Thinking About Medical Assistant

BadBird, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2003

About 20 years I took a 9 month Medical Assistant Program. I worked in a clinic and doctors office, eventually going to work at a hospital as a phlebotobmist. While I worked at the hospital I watched the nurses and realized that I could and should be a nurse, I was making peanuts compared to the nurses and I longed for more patient care. So long story short I went back to school and got my RN. Although I enjoyed being a medical assistant, I was constantly frustrated always thinking I needed more. Sooooo, if your passion is nursing just do it.

Jen2 · Jun 23, 2003

Hello Princess. Just wanted to say that when I got out of high school I went for Medical Assisting. I knew I wanted to be a nurse, but I thought if I did this first I could get some good experience before I decided to go to nursing school. You have to decide what aspect of the Medical world you love. If it is the patient care and loving the human body and the way it works, I would go to nursing school. If you like the clerical side such as billing, scheduling appointments, phone techniques then go for Medical Assisting. It is true you will get to give inj., draw blood, vitals, and some other clinical skills, but if you are a Medical Assistant you are pretty much limited to work in a doctors office. In a doctors office you will be drawing blood one minute and scheduling appointments the next. I'm not sure if money is a factor for you and for me it wasn't except for this. My one year of MA school cost me more than 2 years of nursing school and I go to a university. The problem with this was that I barely made enough money as a MA to pay my student loans back because the schooling was so expensive. Also if you are looking for easy, MA school isn't all that easy. You have to know A&P, dosage calc. for inj., transcription, pharmacology, and other variouse skills and classes. You also must be very responsible as an MA, it isn;t an easy way out. Any time you are sticking a needle into a persons arm, you must be responsible and know what you are doing. There is times when one of your patients may have cancer and you will be on the phone with their insurance company for hours trying to get their surgery O.K.'d. This is the part I hated most the ins company. You must be very assertive and taken seriously to get some of these ins. company's to pay for life saving procedures. I don't completely regret going to MA school, it has given me an opportunity to meet and work with alot of wonderful people, and I have a knowledge of the medical world from both sides, clinical and clerical, but if I had it to do over again, I would have just went all the way. Lastly, after all that money spent I'm not even working as an MA anymore but as a phleb in a hospital, because doctors offices are open days only and they could not work with my school schedule. Once you start working as an MA it will be difficult for you to go back to school and work because not all classes are evening ones. I don't know how young you are but believe me, you will mature in nursing school. Sorry this is sooo long but I've been there Just think long and hard about it and decide what is best for you. I would give it a shot now. I wish I had.

Jen2 · Jun 23, 2003

Sorry, me again. If you have any other questions pleases feel free to PM me. I will help in any way I can. I wish you the best of luck and let us know what you decide.

Ortho_RN · Jun 23, 2003

Honestly.. Beings as you are working as a Nursing Assistant, I would think you would have a pretty good view of what a nurse does, and whether you are ready for it or not.. I don't see where being a MA would be that much of a benefit for you.. Go for the RN and you will know whether you are ready or not once you get going... Or go for your LPN, either way you are closer to what your ultimate goal is..

Good Luck :)

Cynthiann · Jun 23, 2003

Like everyone else said, just go for it. Especially since you are already a nursing asisstant, I don't see how being an MA would help you. It will mean it will take much more time to become a nurse. Good luck - let us know what you decide to do.

TeresaRN2b · Jun 24, 2003

No way, no how would I recommend it. I went to be a medical assistant when my husband was in the Navy because I knew we wouldn't be staying still long enough to finish my RN degree. It is a big regret I have. I so wish I would have gone to be an LPN instead. Most LPN programs are comprable in length to MA programs, but in my honest opinion medical assistant programs are much much easier. If you are questioning going straight for your RN degree go for your LPN first, but don't waste your time going to be a MA. If you go for your LPN most schools offer a bridge program for your RN degree so you wouldn't have to go nearly as long, but if you go for your MA you still will be looking at the same amount of time. Not to mention the pay for MAs is not great. Honestly where I live I have seen CNAs making more than MAs. The only people I would recommend go to be an MA are people that want to work in a doctors office as a nurse. If that's where your ideal place to work is then absolutely go for it, but if you want to be an RN in the future I wouldn't do it. Look into LPN programs instead.

Teresa

jopadeevra · Jun 26, 2003

I am in the same situation (and the same state!) deep down I think the RN is the way to go, but I'm a bit scared. The biggest pluses about the MA is no weekends and holidays, and if you work in the right place you can do lab work and take x-rays as well as the regular duties. I'm registered to take A&P 1 in the Fall (assuming I'm going for the RN), but I am still filled with uncertainty. Sorry I don't have any advice, but it's nice to know there's somebody out there in the same boat!

princess20 · Jun 26, 2003

Good morning to everyone!!! I am very pleased by all the positive comments I have recieved. I have to make my decision extremly fast. I am going for the medical assistant courses. I have to choose my major so I know what to take in the fall. I have been accepted into the med assistant program already. I just changed my major Yesterday morining and already I can start in the fall only if nursing was that simple to get in I would go for nursing. I am going to climb the ladder and then determine if nursing is a good fit for me. I am 21 years old I can always go back when the schools waiting lists die down. In a year or two I will take some classes here and there. and eventually become a registered nurse. I would like to have my career done by the time I am in my late twenty's. I am in no rush. I want to make sure I am making the right decision. Again thank you all for your posts.

FutureNurse2005 · Jun 26, 2003

I just graduated from a Medical Office Assistant program. I took it as an introduction to the medical field. I have learned so much from it!

I think it is a wonderful stepping stone to becoming a nurse.

Best of luck to you!

Jen2 · Jun 26, 2003

Princess

Congrats on deciding what is right for you at this point in your life. Since you chose the MA route, let me give you some advice. When you graduate try to get into a clinic or a PCP office. This way you will get to see much more than in a specialists office. When I first got out of MA school I worked for a PCP and then went to a large GI specialty practice. Unfortunately, I let myself forget all the things I learned from my previouse job. However I could tell you anything about GI. Also a lot of things are self taught. Don't get your diploma and then say OK I graduated I don't have to learn anymore. Keep reading up on things and be current with whats going on, this will help you a great deal when you decide to continue your ed. into nursing. I wish you the best of luck.

straba · Jun 28, 2003

I have been a Medical Assistant for 5 years. I had no previous medical experience prior to MA school. I took the course as a way to get my foot in the door, and see if this field was right for me. It was the best thing I ever did. I love the medical field, and now that i'm in nursing school I feel confident that I made the right choice.