[txspadequeen921]

First welcome to all-nurses ...I got kinda twitchy when I read this then I realized that you are sales pitching medical assisting and your school.... It is impossible to compare the two professions unless you have done both. I have done both and can tell you they are completely different in every aspect. They are not on the same level in no form or fashion.

Originally Posted by admissionsRep

To me personally, CMA and LPN are right on the same level. .

[admissionsRep]

EricEnfermero:

Thank you for responding with some additional, accurate information. I think I was a little put off by some of the things I was reading from some posters, that I wasn't fully clear on a few things that you pointed out. Anymore today, you find this huge debate between LPN and CMA, or LPN and RN. Essentially, its all for the same cause. Everyone takes pride in the work they do, so they tend to get defensive in cases such as these. Part of my job is to inform, not mislead. I have been doing as much research on things that my school does not offer, so that if ever brought up...I would know exactly what I was talking about.

You were right about the extensive wait list for most of these RN and LPN programs. If a student sat in the LPN or RN program directly after the enrolled, they could get done in 1-2 years. But around the general area I work in, each program has at least a year waiting list. The pre-requisits you have to take beforehand can often be stretched out over longer periods of time. So its more of a matter of how long the student wants to wait. When going for the 18 month AAS degree here, a student does not have to wait at all and can begin working their clinical classes within 3 terms (out of 6) of being here. Another benefit for those who don't want to wait and want to start working.

I didn't mention much about the certification process of an MA student because I thought I had seen it mentioned in this forum. With completion of an associates program like ours, a student does sit for their certification exam to become a CMA. Also, after obtaining your certification, you have to keep it current and updated over the years as well. I agree that it isn't as traditional to go from CMA-BSN, but it is being done more often now. LPN is a whole other field in itself. Its a matter of where the student wants to work when completing their program. Do they want to be in a Long Term Healthcare unit, or do they want to strictly work for a doctor's office? CMA's tend to choose the lower paying positions for a few reasons. Working 1st shift is a big part of that. I spoke to a CMA just yesterday and she had told me that she also has her company matching her benefits, as well as getting more paid vacation days, and full healthcare. Those are some great perks. I know that some of that is also available in other fields. LPN is a great transition into RN and eventually BSN. I guess the biggest thing is determining where you want to see yourself working and how much of a salary you desire. If you can make $35,000-$40,000 working in Long Term Healthcare, and enjoy it...then why not go for it?

I wanted to comment on the reply you made to the Associates degree in Medical Assitant versus the Diploma or Certificate program issue. The reason I mentioned it as being higher in quality, is because in most cases...an AAS degree can transfer into other colleges, mostly if you are looking to obtain your BSN. I have a current student who only completed the Diploma or Cert courses at another school and cannot transfer any credits because they don't meet the criteria of most schools, even ours. The credit hours tend to be less with just a diploma or cert. Yes, you can get a job with just a Diploma or Cert...but most of the time you won't get full use out of those credits if you want to transfer to any four year college to continue on with nursing. Why waste all that money to only have those credits be useless?

And about Alvernia being prestigious...maybe that was a stretch. But considering the other area colleges, Alvernia is a diamond in the rough. You have other state schools around here that are good, but not great. But let's face it...If someone presents a Harvard degree to you and another person with a state school degree...who would you hire? I'm not saying that prviate equals better, by any means. It is down to curriculum and program quality. I am just saying that Alvernia is among some of the top schools in the area.

To be honest, the whole point of me posting anything was to just give the hopeful MA candidate something to consider. That's why I never posted the name of the school I work for because I didn't want it to be about the school itself...just the process in which some students can take if they have the chance. Visit a bunch of different sites. Don't just google "Medical Assitant schools", because you won't find anything but different institutions trying to spruce up their websites to look like they are above all the rest. Go beyond just "Medical Assistant". Visit the Department of Labor's site to see what job opporunities and salaries are out there. Go to the AAMA website and find out what that all entails. Don't just look at the "how can I get a job" aspect of life. Because there are TONS of quick fixes out there that can get you a job, that doesn't pay well, and doesn't allow you to advance within or after you get there. See where your school can take you once you complete their program.

And lastly, take pride in WHATEVER you are doing. Whether you are an LPN, RN, CMA, CNA...it doesn't matter. Don't harp on what others are doing, because it makes you look unprofessional. Don't wear your profession on your sleeve, because its cocky and no one likes being belittled, even if you "are a nurse". I've seen a lot of that on this forum and I'm not the only one who thinks that they have lost focus on what really matters....patient healthcare. If you like what you do, stick with it. If you have not yet reached a choice in which direction you want to go in...find out what each of those fields entail. If it seems like something you want to do, then go for it. Don't always look at salary, because we all know that if you hate your job, no amount of money can make it any better. Find something you love to do and just do it. That's why there are options out there. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Just be careful where you go. You might have the chance to get a degree from that school, but sometimes you find yourself with just a piece of paper in your hand and nothing else. Check accreditaions, certifications, licensing, transferablity, articulations. Don't just base it off of cost and length, that's where you'll get nailed.

Thank you to EricEnfermero for shedding a little extra light on the subject. Your information is helpful and I appreciate you doing some other research. I am the first to admit that I don't like talking about things I don't know, so I am only stating the facts that I have collected. If it seems one sided, its because I have more information working with the MA field from an educational point of view. Hopefully some of this helps any of you looking to get into the medical field. Best of luck.

[SMK1]

CMA-BSN? sure it would work...IF you take the required prerequisite coursework to apply for a bachelor's program in nursing along the way. This is true of ANY program.
dental assistant-BSN? sure, see above.
automechanic-BSN? why not, see above
culinary chef-BSN of course, see above
LPN-BSN? sure, see above.
The key here is to take the required coursework to take for the nursing program and obtain competitive grades. A CMA with an associates degree is no closer to obtaining a registered nursing degree than an LPN with an associates degree, and in fact the LPN is usually closer because many programs allow LPN's to enter the RN clinical program in the second year, because they are already nurses and by virtue of their education, they have been deemed competent at the basics. CMA's do not have this option because they lack the proper education and foundation in the basics of nursing care. Deciding which route to take is a personal choice, but if RN is the desired eventual outcome, LPN makes far more sense.

[oliviakate]

I am a CMA (and have been for 14 years) and recently completed the LPN program. I can now work in a Dr. Office, school, Nursing home, Hospital, and the list goes on and on. With the CMA you are very limited. It also takes about the same amount of time in school, I wish I had gotten my LPN first. Don't start with the CMA you will wished you had gone to nursing school.

p.s. the pay is about $6.00 (on average) higher for LPN's

[meandrog02]

[quote=SOUTHERNINAK;2316506]What I hate the most is that CMA'S call themselves nurses. I mean if they call someone up they say "hello, this is so and so ,the nurse from doctor so and so's office" It makes my skin crawl. I don't know why it gets to me so bad it just does. I was a CNA for a year and I never called myself a nurse,until I was one. CMA does not stand for nurse... and I know what will happen if they end up in the urgent care,we will end up doing all the nurse duties and they will do the easy work and our company wants to pay them almost the same as we are getting paid. The problem here though is that the management have no medical education and have no idea about the differences between CMA and LPN's. It makes me crazy.




I know this thread is old, but I came across it and just wanted to clarify something. I am a CMA. I went to the community college today to check out there RN vs LPN programs.. I decided to go w/ RN..

first of all let me stress that a CMA can just have a certificate, where as some have an associates degree (like i have..) I have the classes that are involved with CMA and LPN .. I got LPN class list from community college today... to be a LPN one will take the following classes:

practical nursing 1, 2, 3

itnro to a&p

pharmacology

nutrition

expository writing

life span development

this is a total of 47 credits...

now.. here is my class list that I took to become a CMA (( in order of completment)) :::

Academic Strategies for the Health Care Professional

Medical Law and Bioethics

Med Termanology

Effective writing 1 and 2

A&P 1 and 2

Software Applications

Pathopysiology

Algebra

Medical Office Management

Pharmacology

Medical coding and Inusrance

Psychology

Interpersonal communication


Clincial 1 and 2

externship

Career Development strat


This is a total of 92 credits

Now dont get me wrong here.. we are all important to the medical field, but you are downing CMA's it seems... now let me ask you, if you were to hire an LPN or CMA and you saw the classes listed above, who would you hire ??? kudos

[HeartsOpenWide]

I guess they did not make you take a spelling class... sorry I couldn't resist...if you are going to sell yourself; sale yourself, but don't shoot yourself in the foot in the process.

[agldragon]

[quote=meandrog02;2821167]

Originally Posted by SOUTHERNINAK

What I hate the most is that CMA'S call themselves nurses. I mean if they call someone up they say "hello, this is so and so ,the nurse from doctor so and so's office" It makes my skin crawl. I don't know why it gets to me so bad it just does. I was a CNA for a year and I never called myself a nurse,until I was one. CMA does not stand for nurse... and I know what will happen if they end up in the urgent care,we will end up doing all the nurse duties and they will do the easy work and our company wants to pay them almost the same as we are getting paid. The problem here though is that the management have no medical education and have no idea about the differences between CMA and LPN's. It makes me crazy.




I know this thread is old, but I came across it and just wanted to clarify something. I am a CMA. I went to the community college today to check out there RN vs LPN programs.. I decided to go w/ RN..

first of all let me stress that a CMA can just have a certificate, where as some have an associates degree (like i have..) I have the classes that are involved with CMA and LPN .. I got LPN class list from community college today... to be a LPN one will take the following classes:

practical nursing 1, 2, 3

itnro to a&p

pharmacology

nutrition

expository writing

life span development

this is a total of 47 credits...

now.. here is my class list that I took to become a CMA (( in order of completment)) :::

Academic Strategies for the Health Care Professional

Medical Law and Bioethics

Med Termanology

Effective writing 1 and 2

A&P 1 and 2

Software Applications

Pathopysiology

Algebra

Medical Office Management

Pharmacology

Medical coding and Inusrance

Psychology

Interpersonal communication


Clincial 1 and 2

externship

Career Development strat


This is a total of 92 credits

Now dont get me wrong here.. we are all important to the medical field, but you are downing CMA's it seems... now let me ask you, if you were to hire an LPN or CMA and you saw the classes listed above, who would you hire ??? kudos

Bottom line is you DO NOT have a license and need to work under somebody. LPN has their own license. You can even have a bachelor's in liberal arts and has a CMA certificate and it will be the same: You have no license.

I am not saying being an LPN is better but you make it sounds like your CMA degree is better because you had more credits.

And about your last question: If I were a doctor in the clinic, YES you are right, I will hire you because your pay would be cheaper than of an LPN.

Good luck with RN school. I hope there is no long wait lists. It takes years sometimes just to get in.

Cheers,
Angel

[agldragon]

Originally Posted by HeartsOpenWide

I guess they did not make you take a spelling class... sorry I couldn't resist...if you are going to sell yourself; sale yourself, but don't shoot yourself in the foot in the process.

I had a spelling section on my LPN entrance test.

Cheers,
Angel

[Ogopogo]

[quote=meandrog02;2821167]

Originally Posted by SOUTHERNINAK

What I hate the most is that CMA'S call themselves nurses. I mean if they call someone up they say "hello, this is so and so ,the nurse from doctor so and so's office" It makes my skin crawl. I don't know why it gets to me so bad it just does. I was a CNA for a year and I never called myself a nurse,until I was one. CMA does not stand for nurse... and I know what will happen if they end up in the urgent care,we will end up doing all the nurse duties and they will do the easy work and our company wants to pay them almost the same as we are getting paid. The problem here though is that the management have no medical education and have no idea about the differences between CMA and LPN's. It makes me crazy.




I know this thread is old, but I came across it and just wanted to clarify something. I am a CMA. I went to the community college today to check out there RN vs LPN programs.. I decided to go w/ RN..

first of all let me stress that a CMA can just have a certificate, where as some have an associates degree (like i have..) I have the classes that are involved with CMA and LPN .. I got LPN class list from community college today... to be a LPN one will take the following classes:

practical nursing 1, 2, 3

itnro to a&p

pharmacology

nutrition

expository writing

life span development

this is a total of 47 credits...

now.. here is my class list that I took to become a CMA (( in order of completment)) :::

Academic Strategies for the Health Care Professional

Medical Law and Bioethics

Med Termanology

Effective writing 1 and 2

A&P 1 and 2

Software Applications

Pathopysiology

Algebra

Medical Office Management

Pharmacology

Medical coding and Inusrance

Psychology

Interpersonal communication


Clincial 1 and 2

externship

Career Development strat


This is a total of 92 credits

Now dont get me wrong here.. we are all important to the medical field, but you are downing CMA's it seems... now let me ask you, if you were to hire an LPN or CMA and you saw the classes listed above, who would you hire ??? kudos

I have no knowledge of the particular courses that it takes to become a CMA, however I am currently an LPN student. And I can tell you that my course has a lot more course content than the one you listed above.

I think that part of the problem with CMA education is that it isn't regulated. Some CMA's have an associates degree, while others took a 3-6 month course and have the same designation. Or that anyone can be hired as an MA and trained by the doctor and other office staff, with no formal education. I believe there are two regulatory bodies in the USA (I'm in Canada, but from what I've read here). However, it also seems apparent that becoming certified is entirely voluntary and uncertified MA's seem to be able to find jobs as well.

The difference with LPN education (at least in my province of BC) is that it is regulated. Not just any school can say open up an LPN course. The course content, supplies, books, lab etc, has to be approved and certified by the College of LPN's of BC. All LPN students accross Canada write the same national exam. The whole education and licensing process is highly regulated.

Oh, and no where on this thread did I see anyone downing CMA's.

[meandrog02]

[quote=agldragon;2821215]

Originally Posted by meandrog02

Bottom line is you DO NOT have a license and need to work under somebody. LPN has their own license. You can even have a bachelor's in liberal arts and has a CMA certificate and it will be the same: You have no license.

I am not saying being an LPN is better but you make it sounds like your CMA degree is better because you had more credits.

And about your last question: If I were a doctor in the clinic, YES you are right, I will hire you because your pay would be cheaper than of an LPN.

Good luck with RN school. I hope there is no long wait lists. It takes years sometimes just to get in.

Cheers,
Angel

CMA's degrees are not better, I did not mean to give u that feeling. But the CMA program has more courses. However, I would like to add that there are some LPN's at my office that make more than me but I make more than a few of the LPN's there.