CNA? MA? similar?

[lilSiouXz]

Please excuse my ignorance, trying to take in as much info as I can (this forum is a God send!!) and get acclimated to this nursing world. I was a stay at home mom for 18 years and then took a few clerical jobs here and there. I'm ready to look into getting an education for myself and secure a stable career. I find that taking care of others is something that calls me. I have a friend who is a CNA, and he suggested I go that route just to get familiar with being around nurses and the environment.

My brain is not swirling with a bazillion questions:

1. Why is it so dang hard to find any schools/programs for CNA? I live in Va Bch and there are plenty of programs advertised for LPN, RN, MA - but I'm struggling to find anything for CNA.

2. I spoke to a MCI rep last week, and he mentioned a Medical Assistant program - is that at allsimilar? The paperwork mentions "National Certification Exam Prep" - just confused if that is CNA certification or something completely different.

3. I just noticed that Sentara School of Health Professions has a Nursing Aide Program - sheesh!! is that a CNA??!!

can you FEEL my frustration? haha!! :chuckle

TIA to any responses

siouXz

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I have nothing against Medical Assistants but here is my opinion. If your going into Nursing then being a Medical Assistant isn't going to help that much, as a MA you will work in a physicians office which can help you become more comfortable with patients and learn a few things but overall its not really helpful for getting you exposed to nursing. The other problem that I have with MA programs is that they are often expensive and mislead some nursing students into thinking that the credits will transfer to local nursing colleges, I can say that 9 times out of 10 the credits WON'T transfer. So if your going to pay all that money to get into a program that is going to give you minimal experience (when it comes to nursing) then why is it worth it? Now if your going to be a MA as your career then that's completely different, I'd say go for it then. But if your going to be a nurse and want nursing experience then I'd say become a CNA and find work as a CNA (hospitals tend to offer the most experience and benefits for a nursing student.) Its really up to you but you will find that after you take all those classes to be an MA you really won't be that much closer to being a nurse after all is said and done, being a CNA however is usually shorter on classes and can help you get some basic nursing experience. Good luck!

!Chris

[waitingforthedream]

Being an MA had alot of exposure to nursing classes. We learned A&P, more as MA then in nursing believe it or not. Learned to interpert EKG's (certified) if you wanted. Learned how to give injections. Learned how to draw blood. You don't really learn that as a CNA. But it really depends on what type of nursing skills your looking for. You have great hospital exposure as a CNA, a foot in the door. You have more study skills for nursing classes as a MA, that get you ahead of the of the gang once you start nursing classes because you have already studyed all of it. Really depends on which way you want to go.

[mcnasty]

dwrowe- i am starting bon secours program next month. i would love to talk to you and ask you some questions about it!

lilsiouxz- you too! :)