you, however, to go on to say it's not for anyone is a little extreme. Some of us do like our jobs. Also, I am new to my small town (where everyone knows everyone from birth) but I was still able to get two interviews at our hospital within a week of getting my certification. It's different for every individual.

DreamyEyes

474 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I have never regretted becoming a CNA....

1) I love my job.

2) My future plans are to become an RN, not a medical assistant, so becoming a medical assistant just didn't make any sense to me.

3) I'm making more at my CNA job than one of my friends does who is working as a medical assistant.

4) Tuition for the CNA course that I took was less than $1,000. Very worth it to me in my opinion.

There is nothing wrong with being a medical assistant or a CNA; some people just have different career paths.

racefan88

45 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Rehab, Peds.

It's just my :twocents: but the local CC where I live requires CNA certification to enter the RN program. I have a friend who is not only a CMA but has also been employed at Duke Hospital for over 2 years and was told that she WILL need to be certified as a CNA before they will consider her for the RN program. Also, I too, am on "the ladder" to RN. I was given advice by a RN who told me it was better to start with CNA or LPN if you can't go straight to an RN program (Wait lists!!) than to MA school because NOTHING will transfer from most schools and you'll have to start from scratch anyway. There are no MA to RN bridge programs.

BTW: I loved LTC and my patients. I hope to work in LTC as a LPN when I get my license while bridging to RN. Again, just my :twocents:

:)

kristinahcna

9 Posts

Specializes in ER.

Im currently a CNA and I have been for two years. I work in the hospital and I do all those same things blood draw, EKG, Lab Cultures ect. I get paid almost 15$ an hour and I definatley have the respect of my peers. Even when I worked in LTC a lack of respect was never there. It just really depends on where you work as a CNA. I actually liked working the LTC too. It takes compassion and patience to be a CNA its not about the glory. Its about the patient. I took a six week class by my employer at the time and got my CNA. I got paid to take the class and it never cost me anything :) Its really just about whats right for you, some people would rather be a KMA or MA than others like me would rather be a CNA. I like the variety in different positions you can work as a CNA youre not limited so it never gets boring.

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