[niteshiftlvn07]

I applaud any one who get's off their butt to go out and seek education I'm happy that some aspects of nursing duties are delegated out to cna's, med aides, CMA'S ,etc... But, as an LVN I'm annoyed when I see job postings that say cma/lvn or cma or lvn only because I KNOW these careers are not interchangable. It's the dr's/management/HR/ that are trying to save a buck that's contributing to the rift between lvn's and cma's.I worked at a public clinic(agency) and the cma's took vitals signs,collected urine/bm/sputum/blood samples(no catheterizations or i.v. draws, no shots). The nurses or phleb. tech drew I.V. blood samples, and the nurses gave immunizations, neb treatments, EKG'S, etc.. A cma working at a private clinic/dr. office may do all of these task because there are no nurses or the nurses may be used in other capacities.

[pagandeva2000]

It is true, the titles are not really interchangable. CMAs may be taught to do the skills, however, the LPN has a more rounded school experience and has more opportunities to work in other places than the doctor's office. I am not saying that CMAs do not contribute to the medical profession. The issue is that they do not have a license, which limits them. I have seen CMAs know more than LPNs, however, it is not having the license that the LPN has that will limit their growth and opportunities to leave that setting.

I guess it is similar to LPNs and RN. The more education, the more opportunities.

[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.





quote=niteshiftlvn07;2315512]I applaud any one who get's off their butt to go out and seek education I'm happy that some aspects of nursing duties are delegated out to cna's, med aides, CMA'S ,etc... But, as an LVN I'm annoyed when I see job postings that say cma/lvn or cma or lvn only because I KNOW these careers are not interchangable. It's the dr's/management/HR/ that are trying to save a buck that's contributing to the rift between lvn's and cma's.I worked at a public clinic(agency) and the cma's took vitals signs,collected urine/bm/sputum/blood samples(no catheterizations or i.v. draws, no shots). The nurses or phleb. tech drew I.V. blood samples, and the nurses gave immunizations, neb treatments, EKG'S, etc.. A cma working at a private clinic/dr. office may do all of these task because there are no nurses or the nurses may be used in other capacities.[/quote]

[BigMack]

Both professions are of great importance, I believe it all boils down to three things.

1. if you want to advance in your career (easier w/ LPN) IMHO
2. pay difference
3. job oppertunities

[tmmcbrady]

I am an LPN and have been one for almost 30 years.

Currently I teach in an MA program. The difference is night & day. MA's are not licensed in my state and therefore do not have a scope of practice.

The education an LPN receives is head & shoulders above that in an MA program. I have worked in clinics side by side with MA's and they are fantastic people and good workers but they do not have a nursing background. They are taught the bare bones basics of how to function in an office setting.

It may look similar on the outside but trust me it's not.

[pagandeva2000]

Originally Posted by tmmcbrady

I am an LPN and have been one for almost 30 years.

Currently I teach in an MA program. The difference is night & day. MA's are not licensed in my state and therefore do not have a scope of practice.

The education an LPN receives is head & shoulders above that in an MA program. I have worked in clinics side by side with MA's and they are fantastic people and good workers but they do not have a nursing background. They are taught the bare bones basics of how to function in an office setting.

It may look similar on the outside but trust me it's not.

It is true, the MA is a bit more skill directed; no nursing process involved. Also, there is no division between med-surg, peds; etc... they learn office skills to function in assisting the physician.

I'm interested to know the cirriculum being taught in your school. How long were you an instructor? I was interested in doing it myself at some point in my nursing career. Great to know that LPNs also can teach.

[MsLady06]

Originally Posted by Strandysmommy

Oh no, see I know what they do. I've asked around and such, and I hear that in a clinical setting they'll take CMA's or LPN's. I was just wondering if I wanted to work in a clinic, if I were up against a CMA, as an LPN I wonder if I'd get the job?

I am not going for my CMA though, mind you. I am starting the LPN program at St. Paul Tech in the fall. I don't, however, have any desire to work in a nursing home or LTC. I know it seems that it's a touchy subject when it comes to that, but I know I work better with kids. I really would like to work in a clinc, and I figure that since I have a degree in phlebotomy that would help me a little. I could also take a continuing ed. class in x-ray, if I had the money! No, I was just wanting to get an opinion from the LPN side of things. (Since I have already heard about CMA's up the wazoo. And, as a matter of fact, I had this woman who was recruting tell me that CMA's can write prescriptions.) I'll give her the benifit of the doubt and assume she was talking about Physicians Assistants.

Oh no....

[nimopiba]

There are no CMAs in my outpatient clinic. Only LPNs and 1-2 RNs. In our company's other satellite sites there are LPN's, very few RN's and 2-3 APRNs then the docs, of course, but still no CMA's. I guess it depends on the clinic and the need. Do what works for you in your area.

[tmmcbrady]

Originally Posted by pagandeva2000

It is true, the MA is a bit more skill directed; no nursing process involved. Also, there is no division between med-surg, peds; etc... they learn office skills to function in assisting the physician.

I'm interested to know the cirriculum being taught in your school. How long were you an instructor? I was interested in doing it myself at some point in my nursing career. Great to know that LPNs also can teach.

I am currently teaching in the program in addition to having a small private alcohol & drug counseling practice & helping the school I work in jumpstart and LPN Program. The CMA cirriculum is very skill based. The A&P is minimal and the health issues content is slim. It's more about getting them prepared to walk into an office, take v/s, room patients w/o much depth in what they are doing. For example, I teach the technical skill of doing an EKG but they have no concept of what it means. Everything they learn is based on "what does your doctor want you to do in this situation"

I am in no way degrading them because like I said in a previous post. They are hard working and this gives them a chance to get into the field and start making a living in a hurry.

But, it is NOT NURSING!!!!

[radiationnurse]

if yoiu ever want to continue on in you education go thru the LPN school at a local community college so that some of your credits will carry over, career schools education will not transfer at regular colleges. I work in one of the largest hospitals in ohio - the trend here is hiring nurse practioners and lpn's. The NP's can bill for services, RN's can't - the LPN then performs what the NP orders - All LPN's must have IV certification here. We are cheaper to pay for-there fore there are less Rn's and more LPN's
I work in an out patient radiation oncology clinic. Recently all MA positions were phased out here in the cancer center, also studies have shown patients do better under liscensed personel. Just FYI