Medical Assistants

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I am thinking about going back to school to become a medical assistant so that I can have a stepping stone of getting into healthcare. After becoming a medical assistant, my ultimate goal is to either go forward and become a LPN or RN. The question I have is, does anyone know how much medical assistants make.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
What is the difference between a CNA and a MA?

I have been a medical assitant for eight years, also an EMT. I am in my second year of nursing school (RN). While I can say that my knowledge that I have accumulated has helped me greatly, where some of my fellow students struggle... I would go the CNA route it will help you so much more in nursing school. The first semester should be easier. You will also be able to observe the nurses and how they interact with and care for the patients.That is all very worthwhile knowledge. All of the bedmaking, bath, etc. you would know how to do where I had to learn it.

MA's work with the doctors, and depending on where you work you may only book appointments and do vital signs, or where I work in pediatrics, you might give shots, medications, any anything the doctor has trained you to do. That is they key word, training. I can only work with a patient if there is a doctor is the office as a medical assistant. With my EMT liscence I can do more, I can also work in hospitals as er techs etc.

You schooling is different also. I am in california, and the MA school is 18mo to two years. If you go to a private school like Western Career College, be sure the other school accept the credit as transfer. You may find y ou have to retake classes. Who has time for that. A big difference that I see is I work from the doctors point of view. That is what I am used to. I now have to kick over and see things from a nursing point of view.

Taking care of the patient, advocating for the patient. In my place of employment I have always done that. I used to work for the ARMY in Europe, and it is something I always have done.

Sorry to have this run on hope it helps you.....

Specializes in Operating Room.

I made anywhere from 8 - 11 dollars as a medical assistant.

I'd definately go for the LPN or RN, and not waste your time getting the MA degree.

Good luck in your decision.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Why not go to RN or LPN school to begin with? Why use a stepping stone. MA's make alittle more than minimum wage and you won't be considered a "nurse" that would be illegal.

Sometimes MA and CNA schools are cheaper, and after that schooling is completed, some employers are willing to pay for a full ride through RN or LPN school.

I agree with both of you. Do you have any suggestions of anything that I could do in healthcare w/o having any experience right now? I am located in TN and the only school that offers the LPN program that I can get into doesn't start until April 2006.

You should become a CNA. I am in the process of doing it right now through my local CC, and then am continuing on in their nursing program. (for us the CNA is a prereq)

The way I see it, MA school (at least here) is 6 months long. But why waste all that time when your ultimate goal is nursing? The accelerated LPN program here is 9 months long, so I figure just go the 3 extra months and be an LPN instead.

Good luck!

Rebecca

I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm a CNA and will shortly be a MA (one more month of classes then 2.5 months of externship).

I REALLY wanted to go to LPN school. I'm 47 and didn't want the length and financial hardship of RN school. After checking my area, the nearest LPN school was 45 minutes from me. That's just for the classes, the clinicals were even farther. Since I'm in PA...(crap weather 6 months a year), I decided against that. With kids still at home, I couldn't see myself getting out the door at 5 a.m. to fight the snow in the winter.

I also would have had to wait almost a year to get in. LPN's here are paid terribly. UPMC, which is one of the biggest hospital networks around here are starting LPN's at 12 something an hour. LTC starts at $15-16 an hour but I was pretty sure I didn't want to do LTC.

That being said, if there had been a LPN program local to me, I'd have gone in a heartbeat.

Lorraine

I am thinking about going back to school to become a medical assistant so that I can have a stepping stone of getting into healthcare. After becoming a medical assistant, my ultimate goal is to either go forward and become a LPN or RN. The question I have is, does anyone know how much medical assistants make.
I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm a CNA and will shortly be a MA (one more month of classes then 2.5 months of externship).

I REALLY wanted to go to LPN school. I'm 47 and didn't want the length and financial hardship of RN school. After checking my area, the nearest LPN school was 45 minutes from me. That's just for the classes, the clinicals were even farther. Since I'm in PA...(crap weather 6 months a year), I decided against that. With kids still at home, I couldn't see myself getting out the door at 5 a.m. to fight the snow in the winter.

I also would have had to wait almost a year to get in. LPN's here are paid terribly. UPMC, which is one of the biggest hospital networks around here are starting LPN's at 12 something an hour. LTC starts at $15-16 an hour but I was pretty sure I didn't want to do LTC.

That being said, if there had been a LPN program local to me, I'd have gone in a heartbeat.

Lorraine

Most places here pay MA's around 10.00 an hour or more here, a drop from my CNA pay of 11-11.50 an hour.

Lorraine

I'm going 8.5 months for MA, 6 months classes, 2.5 externship. I just told my husband the other day that if I'd done the LPN route, I'd be halfway done. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option because of our locale.

Lorraine

You should become a CNA. I am in the process of doing it right now through my local CC, and then am continuing on in their nursing program. (for us the CNA is a prereq)

The way I see it, MA school (at least here) is 6 months long. But why waste all that time when your ultimate goal is nursing? The accelerated LPN program here is 9 months long, so I figure just go the 3 extra months and be an LPN instead.

Good luck!

Rebecca

I'm going 8.5 months for MA, 6 months classes, 2.5 externship. I just told my husband the other day that if I'd done the LPN route, I'd be halfway done. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option because of our locale.

Lorraine

I would go ahead with the LPN route but I can only take evening classes because I work 8-5. The next classes for LPN's do not start until April 2006. If I go the MA route, I will be done by the end of the year and I could work 4 months in a doctor's office and then go back for my LPN or probably by then RN.

All of the above advice is good, just be aware if you are thinking about MA as a "stepping stone" it probably won't be. You will get some useful experience, however the classes in most cases won't transfer to a nursing program. At our CC the MA program classes are specifically geared for them and none are considered "college level" courses and none will transfer, so you essentially will be starting from scratch if/when you start the prenursing phase. If you go LPN you will have fewer prereqs but a good chance that your classes will transfer to the RN program. (Some may not, and you may need extra sceince courses depending on the program though). Good luck in whatever you decide.

I would go ahead with the LPN route but I can only take evening classes because I work 8-5. The next classes for LPN's do not start until April 2006. If I go the MA route, I will be done by the end of the year and I could work 4 months in a doctor's office and then go back for my LPN or probably by then RN.

ikwym about the long wait.

Is your eventual goal RN? Because if so, there are going to have to be prereqs completed. I've been waiting for my LPN program since I signed up last summer, and in the meantime have been cracking out prereqs through Rio Salado online. My LPN program officially starts in May and goes until Mar 06. I will have 2 prereqs to complete before I get into the RN program. And because I will be an LPN by the time the prereqs are completed, I only have to do the last two blocks of the RN program.

My point? If there are prereqs, and your eventual goal *is* RN, use the time waiting to get into school to crack out the prereqs instead of going the MA route.

However, if MA is something you really WANT to do, for the experience or because you think it sounds interesting, then go ahead! It will probably be fun and you'll make a bunch of new friends.

But, if you want to save time, sign up for LPN and do the prereqs while you wait. If you are going towards your RN, you going to have to do the prereqs anyway. And if you want work experience, get your CNA! The course I'm enrolled in only takes 6w!

Good luck with your choice!

Rebecca

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