CNA vs. CMA

[cmadeit]

I recently became a certified medical assistant and am having a terrible time of finding a job. Every hospital in my area accepts only licensed nurses (lvn's and rn's) and every other job posting is for cna's. I am not sure the rules but since technically, I work the same things as an lvn, can I challenge the cna board at least? I can't find anything on the state board website. I know I can't challenge the lvn but need a job..even if it means being a cna until our town catches up with the rest of the country and acknowledges that a CMA is a good thing. Help!

[Dolce, RN]

In my area it seems MA's have a hard time finding jobs as well. While some state MA or LPN while they may have similar task they are not the same, like a MD vs. NP vs. PA. Anyhow its upsetting these for profit school take HUGE somes of money from students saying there are loads of jobs when their arent. As well you can train on the job for MA just like CNA. Wish the word was out there for students to beware of those schools

I have the same gripe with these schools. They are always advertising their programs on TV with statements like, "Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing career fields in the nation!" They are all about the bottom dollar and will charge students a huge amount of money to get a degree that won't pay well after graduation.

[orangepancakes]

I'm currently in school to be a Certified Medical Assistant. It's true, our instructors tell us that we are basically equivalent to LPN's, except we are also trained in Administrative. So, what I am saying is that LPN's shouldn't be offended if CMA's consider themselves to be similar..especially since we are told that! CMA's work hard and know A LOT of stuff, so you really shouldn't be insulted. We bust our butts in school just like LPN's do. My school is extremely fast paced and intense-it's not easy! I also have to extern for a few months.

I think a lot of people on here are biased and it's upsetting and unsettling. These forums shouldn't be used as a tool to insult one another's profession, whether it be a CNA, LPN or CMA.

Anyways, I don't know where you are located, but where I am there seems to be a pretty high demand for CMA's. I guess it really depends on where you live. Some areas want LPNs and CNA's, while others would rather CMA's.

[ann945n, RN]

I think once/if you go to LPN school you will see how different the education and scope of practice is. CMA are needed and provide a great service to healthcare but they are no nurse.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

So, what I am saying is that LPN's shouldn't be offended if CMA's consider themselves to be similar..especially since we are told that! CMA's work hard and know A LOT of stuff, so you really shouldn't be insulted. We bust our butts in school just like LPN's do. My school is extremely fast paced and intense-it's not easy! I also have to extern for a few months.

I use to get riled up on this web site before I got into nursing school and was still a CMA doing my pre-reqs. Until I got into nursing school, finished nursing school, and passed my boards; after that, MA school and being an MA seemed like a cake walk...this is why LPNs and RNs get upset when CMAs say they are similar or practically the same. I am not discounting your hard work, or the importance and need of CMAs, just trying to help you understand if from a different perspective...because I have seen in from both.