MA or LPN?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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hi guys, i have a problem. im new to new jersey, i have a husband and two little divaz...they are 9 and 5. now, i just got accepted into a ma program and a lpn program. i dont know which one to chose. my husband works 5am-5pm two weeks out of the month and 5pm-5am two weeks. now i have been a stay at home mom since i had my oldest daughter...they are both very attatched to me & with my husbands schedule i cant work crazy hours. so, my concerns are the hours. which one of the two jobs have the best hours that would work with my familys schedule? please help me...

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I do want to express that you should do what is comfortable for you. I have no issues with medical assistants. I know many that are trained exceptionally well and understand their scope of practice. As long as they understand that they are not nurses, and try not to act as such, there is no issue for it with me.

I do feel that since you have already been accepted into an LPN program, just complete it and have the creditials available for you to do what you wish. I am an LPN (since 2006) that works in a clinic in a hospital. Monday thru Friday, weekends and holidays off. My husband works evenings, my son is 21 years old, and I get to do side jobs doing fun things as an LPN that would not have been available to me as a medical assistant.

I go to army bases as a vaccination nurse and only a licensed nurse can do that. A medical assistant can be trained to do just what I am doing, read the side effects and all, however, because she is not a nurse, she would not be able to do this great assignment. I get paid very decent money doing this and get to see gorgeous guys (but, I am not cheating...just enjoying the show...LOL). I do 1 on 1 home care assignments on occasion, and get to know my patients very well. LPNs have become case coordinators, work for insurance companies, the department of health, corrections, clinics, etc. More chances to get employment. And, of course, if you want to become an RN, there are bridge programs.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

LPN hands down. Go for LPN

Its simply a matter of numbers

LPN's make more. LPN can bridge to RN, MA can not bridge they must start from the begining. LPN's have more job options and opprotunities. LPN's are a nurse MA are not.

Get the most bang for your buck. Get the highest salary as well. An LPN will start around 19 an hour and from what I hear MA make around 10-13. This is just what I have heard though

Good luck!

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Check out the salaries in your area. Most MA top out at around 13-14 dollars an hour. I was making 14.25 but I'm bilingual with experience as a military medic and a BA in another field so I'm not normal. Most other MAs I met were making closer to 10 an hour. Most LPN start out in our area at least 15-16 dollars an hour. I know pay shouldn't be a primary but as someone with a kid it might influence your decision long term.

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My friend is an MA, she thought she wanted to go to nursing school. So she got a job in the ER I work in as a PCA, so she could get the hospital benifits to go back to school. After 2 weeks in the ER, she has now decided nursing isn't for her, "said the er soured her on becoming a nurse". She says she's waisting her "skills" working in a hospital. But, I've found that her "skills", arn't what she thinks they are. She thinks she can do more and knows more than what she does. I think if you want to work in a Dr's office , have 9 to 5 hours and work under a Dr's licensure then be an MA. If you want to be a nurse be an LPN. The training is much different than MA. If you are an LPN you will hold licensure in your state. If you are an MA, you will work under the licensure of a DR. You may hold a certificate but, that is much different than a License.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Don't forget that the MA's role and the LPN's role are altogether different.

They are not the same. Consider this also.

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I am a CMA and am now currently enrolled in a CNA course to go into the RN program. You would have to take a CNA I course(and be on the CNAI registry) and some other classes prior to a LPN program wher I live (NC). However, you do not have to have CNA before taking the CMA program. The program I went into was a two year associate degree program and in a doctors office setting I could and did preform all the same procedures as an LPN (although you legally cannot call yourself a nurse because you do not have a liscence, you are only certified to work under a Dr.) Both programs have a lot of the same classes but you will learn more in the LPN program if you want to work in a hospital setting especially. A CMA can not work in the hospital unless they work as a CNAII and you must check with the facility, some allow this some do not. I am going back for my RN because I got a good taste of what nursing would be like and decided I wanted to go farther. You can do a lot as a CMA but I did not get to actually BE a nurse. (Although everyone wants to call you that -- including the doctors!). I loved working as a CMA but I wish that I had went for LPN because-- I would have only went 1 year vs. two for the schooling plus I would only have a year left to obtain my RN,and I would have made more $$ in the process. Now I have to kind of start over. They will credit some of my classes but not all of them. The others were right you have to think about where you want to work and what type of $ you want to make. Also remember that the higher that you go the more responsiblity you must be prepared to take on. I wish you all the luck in either one you choose. Wish me the same-- two more years of school - I am going to need it!!!!!!:nuke: PS --a ? for the RNs -- should I take CNAII to get more prepared for the RN program?? It seems to go over some things that I did not get in CMA or CNA I, such as trache care, and feeding tubes things not really seen much in office settings-- Thanks!!

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She says she's waisting her "skills" working in a hospital. But, I've found that her "skills", arn't what she thinks they are.

I wonder what skills she thinks she's wasting by working as a hospital tech? I can only speak for my own facility, but we have some techs who are MAs, and I've never heard that.

As a by the way, the only way we employ MAs is AS techs, the same as CNAs, and the same as someone who comes in off the street and is willing to be trained for the job. Sure didn't require thousands of dollars in education to do that.

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I just want to tell everyone thank you for all your advise. I decided to take the LPN classes. I did some research and I found that there are lots of LPN's working "Doctors" office hours and they ar emaking way more the the MA's. Even though I dont need to work because we are living very comfortably off my husbands income. I figure this will give me something to do while the kids are in school and hey, why not make good money doing it! :D I always wanted to be a nurse anyway so, now I can do what I always wanted to do. Once again, Thank You all very much!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
PS --a ? for the RNs -- should I take CNAII to get more prepared for the RN program?? It seems to go over some things that I did not get in CMA or CNA I, such as trache care, and feeding tubes things not really seen much in office settings-- Thanks!!

I am not an RN, but I would say to become a CNA2, it would be better to gain confidence in such skills now, and impress the professors. :yeah:

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Thank you for all the wonderful advice! I did get accepted into an RN program at DCCC which I start on Wed! I am super nervous but even more excited!! Good Luck to all of you out there persuing a career!! I wish you all the very best!!!!

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