MA to LPN??????

Nurses General Nursing

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can anyone tell me if a rma can challenge the board for lpn? someone had told me they heard after being certified for one year you could challenge the board........anyone have any info on this? thanks-

While I do think there is quite a difference between MAs and RNs and do think MAs are very competent nurses, yes I call them nurses because just in my opinion they are. Frequently MAs are treated inferior even though they are very well trained in clinical skills as well as administrative skills. Sadly Medical Assistants are trained primarily to work in a clinic or a Dr.'s office so the pay scale is low and they are treated inferior to nurses. Personally, I believe that being a medical assistant will prepare you for some aspects of your RN. Ultimately it is YOUR decision.

A nurse is a nurse is a nurse. A medical assistant is a medical assistant. I'm sorry but nurses never try to pass as physicians, respiratory therapists, nutritionists and physician assistants (and the list can go on). A certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a registered nurse (RN) are all nurses. Keyword here is NURSE.

It might be your opinion but it is far from the truth.

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

Having a credential doesn't make you a nurse. I know several LPNs and RNs that I would not even consider to be nurses because of the poor patient care they give. Don't hide behind the letters beside a person's name.

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Having the credentials is indeed what makes someone a nurse. Now, there are bad and good nurses out there. You personally might not consider them a Nurse, but the state does.

As far as becoming a MA or CNA to get into nursing school. If your school has some sort of pre-clinical experience as a requirement, it might help you. It will help you with some aspects of nursing school- especially the Clinicals. But if not, it usually doesn't factor in. At my school I was told that it was only grades...and many students who had never seen the inside of a hospital made it in with good grades, and most became fine nurses.

If your goal is to become a Nurse, I'd concentrate on the pre-requisites for entering the RN or LPN program.

All that said, no time spent learning is ever a waste (but I know sometimes, it can feel like it)..

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Having a credential doesn't make you a nurse. I know several LPNs and RNs that I would not even consider to be nurses because of the poor patient care they give. Don't hide behind the letters beside a person's name.

Neither does calling oneself a nurse when they do not have licensing requirements to do so.

There are laws in each state in regards to the use of the title "nurse," just because someone is of the opinion that someone "deserves" that title does not make it so.

The original post was about whether or not an MA can challenge the LPN NCLEX. It was not meant to provide the opportunity to slam nurses, MAs, or CNAs.

Standing proudly beside the letter I know I earned by my name.

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Actually, having the credentials is the ONLY thing that makes you a nurse. It does not determine the quality of your practice, but it does entitle you to practice nursing. Without the RN or LPN credential, you are not a nurse. Period.

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Good point RN4NICU. While I am sure there are many MAs that are good at there jobs they are definetly not nurses. aren't the programs like 6 weeks or something? That being said, I think that LPNs should be allowed to challenge the RN boards after a significant amount of experience in a hospital. I have heard lots of nurses talking about it because 2 hospitals where I did clinical got rid of the LPNs that didn't want to got back to be RNs. SOme of the these LPNs had 15 years of experience but to go back to school would have had to start over from the bottom because schools around here won't take science classes older than 5-7 years. In my opinion these nurses I worked had more knowledge than several new grad RNs put together. But the state doesn't seem willing to play with the idea.

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Good point RN4NICU. While I am sure there are many MAs that are good at there jobs they are definetly not nurses. aren't the programs like 6 weeks or something? That being said, I think that LPNs should be allowed to challenge the RN boards after a significant amount of experience in a hospital. I have heard lots of nurses talking about it because 2 hospitals where I did clinical got rid of the LPNs that didn't want to got back to be RNs. SOme of the these LPNs had 15 years of experience but to go back to school would have had to start over from the bottom because schools around here won't take science classes older than 5-7 years. In my opinion these nurses I worked had more knowledge than several new grad RNs put together. But the state doesn't seem willing to play with the idea.

Sorry Kris, but I disagree. I was an RPN/LPN for over 10 years before going back to school to become an RN. I also work in Michigan, believe me, I fully support the practice of LPNs in the hospital setting. Having gone from an experienced RPN/LPN to an RN, I can tell you, despite the experience and knowledge I accumulated, it would not have been enough to qualify me as an RN. New things are learned about the human body continually, which is why a science course 5-7 years would be considered outdated. The LPNs you worked with definately had more experiencial knowledge than a new grad would, but they would not have had the same knowledge that a new grad would have to pass the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

It was not my intention to "slam" anybody. It was not my intention to offend or upset anyone obviously I did so I am sorry :o

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It was not my intention to "slam" anybody. It was not my intention to offend or upset anyone obviously I did so I am sorry :o

:icon_hug: Ben, there are state laws that are present in regards to the use of the title "nurse," unfortunately there are those that do not met those requirements concerning the use of this title that use it, and I do have an issue with that.

While I do think there is quite a difference between MAs and RNs and do think MAs are very competent nurses, yes I call them nurses because just in my opinion they are.

An MA may be very competent at their job and there is a difference between them and an RN, however an MA cannot legally use the title "nurse," irregardless of opinion.

http://www.medicalassistant.net/

I know several LPNs and RNs that I would not even consider to be nurses because of the poor patient care they give.

When you describe LPNs and RNs providing poor patient care, that is a lack of professionalism on their part. Professionalism is something that all health care providers should be providing, whether LPN, RN, MA, or CNA. Anyone who has a job can be professional in the way that they do their job. It's about taking pride who you are and what you do.

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Specializes in ICU.
It was not my intention to "slam" anybody. It was not my intention to offend or upset anyone obviously I did so I am sorry :o

I am not offended, I am just assuming that your knowledge base is limited as looking at your profile you are only 17 years old. I don't know how far along you are in your nursing studies or if you have started at all but you will soon find that there is a HUGE difference in an MA and an RN and what they are taught in their schooling. An RN's thought process is totally different. A MA is not a nurse nor should they be called one. In the state of Texas, as it is in most states, it is illegal to call them nurses. What I don't understand is, if everybody thinks that there is no difference in in MA/LVN/RN then why does the state/BNE make the destinction between them?

I guess that I am just one of those people that think that if you want to be called a RN then go to school and earn it. I worked hard to be where I am and I am offended by MAs that call themselves nurses. I started off as a CNA then was an LVN before recieving my degree. I have worked very hard to be the nurse that I am and I have EARNED my tiltle.

And please, let's not turn this into another MA/CNA vs LVN vs RN thread. We are beating the dead horse there.

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Hello,

Wouldn't life be grand if everyone who felt they are smart enough can skip school & just challenge the exams. Paralegals would be attorneys in no time, pharmacy techs would be pharmacist, ect...

Good luck in finding a state to let you challenge the NCLEX. I think I'll call the Board of medicine tommorow and try to challenge the medical licensing exam. Hey, why waste all that time in school, when I can be a DR by the end of the week (LOL).

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Hello,

Wouldn't life be grand if everyone who felt they are smart enough can skip school & just challenge the exams. Paralegals would be attorneys in no time, pharmacy techs would be pharmacist, ect...

Good luck in finding a state to let you challenge the NCLEX. I think I'll call the Board of medicine tommorow and try to challenge the medical licensing exam. Hey, why waste all that time in school, when I can be a DR by the end of the week (LOL).

:crying2: Wow! The sarcasm is a bit harsh, but I do agree that the nurse title should be earned, no matter what background a person possesses. I am an LPN, and proud to be one. I am also in school to be an RN. But I would never call myself an RN because I am not one yet, and along the same lines I would not call myself a SN because I have already earned the title of LPN. To the OP, check your BON for specifics, but I'm almost positive you can't challenge the board. Now, if applying to nursing school you may want to call the admissions office and find out if MA school can be substituted for CNA courses if the CNA is a pre-req. If you already have a CNA then maybe you could use this time to do your RN pre-reqs or work as a CNA at the hospital you aspire to work at once you are licensed. That would give you an "in" once you are licensed and it will also give you exposure to some things you may deal with in lecture and clinicals. Good luck.:)

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