Is becoming an MA still worth it ?

Neo Soldier, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2018

I don't think being a Medical assistant is worth it. It has little to do with patient care. You're essentially a secretary. If you want something that will count, become a CNA. This will give you patient experience. In my school, being a CNA counts in your application and when it comes to clinical, I don't that my CNA experience made me comfortable with patients.

Take a quick 4 week (or less) CNA class before you start the nursing program.

Sour Lemon · Jun 25, 2018

No, it's not worth it ...whatever "it" is.

Wannabenurseneko · Jun 25, 2018

I don't think being a Medical assistant is worth it. It has little to do with patient care. You're essentially a secretary. If you want something that will count, become a CNA. This will give you patient experience. In my school, being a CNA counts in your application and when it comes to clinical, I don't that my CNA experience made me comfortable with patients.
Take a quick 4 week (or less) CNA class before you start the nursing program.

I'm already a CNA ,but I'm planning on leaving it for something else .

PRican, CNA · Jul 10, 2018

I don't think being a Medical assistant is worth it. It has little to do with patient care. You're essentially a secretary.

This is not true. Medical assistants do their fair share of patient care. No, they do not do patient care in the bedside setting but usually in the outpatient setting. They perform phlebotomy, EKGs, assist the Physician in surgical procedures, collect urinalysis and cultures, perform basic lab tests, give injections, and other tasks requested by the Physician. Yes, they do perform administrative tasks in the front office, but also they can work patient care in the back office.

Even Physician Assistant programs recognize medical assisting as patient care experience.

PRican, CNA · Jul 10, 2018

Any patient care experience is worth it. I think a CNA certification and a medical assisting certification work beautifully together, especially if you work in the hospital like me. The only thing about medical assisting programs are that they can be expensive unless you attend a local community college, where you can use grants to pay for tuition. This is what I plan on doing.

Some nursing programs will give you extra points for any kind of patient care experience, some won't. It depends on the college you are attending or plan on attending. You should definitely find out the college's nursing program requirements.

Yes, you having phlebotomy experience can help in the MA course and even in the nursing program. Any patient care experience helps.

My question is why do you plan on leaving the CNA field? Do you work in a nursing home, home health, or the hospital? Just curious.

caliotter3 · Jul 10, 2018

In order for MA to be worth it, it would help to be able to get an MA job. Not happening where I live. But when preparing for nursing school, many admissions processes give credit for, or even require, a CNA certificate and/or CNA work experience. CNA work is abundant.

Nurseeverywhere, CNA, LVN · Jul 11, 2018

I am not sure where you are but here in San Diego, CA medical assistants are being phased out of clinic settings that are attached to hospitals. I know that is not true in all parts of the country so you really have to look at your market. LVNs will be taking the place of MAs in office and urgent care settings throughout the county for Sharp and Kaiser here.

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 13, 2018

Any patient care experience is worth it. I think a CNA certification and a medical assisting certification work beautifully together, especially if you work in the hospital like me. The only thing about medical assisting programs are that they can be expensive unless you attend a local community college, where you can use grants to pay for tuition. This is what I plan on doing.
Some nursing programs will give you extra points for any kind of patient care experience, some won't. It depends on the college you are attending or plan on attending. You should definitely find out the college's nursing program requirements.
Yes, you having phlebotomy experience can help in the MA course and even in the nursing program. Any patient care experience helps.
My question is why do you plan on leaving the CNA field? Do you work in a nursing home, home health, or the hospital? Just curious.

I'm planning to leave, because lately the CNA agencies in my state have gotten a shifty . They are refusing to pay their employees, holding checks for months, and paying below minimum wage.Also punishing employees ,who wanting to further their education by cutting hours , or even days . For one company I was limited to working just one day a week, because I told them months ahead that I will be going ,back to school I still made time for them to work five days a week every morning , but apparently for them I need to available every minute . Another company that I went with, punishment was only getting jobs every three months ,and some telling me flat out in order to work for them I need to quit school. I am pretty much fed up . I also have a friend whose 's boss (not the same company) held her check for months, causing her to miss her rent . Luckily for me I still live with my parents ,but because of these companies antics for the first time in my life., I had to ask my mom to pay my phone, bill and I wasn't able to help my parents pay the rent. I am fed up and can't keep going on like this, I have decided that I'll go back to working as a cashier because I never had to deal with this, and I always got my pay check on time.

I can't even afford to buy myself a five dollar lunch, that's how low I'm being paid and I was job hunting that's when I heard ( we won't take anyone who is going to school.)

Things are getting foul out there and I no longer want to be apart of it or tolerate this mess .

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 13, 2018

In order for MA to be worth it, it would help to be able to get an MA job. Not happening where I live. But when preparing for nursing school, many admissions processes give credit for, or even require, a CNA certificate and/or CNA work experience. CNA work is abundant.

I have CNA work experience. I'm rethinking the MA thing and might just focus on my nursing pre-requisite and getting into nursing school .

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 13, 2018

I am not sure where you are but here in San Diego, CA medical assistants are being phased out of clinic settings that are attached to hospitals. I know that is not true in all parts of the country so you really have to look at your market. LVNs will be taking the place of MAs in office and urgent care settings throughout the county for Sharp and Kaiser here.

I had no idea that LPN/LVNs will be taking the place of MAs in the office ,because I was hearing it the other way around for a while. I'm not sure about MAs in my state . I am thinking that I will just focus on nursing prerequisites and getting into nursing school . I think when I am done with all my pre-requsites; I will go back as working as a CNA part time , but with all this shifty stuff going on now I will find work else where .

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 13, 2018

My question is why do you plan on leaving the CNA field? Do you work in a nursing home, home health, or the hospital? Just curious.

I forgot to answer this part I do currently work in home health.

I can not work in the nursing home, because for some reason. In my state you can't go to school and work for these guys ,you have to have a flexible schedule as they want you working morning and evenings now. And do not take kindly to working students or CNAs who want to become nurses . They have this policy if you want to work for us, you have to quit school, or don't go to school if you want to keep in our good graces. This explains when I was in the nursing home I saw many CNAS that were 40 to 50+ working the job since they were 18 years old . Although I don't think there is any shame working as a CNA for years or at an older age . It really is sad that these companies in my state will try to prevent CNAs from furthering their education for higher paying jobs wither it be nursing or anything else. I've only been working this field for year ,but my experience is not very good .

The hospital , I've been trying to get in there for a while sending my resume over and over and according to them I need to take EKG classes to get in (which I can't afford right now due to being paid so poorly . )

This is the reason why I am leaving, I have reached my wits end and I can not take it anymore. I didn't expect much pay in this field ,but I should be able to pay my phone bill, to buy myself lunch and to help out with the rent .