HCA/CNA/CMA/LPN/RN/NP/PA-C

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I am new to this but I decided to join because I am going to school to be an MA and I have heard all the good and bad things associated with MA but I am choosing this route for a few different reasons

1. Every Nursing Program in my area has a waiting list

2. I want to get myself reacquainted with being in school (its been a while)

3. I want to make sure before I invest years and money into a Nursing program that the medical field is truly where I want to be I know I want to help people but I need to know if this is where I want to be

4. I live in NY and I see that there are so many MA jobs available I also see that the pay rate for an LPN is not a great deal more than that of an MA (at least in this location)

Also I want to address that I currently have a worked in the accounting field for the last 8 years but before that my first job was a developmental assistant at a mental health facility when I was in High School after that I received my CNA license and worked in a Nursing Home for a while..I also worked in a hospital as a Patient Service Associate. I understand the difference between all of the titles and I think that each role is vital. It really saddens me when I see MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS debating over who does the most work and who gets paid the most money. I think that for the most part if not in the beginning of our education but at least upon the completion of it we have an idea of what opportunities we have. We know that any setting dealing with different personalities is a difficult task..We also know that it is ALL of our jobs to make sure that we are providing the best care for every patient..I have no respect of persons meaning titles mean nothing to me. When I walk into my doctor's office I expect someone who is knowledgeable and comforting. I don't want someone who is upset because the RN/LPN/ or CMA makes more money or does less work or whatever the case may be.. I think because I have been at the very bottom of the medical chain and am working my way up it is easier for me to appreciate every position also I was stuck behind a desk for 8 years and hated that but the same rules applied there

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Will move this to general nursing forum so that you will get more replies.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Medical assisting is not nursing. Medical assisting will not give you a taste of what nursing is like, which is contrary to popular belief.

I completed a medical assisting program in 2000, and was unable to ever land a job. At that time, I lived in the greater Los Angeles area and saw tons of MA job openings in the local newspapers.

I completed an LPN program in 2005, and am now enrolled in an RN program. The medical assistant training did not come in handy because nursing requires a drastically different orientation to patient care, as well as a uniquely different model of thinking one's way through challenging situations. Medical assisting is more task-oriented.

I noticed you entitled this discussion "HCA/CNA/CMA/LPN/RN/NP/PA-C." Keep in mind that, while we're all in healthcare, CMAs (certified medical assistants) and PA-Cs (certified physician assistants) are part of the medical model, not the nursing model. The medical model has a focus that totally differs from that of the nursing model.

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I am well aware of the difference between the 2 titles and I wrote the original post at 3am so it may be a little confusing or misleading. I have thoroughly researched each of the roles titled in this post. The reason I put them all together is because most common folks do not know the difference.. I spent an hour explaining to my 65 year old aunt the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and MD...If most people do not see MD they assume you are a nurse. At the hospital here everyone wears scrubs even the cafeteria staff I hear people yelling Nurse to kids working after school jobs at the hospital that's why i posted the title that way. The reason i started out explaining why I was going into the MA program is so that I wouldn't be crucified by the people who are totally against the MA program. So I will state a few more things..I don't mind going to school for one year and being an MA while waiting for a Nursing program to be available in my area. I know that credits from Vocational schools normally do not transfer but I look at it this way..I could just sit around a year waiting and working where I am maybe make more money and say screw the medical field..Or I can get into a program that is almost like Pre-K to the Health Industry..I can learn some medical terminology,a little medical law and even do an externship in a clinic setting. To me that is way better preparation for a Nursing program than sitting at my desk compiling a revenue report. I guess everyone can look at it in different ways and we are all entitled to our opinions and beliefs..I just think that if more medical personnel worked together there would not be such a huge shortage..Most people I know that left the field left because of other medical workers not the nature of the work..(Just my experiences and observations)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

You mention that you don't care about titles, and only care that you have someone competent taking care of you when you go to your doctor's office. I respect that, as I'm sure anyone else here can, too. The biggest issue I see on this board that nurses have with MA's is the ones that call themselves "nurses," as in "I am Dr. X's nurse"....because that is not true. As I'm sure you're well aware, "Nurse" is a protected title, and there is a reason for that. I have no disrespect for any member of the healthcare field, as long as they represent themselves accurately and appropriately.

I wish you luck in whatever path you choose. No one is going to knock you for the choices you want to make. Just pointing out the differences between being a nurse or being an MA, as they ARE different fields, with different focuses. An MA isn't a version of a nurse, if that's your ultimate goal. I DO think that any healthcare related education WILL help you if/when you decide to go on for nursing (with terminology and the like), but that's also the point at which you'll really see the difference between the two.

Best of luck.

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I totally understand that part I would never call myself a Nurse knowing that I was an MA..In accounting there would be entry level clerks who called themselves accountants as well seasonal tax preparers who took a course at H&R block and call themselves book keepers...Then you had the book keepers who may have went to a vocational school who were losing positions to Admins who were fluent in Quickbooks and Excel..That used to **** me off and because I never completed a Bachelor program in Accounting I never called myself an accountant.Not only that I did not want the work that the CFO and Supervisor of accounting had to deal with so I made it quite clear when people would bring it up I would always say I work in Accounting as for a job title my professional title was pretty much created by the company but I was an Internal Account Manager but at the end of the day I did a little of everything..I don't like when people do not properly identify themselves because when it comes to liability they definitely will not take that responsibility...

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I have been a Certified Medical Assistant for 6 years. I loved being an MA, I never stated I was a nurse, and I made sure to correct others in this fact. I learned a lot of things being an MA, partially because I chose to learn and explore all of the areas I could as an MA. I am a nursing student, and God willing will be a nurse in approximately 11 months (I figure in the time it takes me to pass my NCLEX :wink2:). Being an MA taught me a lot of physical skills (injections, dressing changes, med administration) that have helped me in my nursing education. It also taught me how to be comfortable with patients especially in what can be uncomfortable situations with them (assisting with a male physician doing the patient's first Pap test comes to mind!). I have yet to have a clinical instructor who does not tell me that I am one of their best students clnically - never mind how I stupid I actually feel as a student, it never shows to the patient. I see more MAs that are inadequate than I have seen in nurses, I think because of the level of education required for any kind of nursing (whether RN or LPN/LVN), but even nurses are not immune. I know that people get down on MAs on this board, but I had a great experience and I learned a lot. Partially because I worked with great docs who were willing to answer my constant questions. I still see the docs that I worked for, and some that I used to work for have been at my current clinicals. They are quite pleased and proud of my progress. So am I :yeah:. Being an MA doesn't mean you have to be one forever or that you are "wasting time" or any of those things. Make sure you find a good school - and check it out - and find out how MAs in your area are treated and their capabilities (varies by state), and even wages. But don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing your dreams in your time.

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I totally understand that part I would never call myself a Nurse knowing that I was an MA..In accounting there would be entry level clerks who called themselves accountants as well seasonal tax preparers who took a course at H&R block and call themselves book keepers...Then you had the book keepers who may have went to a vocational school who were losing positions to Admins who were fluent in Quickbooks and Excel..That used to **** me off and because I never completed a Bachelor program in Accounting I never called myself an accountant.Not only that I did not want the work that the CFO and Supervisor of accounting had to deal with so I made it quite clear when people would bring it up I would always say I work in Accounting as for a job title my professional title was pretty much created by the company but I was an Internal Account Manager but at the end of the day I did a little of everything..I don't like when people do not properly identify themselves because when it comes to liability they definitely will not take that responsibility...

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