Licensing? Classes? Help!

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 9, 2005

I am currently in school to become a certified MA, so that I can get an OKAY job so that I can go back for nursing, but the problem right now is that I cannot find a job in the medical field except for CNAs and even then I have to be licensed, but I don't want to attend school. How can I become certified quick so that I can get into the medical field, or become a medical assistant with the little schooling I have accumulated so far. I tested out of Clinical 1 doing injections and vital signs. So if anyone could give me some information, I would appreciate it. I live in the St. Louis area if that helps. Thanks!

Hi! I'm not sure if this will help you because I live in Mass, but maybe it will anyways! Before I went to nursing school, I wanted to work as a CNA too, so I went to the local American Red Cross chapter in my city (look up the web site) and only had to go to class for 3 weeks like M-F 8-3 and then the fourth week we did clinicals for 2 or 3 days at a nursing home. Then if we took and passed the exam, they totally reimbursed us for the entire cost of the course! So that's how I became a CNA, and I worked in a hospital for 6 months, and then I started and finished nursing school and got my BSN a few weeks ago! I take the NCLEX-RN July 1! Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Christine

MIA-RN1, RN · Jun 9, 2005

I am currently in school to become a certified MA, so that I can get an OKAY job so that I can go back for nursing, but the problem right now is that I cannot find a job in the medical field except for CNAs and even then I have to be licensed, but I don't want to attend school. How can I become certified quick so that I can get into the medical field, or become a medical assistant with the little schooling I have accumulated so far. I tested out of Clinical 1 doing injections and vital signs. So if anyone could give me some information, I would appreciate it. I live in the St. Louis area if that helps. Thanks!

I found a job as a medical assistant and they trained me on the job. I am not certified, but I do a ton of stuff like draw blood, vitals, first aid, triage to a point etc. It all depends on where you work. Look around at local offices and see what might be hidden there.

The CNA program around here is only 5 weeks long, offered at our community college. Maybe you can find something like that?

You can try to sell yourself to possible employers by telling them how you are in MA school and all the skills you have learned and will be learning. Maybe they will hire you on that basis.