[ericjames85]

Hello. I am a student currently enrolled in a business school in Upstate New York and am in an associate's degree program for medical assisting. I actually had never heard of a medical assistant before enrolling in the program. I would like to be an RN but thought this might help me get all the prereq's of nursing school out of the way. Anyways, I was just wondering if there were any office nurse's who have come in contact with an MA yet and what you think about the profession? A leg on the ladder or a waste of time? And do you think MA's could eventually replace doctor's office RN's??

Thanks for your input...

Eric

[Cali]

The pre-req's for CMA and RN are totally different. RN's have to take Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. (depending on your school) I know because I once attended school to become a CMA. I only went part-time for a year and I'm glad that I did not finish because it would have been a complete waste of time. (for me) I am now an LPN/LVN and starting school in August for my RN. Also, there is absolutely no possiblilty that a CMA will ever replace an RN. Is the CMA program 2 years. If so, you may want to start out as an LPN/LVN instead of CMA because the course is about the same length and you'll make more money.. If I had it to do over, I would have gone directly into an RN program because it's one year of pre-req's and 2 years of nursing courses. If you want your RN you might as well go for it instead of wasting 2 years of your life in a CMA program and then going 3 more years for your RN.. The only classes that transfered over from my CMA program to the RN program was English 101. All the classes for RN and CMA are totaly different

[ericjames85]

Thank you for your reply. Before choosing to go with the MA program, I was definately considering the 2-year RN program at my local community college. The drawback to this was that I earned my GED last year and did not meet the usual high school admissions requirements for the community college. So I would essentially be taking double pre-req's: first for high school and then for pre-nursing. I also heard from more than one source that there was a waiting list for that particular nursing program. So for now I decided just to stay with the MA training... and afterwards apply to a 4-year BSN program. BTW, my MA program is for 2 years and I am scheduled to start Anatomy/Pathophysiology I in a few weeks.

[sr moore]

Make sure that what ever ma program you apply your credits and classes will meet the college you want to apply for when you go for nursing. One of my ma's spent 1year, 8,000 dollars at Western Career College and is now retaking classes because her associates degree did not transfer. I am a current rn student and have been taking classes forever it seems like, with the goal that they all transfer. Now that we have retired from the air force they are all finally at one spot so i can finish school.

[Momof2Bys2Grls]

I am a Medical Assistant and I only went to school for roughly 7mos.........What kind of Medical Assistant course takes two yrs to complete? Medical Assiting for me was a way to get in the medical field quick and earn more money than a cna but I later found out Ma's aren't really hired in hospitals only doctor's offices. I need to work in a hospital so they'll help pay for school.

Oh well...................

[meandrog02]

Originally Posted by Cali

The pre-req's for CMA and RN are totally different. RN's have to take Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. (depending on your school) I know because I once attended school to become a CMA. I only went part-time for a year and I'm glad that I did not finish because it would have been a complete waste of time. (for me) I am now an LPN/LVN and starting school in August for my RN. Also, there is absolutely no possiblilty that a CMA will ever replace an RN. Is the CMA program 2 years. If so, you may want to start out as an LPN/LVN instead of CMA because the course is about the same length and you'll make more money.. If I had it to do over, I would have gone directly into an RN program because it's one year of pre-req's and 2 years of nursing courses. If you want your RN you might as well go for it instead of wasting 2 years of your life in a CMA program and then going 3 more years for your RN.. The only classes that transfered over from my CMA program to the RN program was English 101. All the classes for RN and CMA are totaly different

I am a CMA now and no it wasnt a waste of time. All of my classes transfered over.. I'm walking into the RN program and 9 classes transfered