[BMcKenzie]

What is the difference in a CNA and a CMA?

[heatherbless]

Originally Posted by BMcKenzie

What is the difference in a CNA and a CMA?

well- with duties--not a lot--but--you can get through a CNA I program in about 4-8 weeks and most CMA programs at community colleges last 9 months, so it depends on what you want to do with it--
hty/

[Cindy_A]

A CNA is a Certified Nursing Assistant, who usually works in hospitals and nursing homes. They are the ones who give baths, help toilet pts, and many other duties.
A CMA is a Certified Medical Assistant, who usually work in doctors offices. They take vitals on pts, sometimes give injections,and other duties. I believe it is mostly an office-type job.

[BMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by Cindy_A

A CNA is a Certified Nursing Assistant, who usually works in hospitals and nursing homes. They are the ones who give baths, help toilet pts, and many other duties.
A CMA is a Certified Medical Assistant, who usually work in doctors offices. They take vitals on pts, sometimes give injections,and other duties. I believe it is mostly an office-type job.

hhmmmmm. I am going to school now for the CMA, but I want to work in a hospital. After I pay off my loan, I want to return to school to be an RN. I am gettin a late start in life (I am 33 w/5 kids) but this has been my dream for a long time. They told me that without having a medical background that I need to take "baby steps" My average is 103.7 in school right now. It is challenging but I LOVE it. Thank you both so much for filling me in. I hope I made the right decision. I am starting to worry about it.

[Havin' A Party!]

Thought the difference was one is a certified nursing assistant and the other was the Country Music Awards show. ;>)

[Dr. Gonzo]

Originally Posted by BMcKenzie

What is the difference in a CNA and a CMA?

CMA's usually work in clinics and CNA's usually work in hospitals.

[allacazzam]

I thought CNA's did work in nursing homes and all that good stuff, but could not give injections? Is this true.

[SFCardiacRN]

CMA's tend to work in Dr's offices. Sometimes they are asked to go beyond their training. A plastic surgeon in SF was using a CMA to recover surgical patients. After a Patient died during an overnight recovery (the CMA had given a 10X lethal dose of demoral) California finally made a law requiring 2 persons for overnight recoveries and 1 had to be an RN with ACLS cert. CMA can be a wonderful career and a real asset to a Dr's practice but be careful when asked to go beyond your training.

[Gompers]

Originally Posted by allacazzam

I thought CNA's did work in nursing homes and all that good stuff, but could not give injections? Is this true.

Yes, it's true. CNAs do not give ANY medications, including oral ones.

CMAs might be trained for things like that in a doctor's office or clinic, and they work under the doctor's license.

[txspadequeen921]

I havent read all the post yet but are we talking about med aides or medical assistants?

Originally Posted by BMcKenzie

What is the difference in a CNA and a CMA?