[jnhutch]

Hi, I'm an MA. I have not taken the test to get certified yet, as it really doesn't make a difference in pay for me in Washington state. I have worked in cardiology and dermatology clinics. At both clinics LPN's and MA's were allowed to do the same things. Actually I had more training in phlebotomy than most of the LPN's did. But basically we assisted the doctor. Help with minor surgeries, refill meds, phlebotomy, vitals, ekgs. One is not necessarily better. I think it is much easier to advance as an LPN though.

[jnhutch]

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.




Why do you have to put all CMA's into the same category. I never called myself a nurse because I thought that was disrespectful to the nurses I worked with. We know we dont have as much education as a nurse. But I loathe when LPN's act like they are so much better. Believe me, I worked with a few LPN's that knew less than me as an MA, both of us right out of school. Where I am from we do the same duties in a clinical setting. We both work for the doctor and the RN!


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]

[kgkarma]

Originally Posted by NicInNC

I've also heard that they're doing away with the LPN program at Forsyth Tech. How true that is, I have no idea. I decided to change to LPN a couple months ago, so I haven't had chance to talk to my advisor. I just hope I can get in by next Fall. If they had a Spring class, then I would be able to get in it (assuming I pass A&P and get a good grade), but they only have Fall admission for the LPN program. I wish advising day would hurry up so I can get some answers.

I didn't know that ECPI had an LPN program.

I just graduated from the LPN program at Forsyth Tech and 2 of my friends will be starting there next month. Guess they're not doing away with the LPN program.

[Cajun-Junkie]

I dont think it fair to say one is better then another. Being in the Nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. Doesn't it? Shouldn't that be all that matters?
I am a NRCMA, I graduated with a 3.67 GPA on the Deans list, and I know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. I do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if I wanted to I could work along with surgeons, However I have never called myself a Nurse (yet anyway) I started out doing the BSN program with a 3.6 GPA and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where I want to be (CRNA) Being a CMA is a stepping stone for me. One that lets me work while Im in school. LPN is my next step, and then RN. Being a working CMA allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what I love, Helping patients. In all aspects, I am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. Just because I have a different title beside my name does not mean I am not capable, or able to do what LPNs and Rn's do, it just means Im not licenced to do them yet. Every one has to learn, and Im sure some of you newer LPN's and RN's still struggle with certain aspects of your Job. Shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

[Ogopogo]

Originally Posted by Cajun-Junkie

I dont think it fair to say one is better then another. Being in the Nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. Doesn't it? Shouldn't that be all that matters?

Yes, that matters, but a CMA is not in the "nursing profession". They are in the "healthcare profession"

Originally Posted by Cajun-Junkie

I am a NRCMA, I graduated with a 3.67 GPA on the Deans list, and I know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. I do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if I wanted to I could work along with surgeons, However I have never called myself a Nurse (yet anyway) I started out doing the BSN program with a 3.6 GPA and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where I want to be (CRNA) Being a CMA is a stepping stone for me. One that lets me work while Im in school. LPN is my next step, and then RN. Being a working CMA allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what I love, Helping patients. In all aspects, I am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. Just because I have a different title beside my name does not mean I am not capable, or able to do what LPNs and Rn's do, it just means Im not licenced to do them yet. Every one has to learn, and Im sure some of you newer LPN's and RN's still struggle with certain aspects of your Job. Shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

My bold. It is fabulous that you are furthering your education to reach your ultimate goal. However, I'm willing to bet that when you finish your RN program, you will look back on this way of thinking and shake your head. If your current education is CMA and on your way to being an LPN, I'm guessing you don't know even 25% of what an RN knows, or the skills she/he knows. You may THINK you do, but I don't see how you possibly could, without having that RN degree.

It's not all about "titles". It's about the education, licensing, and doing the skills in a clinical setting.

[txspadequeen921]

You have a lot to learn about nursing. Your way of thinking will change once you get into a nursing program and figure out that nursing is a much more complex process all around. I have been a CMA/RMA and it does not compare to what you have to know as a nurse. Don't bet you know more than the charge nurse if you have never been to nursing school or even worked as a nurse..That is just silly.

Originally Posted by Cajun-Junkie

I dont think it fair to say one is better then another. Being in the Nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. Doesn't it? Shouldn't that be all that matters?
I am a NRCMA, I graduated with a 3.67 GPA on the Deans list, and I know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. I do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if I wanted to I could work along with surgeons, However I have never called myself a Nurse (yet anyway) I started out doing the BSN program with a 3.6 GPA and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where I want to be (CRNA) Being a CMA is a stepping stone for me. One that lets me work while Im in school. LPN is my next step, and then RN. Being a working CMA allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what I love, Helping patients. In all aspects, I am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. Just because I have a different title beside my name does not mean I am not capable, or able to do what LPNs and Rn's do, it just means Im not licenced to do them yet. Every one has to learn, and Im sure some of you newer LPN's and RN's still struggle with certain aspects of your Job. Shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

[zoeyzoe]

LOL this argument seems so familiar. Just like the ones the RN's and LPN's have from time 2 time. We are all nurses, just on different levels. When I was a CNA, i was someone's nurse. I called myself a nurse. Now that i'm an LPN, I am someone's nurse, I call myself a nurse. If, the CMA call themselves nurses, why are we mad? Just like RN's and LPN's, the RN's will always be in a higher pay grade then the LPN even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind RN's can do things that LPN's can't). The LPN's will always be in a higher pay grade the CMA's even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind LPN's can do things that CMA's can't). We are all valuable for what we do. In my opinion, if you want to work in any nursing setting that you can, and make as much as you can, and have no question about who is over who, then become a RN with your masters. Because guess what even RN's have this argument amongst themselves, who's higher, who should get more pay, ADN or BSN.

[pagandeva2000]

Originally Posted by zoeyzoe

LOL this argument seems so familiar. Just like the ones the RN's and LPN's have from time 2 time. We are all nurses, just on different levels. When I was a CNA, i was someone's nurse. I called myself a nurse. Now that i'm an LPN, I am someone's nurse, I call myself a nurse. If, the CMA call themselves nurses, why are we mad? Just like RN's and LPN's, the RN's will always be in a higher pay grade then the LPN even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind RN's can do things that LPN's can't). The LPN's will always be in a higher pay grade the CMA's even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind LPN's can do things that CMA's can't). We are all valuable for what we do. In my opinion, if you want to work in any nursing setting that you can, and make as much as you can, and have no question about who is over who, then become a RN with your masters. Because guess what even RN's have this argument amongst themselves, who's higher, who should get more pay, ADN or BSN.

Only issue is that not all of the titles you mentioned are nurses. Nursing assistants and Medical assistants are not nurses, they are ancillary staff. Yes, it is true, that LPNs and RNs have had this same war. Many times, this war comes between the LPNs and RNs because depending on where we work, the scope of practice is so vague that at times, that it causes confusion. However, there is a far cry from what a medical assistant learns in his/her course versus what any nurse learns in theirs. It is like apples and oranges.

[Cajun-Junkie]

Originally Posted by txspadequeen921

You have a lot to learn about nursing. Your way of thinking will change once you get into a nursing program and figure out that nursing is a much more complex process all around. I have been a CMA/RMA and it does not compare to what you have to know as a nurse. Don't bet you know more than the charge nurse if you have never been to nursing school or even worked as a nurse..That is just silly.

Apparently you didnt read my post, I did go to a 4 year nursing school! I left, I did the psychology, microbiology, and chemistry and passed each class with nothing less than a B. I just didnt think a speech giving class, orientation, and a few others were needed to be a nurse. so Im going at it bass akwards! I even studied for my NCLEX. So dont tell me, I dont know what Im talking about. I do. I chose to study this profession because I want to help people, not to say Im better than someone else, because I rank higher.

[txspadequeen921]

I guess I am missing something here. Cause your last post says you left because you felt you were taking unnecessary courses. But here you are telling me that you went to a 4 year nursing school and took Micro, chem and Psych. So I guess what I'm asking is did you complete nursing school , did you drop at while taking nursing courses or did you stop at the pre classes. Being a CMA is a good stepping stone and you can learn a lot . However, it is not nursing, you are not a nurse and do not have the educational background that a nurse does. That is just the way it is. If you want to be a nurse, function as a nurse , then go back to nursing school.

Originally Posted by Cajun-Junkie

Apparently you didnt read my post, I did go to a 4 year nursing school! I left, I did the psychology, microbiology, and chemistry and passed each class with nothing less than a B. I just didnt think a speech giving class, orientation, and a few others were needed to be a nurse. so Im going at it bass akwards! I even studied for my NCLEX. So dont tell me, I dont know what Im talking about. I do. I chose to study this profession because I want to help people, not to say Im better than someone else, because I rank higher.