Bridge Over From Medical Assistant To Lpn

Fiona59 · May 14, 2005

Where I live a Medical Assistant works in an office enviroment as mainly clerical and would therefore have to do the entire LPN programme.

Do you prepare meds, remove staples, sutures, drains, perform post partum and post op care?

There really is a BIG difference between the two lines of work.

davis939 · May 14, 2005

Where I live a Medical Assistant works in an office enviroment as mainly clerical and would therefore have to do the entire LPN programme.
Do you prepare meds, remove staples, sutures, drains, perform post partum and post op care?
There really is a BIG difference between the two lines of work.

OF COURSE I DO MEDS, REMOVE STAPLES, SUTURES, DRAINS, PEROM PARTUM AND POST OP CARE. PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE

FOR EXAMPLE

EKGS

INJECTIONS

DRESSING CHANGE

DRAW BLOOD

AND OTHER DUTIES THAT I AM QUALIFIED TO DO ASSISED :)

Andi33 · May 14, 2005

Where I live a Medical Assistant works in an office enviroment as mainly clerical and would therefore have to do the entire LPN programme.
Do you prepare meds, remove staples, sutures, drains, perform post partum and post op care?
There really is a BIG difference between the two lines of work.

....and where I live, Medical Assistants who do work in an office setting with clinical duties, do so alongside LPN's and RN's. Most who have clerical duties alone are called Medical Office Assistants. And yes, I do all of the above.

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 15, 2005

Let's not bicker over what each state allows MAs and LPNs to do.

The question is can the credits from one be used towards obtaining the other degree.

The only sure way would be to write the state board AND the LPN school you desire to attend. In my area the MA course is an associate degree. I saw some others that were as little as 6 weeks.

*I* was a MA for 7 years with only my nursing school experience from 2 1/2 years when I quit to get married.I never had any formal MA course or instruction. It was learn on the fly.

Usually credits to satisfy one degree can't be reused for another degree. But call the BON and the school.

Andi33 · May 15, 2005

Let's not bicker over what each state allows MAs and LPNs to do.
The question is can the credits from one be used towards obtaining the other degree.
The only sure way would be to write the state board AND the LPN school you desire to attend. In my area the MA course is an associate degree. I saw some others that were as little as 6 weeks.
*I* was a MA for 7 years with only my nursing school experience from 2 1/2 years when I quit to get married.I never had any formal MA course or instruction. It was learn on the fly.
Usually credits to satisfy one degree can't be reused for another degree. But call the BON and the school.

I know the credits I recieved for my prereq's for the MA program, such as A&P, medical terminology, wellness and fitness, etc, will satisfy the prereq's for our LPN program, so if you have already completed those courses, they should transfer over to the other program. After that, you will have all nursing courses and clinicals. You should definitely check with your school to be sure.

tanaynicole · May 20, 2005

If your not interested in entering an LVN program, i suggest that you reasearch you states VN nursing board. In some cases you can challenge the required education if you have enough time/experience from your job. If your VN nursing board will give you enough credit all you have to do is take and pass the NCLEX.

Try it, it just may work.

Tanaynicole

smk1, LPN · May 20, 2005

you have to check with desired schools (though i would venture to say probably no bridge exists). At my school there isn't any possible way this could work because the prereqs are different. Yes MA students take "A&P" etc.. but it is 1 term and a basic concepts course specifically for EMTB/Phlebotomy/MA. Not a college level course and is not the same A&P that the Nursing students must take. This is true of all of the colleges that i have looked at in my area. Best advice is to figure out what schools you could possibly attend and check their requirements and see if anything that you have taken can count toward your new career path.

Andi33 · May 20, 2005

SMK1-I wanted to clarify what I was said in my previous post. The CC I attend requires the same med. term, A&P, wellness and nutrition, English Comp, Pharmacology, Math for Meds, and Algebra courses as pre-req's for the LPN program. These are the same pre-req courses taken by the MA's, which means that the credits would transfer to the LPN program. If you want to continue into the RN program, you must take a more advanced A&P and an advanced pharm course, along with pathophysiology. However, MA's must take Pathology and Law and Ethics, which are incorperated into the LPN program. MA's also have their own clincal, then an externship. So yes, you do need to check with your school to see if MA course credits will transfer to LPN. I bet that they will, but if you want to go the next step to RN, you will need more advanced pre-req's. At this point in my education, I have over and above the pre-req's needed to enter the LPN program. It sounds as if this may vary with which college you attend.

Trauma Columnist · May 21, 2005

Educational requirements certainly differ at colleges. Best advice: check out what is available in your area. Also, check the employability of an LPN in your area and what type of areas they are hired into. This may influence your decision also. Good luck.

Wolfby1 · Aug 13, 2011

Just an FYI,

There is NOT a BIG difference between the two. MA's have, in all honesty, taken over alot of the LPN positions in alot of areas in the healthcare industry. For 1, many have associate degrees and have more training than most LPN.s (depending on the state) Many, many states are hiring them in Urgent care, ER's, hospitals. LPN's are now usually in nursing homes, assisted living.

Alot of LPN's(not all) continue to show their prejudices towards medical assistants, which is really sad because I work with quite a few of them in the ER and they are smarter than alot of LPN's I have worked with.

Maybe you should discuss your issues with the MA who has upset you. But get your facts straight before shooting others down and trying to make yourself feel better. I know they do injections, IV's, Suture removals, wound dressings, and much more.

The Main Thing Is Patient Care and giving good quality care to people, and in this day and age everyone needs it.

So everyone, be thankful for everyone who works with you, whether they are an LPN, RN, MA, CNA, Receptionist, Unit Clerk, because without all of these it would really suck!!!!!!

Wolfby1 · Aug 13, 2011

Just an FYI,
There is NOT a BIG difference between the two. MA's have, in all honesty, taken over alot of the LPN positions in alot of areas in the healthcare industry. For 1, many have associate degrees and have more training than most LPN.s (depending on the state) Many, many states are hiring them in Urgent care, ER's, hospitals. LPN's are now usually in nursing homes, assisted living.
Alot of LPN's(not all) continue to show their prejudices towards medical assistants, which is really sad because I work with quite a few of them in the ER and they are smarter than alot of LPN's I have worked with.
Maybe you should discuss your issues with the MA who has upset you. But get your facts straight before shooting others down and trying to make yourself feel better. I know they do injections, IV's, Suture removals, wound dressings, and much more.
The Main Thing Is Patient Care and giving good quality care to people, and in this day and age everyone needs it.
So everyone, be thankful for everyone who works with you, whether they are an LPN, RN, MA, CNA, Receptionist, Unit Clerk, because without all of these it would really suck!!!!!! Even the physicians, LOL
So