CNA vs Medical Assistant

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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What is the difference between a CNA and a medical assistant?

What is the difference between a CNA and a medical assistant?

I am a MA and LOVE my job I work for a hospital at an out patient office. I dont work overnight or weekends. I make GREAT pay and wouldnt trade my career for a CNA's where they have to change beds and just work with elder or hospital care. I work in family practice and get to work with kids, adults and elders. I love my Job!!

I've been thinking about nursing for a while now, but being an MA also appeals to me. I'm a young mom, my daughter will be 1 in march. I'm starting stna ( what we call cna's in ohio) classes soon so I can work for a while. Should I do lpn or ma after that? I'm not totally sure I would like nursing yet though :/

There is a big difference between an MA and a CNA. As I have both of my certifications, I have seen the difference in both titles.

A CNA works under an RN's license, which means they have a very limited scope of practice, they do however do more bedside care than almost any other profession.

An MA however, works under a Physician's license, which means that (at least in the state of Utah) they can do anything the doctor allows them to under his/her supervision, meaning in my job right now I can do just as much as the RN on duty with us does. I numb patients for surgery, assist in biopsies and surgeries, and even suture after some biopsies and surgeries.

When I worked as a CNA, the nurses wouldn't let me do anything to assist them unless the call lights were going off. A CNA has a great job, especially when they get to know their patients. They get to be there when the patient may have no one else.

The dilemma alot of students face is what to go to school for, and I would say if you want to be a nurse, just go straight for your CNA and bypass the MA school. But I love what I do and as an MA and I am still going to go to nursing school.

But anyone who tells you that a CNA and MA are even close to the same thing is very mistaken.

In Utah an MA also makes more than a CNA which is why I work as an MA full time. But I'm sure some places are different, while in my job search, no one seemed to care whether i had my CNA but the nursing schools could care less about your MA. It all depends on what you want to do.

Certified Nursing Assistant:

* Depending on the school, anywhere from 75 to 400 hours

* Works as a nurse's assistant, carrying out patient care under the RN or LPN

* From what I've seen, usually works in hospitals and LTC, but sometimes in physician's offices

* Starting wage around here for a CNA is $10.00/hr. (Minimum wage here is $7.25)

* Many LPN programs will allow you to fore go X amount of hours in the program if you are a CNA

* Does a lot of the "dirty" work (although I wouldn't call any nursing job "clean" hehe) such as wiping, changing diapers, making beds, bathing

* High demand (at least in my area) and ample chances for advancement

Medical Assistant:

* Anywhere between 8 months and 2 years, depending on certification and if you wish to obtain a degree alongside it

* Is commonly seen in physician's offices, but rarely in hospitals

* Trained in both front office (billing, reception, phones) and back office (vital signs, patient care) however their exact scope of practice in the back office differs depending on the state you are in

* Makes between $8.00 and upwards of $15.00/hr depending on place of employment (For example: my mother is a radiologic technician who works at a small, but successful orthopedic surgeon's office. There is only my mother and a medical assistant. The medical assistant is the "manager" of the office.)

* Unfortunately due to their usefulness and average lower pay than that of a licensed nurse, they are sometimes coerced or ordered to perform procedures they are not licensed to do.

* Not much room for advancement, but a great, steady job for those who find the physician's office much more comfortable than a hospital or LTC setting.

This sounds Exactly like here Illinois, my sister-in-law is a medical assistant(not certified, and never graduated high school) but because she got a job as a receptionist in a doctor's office, then doctor started giving her on job training as a med assistant and is now the manager of the doctor's office, she now considers herself a medical assistant(and sometimes even a nurse...smh..)and tells me many girls are never certified. This just tells me that maybe its not worth getting in a program, kind of like a dental assistant, my friend was one and was never certified as well. I believe in having your certification when it comes to dealing with humans, because although I'm sure a non certified MA can do a great job at her work i would just feel more comfortable having an MA who actually studied and got certified. Just my personal opinion. Again not sure if there's really a point in going to school for that, I would def go for CNA.

Wow!! This is a really heated discussion!! First of all I would like to say that ANYONE who works in the healthcare setting and is there for the RIGHT intentions are to be commended, whether you are a CNA on up to a MD. This profession used to be about loving and wanting to help people. Now it has become about money and status. It is my firm belief that if your intentions are not to help care for people to the best of your ability, you are in the wrong line of work. I understand that one has to make a living, but this should not be one's primary focus when working in THIS line of work. We should not be divided. No one person is better than the next. If you are a CNA do it to the best of your ability with love and compassion. If you are a MA, LPN, RN, CRNP, MD, still do it to the best of your ability with love and compassion. Nursing should not be about status but about caring for those who need caring for. With all of that being said, I would like to also say that where you live will determine your scope of practice for CNA,MA, LPN. Alot of facilities cross-train and give their employees the opportunity to be involved in more duties. This profession is truly a calling and not for everyone. I just want to encourgage everyone to stop looking down on eachother. Everyone plays an important and vital part in caring for patients. There is a saying that says a house divided will fall.... we are too divided and headed for a fall if something does not seriously change!!

What is the difference between a CNA and a medical assistant?
To soon_t0_be LPN so are you a LPN now? I am starting a LNAprogran then going on to LPN program. How is your pay rate compared to a MA? I live in NH.

Does anyone have evidence as to the practice of an MA within Connecticut?

@JohnBRN DPH: Medical Assistant Information

MA and CNA in my state(Texas) is not the same job . I have been both and it's different. As a CNA I could not do what i do as an MA draw blood, woundcare(irrigate/dressing chges, pack wnds), d/c sutures/staples,remove foley caths,d/c j-pratt, administer injections, call in meds, take doctor's verbal oders/give verbal orders, start IV's,asisst the MD with surgical procedures, instruct and teach pt's about their medical condition.The list goes on and on...

Agree to disagree. I am all for people acquiring as much education as they're able to work into their lives but we also shouldn't presume everyone else wants the exact same lifestyle we ourselves consider to be ideal. "Good" money should depend on whether someone earns enough to live their version of a happy life and take care of their personal responsibilities without being a burden on other people. Not everyone feels deprived if they can't live in a four bedroom house with a two car garage. Maybe they find their joy and fulfillment in other things. It's a matter of personal preference. So again while I do believe in furthering education, if someone earns 18k and manages it correctly, then whether or not they are making "good" money really depends on their personal preferences.

I know this is an old post . but damn this is so true. its seems like its all about impressing people with how much money you make or trying to push this idea that money is everything. I want a job that doesnt require a lot of schooling. My husband makes "good money" as a pharmacist. So I dont have to work. i want to, for my own self. $18 would be nice change to spend on myself or put away every once in a while. It almost feels like some are "slighted" or offended if not everyone is obsessed with making what other people perceive to be a lot of money.there are doctors making a lot of money, who are miserable and on the verge of suicide. I would love to have the medical role without all of the aggravation of being a nurse. my sister is a RN and she has told me all about it. I do not want to be an RN. I know what my personality is like and what i can handle.

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