CMA to RN

[bekahinpink]

After 2 long years, I'm finally about to go out on my externship and finish my Associates degree in medical assisting. After studying this, I have decided to go on for my RN. I know none of my credits will transfer (except gen Ed), but in your experience, what will my training help me with? I know nursing school is in a whole different ball park, but I'm wondering if there's anything I've learned thus far that may help.

[LonghornChic, BSN]

I was an MA for about 12 years. I'm now in my senior year of my BSN. There are many differences between MA and RN skills, mainly that as an MA you do very little to no basic nursing care (like you would as a CNA). MA jobs are very much non acute outpatient, M-F 9-5. Common skills b\w RN and MA are phlebotomy, injections, sterile field, assisting the physician, POC testing (accucheck, urine, etc) and EKG to name some. MA's typically do not do IV's. RN's do much more critical thinking, assessment and medication administration which is something that MA's have no training in. Communication with patients and providers is another skill you can gain as an MA. I do feel that my experience as an MA helped me in nursing school but not as much as my 6 months of being a CNA at the hospital did.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I completed a medical assistant program in 2000, an LVN program in 2005, an associate degree nursing (ADN) program in 2010, and a BSN program in 2015.

Other than having some familiarity with healthcare terminology and vital sign checks, my medical assistant training did not really help in nursing school.