Is this worth my time?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 4, 2014

What do you know about nursing? Have you had in-depth discussions with working nurses? Have you researched job prospects in your area.....and do you know what the likelihood of acceptance into a nursing program is in area colleges?

Need to know what YOU know first, before offering much help. Medical Assistant and Nurse are about as different as X-ray Tech and Oncologist.

danthemanwhocan · Sep 4, 2014

What do you know about nursing? Have you had in-depth discussions with working nurses? Have you researched job prospects in your area.....and do you know what the likelihood of acceptance into a nursing program is in area colleges?
Need to know what YOU know first, before offering much help. Medical Assistant and Nurse are about as different as X-ray Tech and Oncologist.

have friends over here in the US that are nurses and have spoken with them in great depth about their average day. I was also going to go into med school in the UK before I moved over to the US. But they didn't accept my A-levels at WOU so I had to start literally two years of pre reqs again. Then life happened and I was never able to continue my BS in Biology/Exercise Science.

I haven't much looked in to work prospects in OR, but It will be at least 4 years until I graduate; assuming that I get it all done within that time frame. I would like to know the options en route to nursing before I make the final destination on what roads I want to drive down.

I am a family man now and as such have responsibilities that I can't just drop at a hat and go to Uni. The down side is the bank pays quite well, I realise MA may not be as good as banking however I am also sure that the interaction with patients in a clinical setting as an MA would at the most be beneficial and at the least irrelevant.

I understand the gulf in not only education but responsibility, however surely ANY experience interacting with patients in a clinical setting regardless of the role that you possess must be a decent thing to have on a resume, plus the shot administration.

Hope that provides more insight and thank you for your time.

I would like a plan of what to do

loriangel14, RN · Sep 4, 2014

If you want to be a nurse why would you become an MA?

Peanut&Buttercup · Sep 5, 2014

Perhaps a LPN/LVN program would be better suited for you. A MA, at least as I understand, is a different beast than a nurse. If you become a MA, few, if any, of your credits would transfer to a RN program, if you decide to go down that route.

On the other hand, a LPN/LVN (the name depends on the state) can "bridge" to an RN program.

All the different entry points can be a bit confusing, so it's good that you are asking questions and doing research on what's best for you. Good luck!

ceccia · Sep 5, 2014

imho you should go directly for what you actually want. if you want to be a nurse, go straight for a nursing program. don't waste your time taking detours.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2014

Good day, danthemanwhocan:

There are no bridge programs that I'm aware of for an MA to become an RN; plus, a number of MA schools are such that any classes you take there may not transfer to an RN program. Therefore, go for a LPN (LPN to RN bridges are available) or an RN.

Thank you.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 5, 2014

If you know for sure that you want to be a nurse -- become a nurse. Don't waste time, energy and MONEY on a bunch of other stuff you don't need. Go to a BSN program right away if that is possible for you.

If a BSN program is not possible for you, then start with an ADN or LPN program. From there, you can do a bridge program (possibly getting some financial help from your employer) to get the higher level BSN, etc.

If you want to start somewhere even shorter and less expensive that ADN or LPN ... become a CNA, not an MA. As a CNA, you will be part of the nursing staff and be headed in a nursing direction. CNA programs tend to be shorter and cheaper than MA programs.

Unless, of course, what you really want to be is an MA and do that type of work for a considerable amount of time.

hayitsbrittney · Sep 5, 2014

I would suggest going straight for nursing and possibly get a CNA job part time for the personal experience. I've worked as an MA for the past 5 years and am now applying for an ADN program.

I became a MA because I was not sure what it was I wanted to really do in life at that time. I am thankful for choosing this route because it opened my eyes to what more I could accomplish in the medical field, but I have been in a primary care setting, and I will tell you that it gets redundant and tiresome...and the pay is not so great.

If you have the willingness to become a nurse, don't put it off and spend wasted time and money getting a certification that won't transfer when you decide to further yourself.

*just a little two cents from a medical assistant (=