CNA or medical assistant, or other?

U.S.A. New York

Published

I need help deciding between becoming a certified nursing assistant or medical assistant (or other?). My goal is to take nursing courses while working part or full-time (depends if the hospital covers tuition fully) as a CNA or medical assistant, etc. A friend is trying to convince me that medical assistants get more respect for their job duties, but I care more about the experience. I'm willing to work hard if it'll help me become a better nurse in school and beyond. I also need an occupation with plenty of job openings upon graduation from the program. Please help me decide. I'm leaning towards CNA. Any other tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Specializes in acute care.

To help you decide why don't you call around (hospitals, doc offices, nursing homes) to find out which has an easier time of finding jobs after graduation. Also research which position will have a more flexible schedule when you are in school.

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I've sent you a PM. I hope it helps.

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Ok my 0.02 is this ..maybe this will help you decide

CNA's do more physical work than mental work. They know how to do EKGs, draw blood, bedpans, foleys (some) and finger sticks ..probably can teach a ACLS class being at everyones bedside

Unit Secretaries ( ;) ) They do more mental work than physical. Doctors orders, know what color tube Cardiac Enzymes go in. What happens when someone's D Dimer is >500 or when someone has nitrite in their urine. Not to mention all the damage control when a doctor orders IV Contrast to a patient is allergic to shellfish and doesnt pre medicate them (but they were just about to do it right? riiiight) When a patient is NPO to throw a shoe at the tech bringing them a sandwich LOL ..Things like that, mental.

I started off as a medical assistant, worked my way up to office manager realized I was getting no where fast. (I can do my job literally with my eyes closed) -- Wanted a challenge, joined the E.R. wanted to help now im in Nursing school.

Hope I helped. Some places will hire you to do both (as a medical assistant orrrrr CNA that does unit secretary work). I asked the Nurse Manager if we can start helping out the techs during downtime but he still hasnt gotten back to me.

I rambled long enough, and you're probably sleeping by now. LOL Good luck!

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Ok my 0.02 is this ..maybe this will help you decide

CNA's do more physical work than mental work. They know how to do EKGs, draw blood, bedpans, foleys (some) and finger sticks ..probably can teach a ACLS class being at everyones bedside

Unit Secretaries ( ;) ) They do more mental work than physical. Doctors orders, know what color tube Cardiac Enzymes go in. What happens when someone's D Dimer is >500 or when someone has nitrite in their urine. Not to mention all the damage control when a doctor orders IV Contrast to a patient is allergic to shellfish and doesnt pre medicate them (but they were just about to do it right? riiiight) When a patient is NPO to throw a shoe at the tech bringing them a sandwich LOL ..Things like that, mental.

I started off as a medical assistant, worked my way up to office manager realized I was getting no where fast. (I can do my job literally with my eyes closed) -- Wanted a challenge, joined the E.R. wanted to help now im in Nursing school.

Hope I helped. Some places will hire you to do both (as a medical assistant orrrrr CNA that does unit secretary work). I asked the Nurse Manager if we can start helping out the techs during downtime but he still hasnt gotten back to me.

I rambled long enough, and you're probably sleeping by now. LOL Good luck!

Thanks. I registered for the CNA course. I like action/physical work & that some of the work of a CNA is similiar to what I'd learn to do in nursing school.

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I've sent you a PM. I hope it helps.

Can u PM me ur opinion as well

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Specializes in CNA, PCT.
Ok my 0.02 is this ..maybe this will help you decide

CNA's do more physical work than mental work. They know how to do EKGs, draw blood, bedpans, foleys (some) and finger sticks ..probably can teach a ACLS class being at everyones bedside

Unit Secretaries ( ;) ) They do more mental work than physical. Doctors orders, know what color tube Cardiac Enzymes go in. What happens when someone's D Dimer is >500 or when someone has nitrite in their urine. Not to mention all the damage control when a doctor orders IV Contrast to a patient is allergic to shellfish and doesnt pre medicate them (but they were just about to do it right? riiiight) When a patient is NPO to throw a shoe at the tech bringing them a sandwich LOL ..Things like that, mental.

I started off as a medical assistant, worked my way up to office manager realized I was getting no where fast. (I can do my job literally with my eyes closed) -- Wanted a challenge, joined the E.R. wanted to help now im in Nursing school.

Hope I helped. Some places will hire you to do both (as a medical assistant orrrrr CNA that does unit secretary work). I asked the Nurse Manager if we can start helping out the techs during downtime but he still hasnt gotten back to me.

I rambled long enough, and you're probably sleeping by now. LOL Good luck!

CNAs cannot draw blood or do EKGs unless they continue on in school and take the phlebotomy/ekg course and are not permitted to do foleys in NY

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:typingi say cna because you can get certified for EKG and phlebotomy and make more money with this your more likely able to work in hospitals and plus medical assistants usually work in doctors office during business hours 9-5 which might not have must staff and your really going to be depended on to be there everyday were as with cna theirs lots of staff and diff shifts you can take or switch if you need too. plus, if your going to school and you need to change your schedule and only work two days then you can even if you want to work doubles this way its 4 hours shot of full time 40 hrs (if you work two days) you catch my drift. i just finish class and im a cna with phel and ekg and i started out with 17 an hour when i was working as a cna i started with 12. by the way i live in nyc hope this helps:nurse:

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hey im doing the CNA certification in the summer but i was wondering is it required to work as a CNA?

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No one can force you to work as a CNA even once you're certified. However, to maintain your CNA licensure (once you pass the test for it), you need to work within 2 years (or else the license expires) & then you need to restart the whole process over (including repeating the classes). By working, you'd be keeping your license "active." If you're a nursing student like me, then it isn't a major concern because after med surg 1 & 2 (I believe), you'd automatically qualify to work as a nurse tech (for higher pay than a CNA). I completed the CNA program, so I could work part-time while taking my nursing classes. I haven't completed the med surg classes yet.

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whoops my bad..... i had it worded bad... i meant do i need the CNA certification to work as a CNA sorry for bad wording, cuz i heard u can work at nursing homes at CNA with out the certification

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whoops my bad..... i had it worded bad... i meant do i need the CNA certification to work as a CNA sorry for bad wording, cuz i heard u can work at nursing homes at CNA with out the certification

Yes, you need to get trained and later earn the certificate for the CNA. Some nursing homes are willing to train applicants at no charge, but you must get hired first. I believe in NYS, all nurse aides must be trained either thru the employer or a technical school and take a test to become certified.

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