LPN versus CMA

First, I did not read all 24 pages of this thread, so I apollogize if someone has already made these points, but it certainly won't hurt to repeat them again.

I used to instruct a course called Clinical Procedures for Medical Assistants at a Junior College in Nebraska. Though I was initially hired to teach a Computer Hardware & Maintenance course, when the Dean discovered I had a BSN she also recruited me for the CMA course, and here is a part of what I came away with from the experience.

The CMA curriculums (as well as PA curriculums) have been designed by the Medical Profession with a very specific ideology in order to foster 2 very specific purposes - to increase productivity and increase fiscal profits. These purposes are not necessarily connected for just the sake of profit, but increased productivity generally results in increased profits, as does a lower cost for labor - but not always, since a laborer with a more robust education can often save the day.

There are never enough physicians and there are always too many patients. So, if physicians are going to be able to provide their services in a way that meets the demands for those services within a given community, they must find ways to see more patients in less time. Hence, the CMA is cross-trained to provide procedural labor in the back and front of the medical office. Nurses, on the other hand, are trained for procedural labor that is suitable for the back office, but the training is often overkill and costs more to employ. But there is still another issue with employing a nurse in the back office - they are trained to provide nursing care labor ahead of procedural labor. Not only can this be overkill in the office setting, it can be quite inefficient in the office setting. It takes additional time to "care" for a patient in the manner that nurses are trained, and it's nearly impossible to get a nurse to NOT provide nursing care - even when its not needed. Nurses are also prone to second-guess physicians when assuming the educationally-ingrained role of patient advocate - which is also inefficient in the office setting - though sometimes necessary. Fimally, nurses are taught to educate patients in wholistic self-care, which is where they shine in the medical office.

This is not meant to imply that CMAs, PAs and MDs don't "care" about their patients or teach them to care for themselves, nor is it meant to imply that nursing care has no value in a medical office, which is why most offices employ all 3. Neither should their be a heirarchy among these disciplines, except between the MD and an individual discipline. Each have a scope of practice that meets specific needs, but none of these 3 disciplines are actually requred to assist a physician. All the physician must have in an office assistant is someone with the intelligence learn what needs to be done.

The reason nurses can demand more money is because they can function autonomously as caregivers and are lisenced to provide procedural labor, within their scope of practice, when not under the direct supervision of a physician. In fact, nurses are known to challenge or even refuse to carry out a physician's order, but they best have good reason if they expect to keep their job and license.

I hope this can clear up some of the misconceptions regarding the value of both CMAs and nurses. I also hope it can aid those who manage both disciplines in the office setting. My wife is a LPN at a Pulmonary Clinic, yet her manager is a CMA, which is legitimate. The only issue is they don't undrstand each other's unique educational and vocational training - which can easily lead to ineffective management, a lack of teamwork, and ultimately, a chaotic and inefficient delivery of medical office services.

I am a new LPN- BUT i kind am wishing I went for MA just because there are so many more jobs right now in my area for them. Im gonna start off by saying I have not gone through MA school but I do know alot of people who currently are and there were a handful of MA's in my LPN program. From what they say- yes MA's are just as important as the LPN's and the RN's- just as important as the CNA's. We all do our part in the medical world. No one is better than anyone- its just a preference of the person whois going to school and what works for them. But I believe there is a difference between LPNS and MA's. LPN's are nurses, with licenses and a whole different scope of practice. MA's work under someoen elses license- which is fine. Schooling is completely different- LPN's are not trained with the reception side of things- but we are trained with more indepth knowledge of the disease and the n ursing process- MA's can do things LPN's can not do unless we get certification. Theres a give and take between the two- but they are totally two different careers. Whatever path you choose is your decision and what works for you doesnt mean itll work for soemone else. Congrats to all of those LPN's an MA's that have made it through and are helping patients!Because thats whats most important!

Just curious - what can MA's do that LPN's can't? I think you may be mistaken..
mc3