Cna Vs. Medical Assistant

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What is the difference between a CNA and a Medical Assistant? If I am trying to gain appropriate skills before attending nursing school to become a Nurse Practitioner, what would you recommend I become--CNA or Medical Assistant?

Thanks!

My nephew is currently enrolled in an MA course. He is getting a $7000 loan which he will have to pay back on a starting salary of $9-$10. I don't know if money is an issue for the OP, but if it is, and if the OP intends to study to become an RN then it doesn't make much sense to spend $7000 to be trained for a $9 an hour job.

I've always considered MA vocational programs to be rip-off's that only benefit the schools and the doctor's offices looking for cheap labor.

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Here its a two year degree program thats about to become competitive because so many potential nurses just don't have the time or the money to spend on nursing prereqs. Lpns out here are being completely phased out sadly and wages for cnas, na2s ect are way up. But bear in mind our doctors offices have to offer competitive salaries because so few people actually want to move out here, lol.

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Pls don't think you will be making as much as a RN as a MA. I've seen that posted here twice in the last few days and schools are really misguiding their MAs to get them to enroll under false financial information. It's despicable that they do this. You will make a fraction of what RNs make.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't be a MA if it suits your financial needs and it interests you. Just be sure to get accurate financial info and be sure they are in need in your area. Most doctor's offices do hire them. I believe clinics would also be a good place to look for work but hospitals wouldn't be.

Also, if you want to become a RN pls look into a community college. The wait can be very long but the price is very reasonable at community colleges. It might even be cheaper than your MA program as many of them seem to be quite expensive. You usually need about 70 credits to graduate which usually takes a little over 2 years. Good luck.

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well here in Fl there aren't any regulations/licensing of MAs so I would stick to something with an actual license if it is not licensed in your state. CNA make about $12.(depending on location!!)

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If you want clinical experience to prepare you for nursing school go with the CNA. CNA's do more nursing (hence Nursing Assistant) and you will be doing things that you will do in nursing school and even as a nurse.

It takes longer to become a MA than to become a CNA. It is pointless to waste time if your goal is to be a RN.

Also in my area MAs cannot work in hospitals. MAs end up working in doctor offices (remind me of a secretary with a bit of medical knowledge).

CNA all the way!!!

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

If your goal is to become an RN please do not waste your time and money becoming a CMA. They are not even in the "nursing" category. True they are integral parts of the the healthcare team but they usually are limited to just working in Dr.'s Offices and Clinics. It would be difficult to try to attend nursing school with a M-F 8-5 job... Whereas a CNA can work in hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice with flexible hours and flexible schedules. If you get hired on at a hospital as a CNA, you can usually get tuition reimbursement for you schooling.

The education time to become a CNA is only a few weeks to a couple months and can cost about $400-1200. CMAs have about 6 months - 2 years of education and some schools charge up to $17,000! The bad parts of being a CNA? You deal with most of the "dirty work" of nursing - changing diapers, bathing pts, making beds, helping feeding, etc. These are all things that nurses do as well and you have to know in nursing school anyway.

On the other subject... It is a myth that LPN/LVNs are being phased out. It is perpetuated by many of these "MA schools". It is true that where LPN/LVNs work is shifting from hospital to LTC, home health, hospice etc. A CMA could never replace a LPN/LVN in those settings. Across the country we are still in much demand. And example of starting pay rates in my area are: CNA - $9-11, CMA - $10-13, LVN $17-20 RN $23-26. As you can see most CMAs make less than half of an RN salary....

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Another benefit to CNA is that in some places, you can get your training and even take your state test for free. I did, though a program at an LTC/Rehab facility. It might be worth it to you to call facilities around you and ask if they offer classes.

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Here its a two year degree program thats about to become competitive because so many potential nurses just don't have the time or the money to spend on nursing prereqs. Lpns out here are being completely phased out sadly and wages for cnas, na2s ect are way up. But bear in mind our doctors offices have to offer competitive salaries because so few people actually want to move out here, lol.

Wow where do you live that they have phase out lpn's completely? even in LTC, SNF, and homehealth, which I've never seen a MA work in homehealth, and most RN do like it that much .

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Yes, the hospitals have quit hiring them, almost all of the colleges except one have dropped the lpn program and even the few lpns at the ltc where we did clinicals said they didn't have a future. The ltc and its one of the best was hiring NA 2s and because the state allows it, training them site specific to do lpn tasks. Its kind of sad but I heard the major hospital here warned their lpns years ago that it was coming to give them time to go to RN.

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They are not even in the "nursing" category.

I would really like to know why you feel this way! I really resent that

statement.

As per definition in Webster a NURSE is...." a person who cares for the sick or infirm ; specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health"

I work in Central Florida, I make 15.25/hr. I have my certifications in IV, EKG and phlebotomy. I hold a BLS Health Care Provider card.

I do CEU's. Not because they are required to maintain my job or my "title" but because I can and I care to keep myself educated so that I may take care of my patients to the best of my ability.

I work for a large facaility (over 150 employees)that has its own ambulatory surgery center, basic x-ray, CT scan, ultrasound and a full clinic. Tomorrow, in just the clinic alone, we are scheduled to see 58 patients with 2 doctors and 2 PA's and that is just the morning without counting the walk-ins!

I start IV's, give injections and oral medications, insert foley cathters, do bladder cancer and cystitis treatments (BCG, MMC, DMSO). I do pre-op work up's including EKG's. I triage patients, return phone calls, handle prescription calls, schedule appointments, do referrals, set-up hospice and home health. I review lab test results,cytology, pathology and radiology results and direct them to the proper MD for review if needed.

I train clinic staff for all three of our offices (INCLUDING LPN's and RN's)

When our clinic supervisor is out of the office, I am the one that is in charge.

I really hate the snooty, know it all, RN's who think THEY are the only nurses out there. They treat everyone else like crap including LPN's (licensed practical NURSES).

(I am not saying that you are one, but your statment sure makes it seem that way)

The funny thing is I start the LPN program in January simply for the "title". I won't make anymore....LPN's in this area start at 15.00/hr. However my office is paying for it and they are holding my positoin for me.

Maybe one day I'll make it to the bridge RN program. Then the "nurse" comments won't bother me so much anymore.

Sorry if I offended anyone, I just felt the need to defend my not so prestigous CMA status.

For what its worth....when I first moved to Florida in 1998. I had a job lined up at a hosptial. I went with an office job for the M-F 8-5 schedule. I previously worked retail and bartended and had enough of nights, weekends and holidays at the time.

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Well I live in atlanta. Even here, its true that hospitals arent really hiring lpn's any more. But there are still plenty of jobs that are. Lpn's start of with 20 bucks a hr. I just don't know any cma or na2 that are making money like that. My grandmother is a RN BSN who is retired now, and she tells me that since the 70's they have been phasing out lpn's, and then in a few years they start hiring them again. I think now is that time.

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Specializes in MPCU.
I would really like to know why you feel this way! I really resent that

statement.

As per definition in Webster a NURSE is...." a person who cares for the sick or infirm ; specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health"

I work in Central Florida, I make 15.25/hr. I have my certifications in IV, EKG and phlebotomy. I hold a BLS Health Care Provider card.

I do CEU's. Not because they are required to maintain my job or my "title" but because I can and I care to keep myself educated so that I may take care of my patients to the best of my ability.

I work for a large facaility (over 150 employees)that has its own ambulatory surgery center, basic x-ray, CT scan, ultrasound and a full clinic. Tomorrow, in just the clinic alone, we are scheduled to see 58 patients with 2 doctors and 2 PA's and that is just the morning without counting the walk-ins!

I start IV's, give injections and oral medications, insert foley cathters, do bladder cancer and cystitis treatments (BCG, MMC, DMSO). I do pre-op work up's including EKG's. I triage patients, return phone calls, handle prescription calls, schedule appointments, do referrals, set-up hospice and home health. I review lab test results,cytology, pathology and radiology results and direct them to the proper MD for review if needed.

I train clinic staff for all three of our offices (INCLUDING LPN's and RN's)

When our clinic supervisor is out of the office, I am the one that is in charge.

I really hate the snooty, know it all, RN's who think THEY are the only nurses out there. They treat everyone else like crap including LPN's (licensed practical NURSES).

(I am not saying that you are one, but your statment sure makes it seem that way)

The funny thing is I start the LPN program in January simply for the "title". I won't make anymore....LPN's in this area start at 15.00/hr. However my office is paying for it and they are holding my positoin for me.

Maybe one day I'll make it to the bridge RN program. Then the "nurse" comments won't bother me so much anymore.

Sorry if I offended anyone, I just felt the need to defend my not so prestigous CMA status.

For what its worth....when I first moved to Florida in 1998. I had a job lined up at a hosptial. I went with an office job for the M-F 8-5 schedule. I previously worked retail and bartended and had enough of nights, weekends and holidays at the time.

Nursing is in the process of developing itself into a separate and equivalent health care profession. (truthfully, we already are, but many "not nurses" don't get it.) We work independently and with doctors, surgeons and dentists in the diagnoses, Treatment and promotion of the human response to health, and health conditions. I'm sure no offense was intended, but Mr. Webster also considers nursing to be a mother suckling her young. In this forum, MNA's by definition do not practice nursing, they assist MD's. MNA's are trained in the medical model, not the nursing model. It's not "snooty" it's just different.

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