LPN vs MA

caliotter3 · Dec 2, 2014

There are far more opportunities in the long run should you obtain an LPN license versus the MA certificate.

Parakeet · Dec 2, 2014

But what are they? I cannot really find any difference, except that an MA does have some office training as well. So far, I am not looking to go above an LPN, so I need to know the differences in the clinical work between an MA or LPN

Nienna Celebrindal · Dec 2, 2014

Difference between a Medical Assistant and Licensed Practical Nurse

the difference is pretty big imo. What are you hoping to do?

caliotter3 · Dec 2, 2014

You can work in many more nursing arenas as an LPN, than as an MA. MAs typically work in clinics and private doctor's offices. You won't find them in areas as diverse as a med-surg floor in a hospital, doing home health intermittent visits, or acting as the first line supervisor in a care home, just to name a few. Go to the major job boards, such as indeed dot com or monster dot com and look at the different postings for LPN versus MA. Don't look just for number of postings, look for the type of work environment being mentioned. Also keep in mind that an MA starting in an office setting may be getting paid $9 or $10 an hour, where an LPN in the same community could be starting out in a LTC facility or hh job, at $21 to $24 an hour. For the run of the mill available job, this difference is consistent.

fawnmarie, ASN · Dec 3, 2014

Pursue your LPN license! You will be glad you chose the LPN route over the MA route!

Parakeet · Dec 3, 2014

I am honestly not looking for pay. Since I want to go into medical missions overseas, that would not be a big choice either. Both programs I am looking at are the same amount of time. I have researched both, but it seems like the only difference is that the MA gets some office training. What I really need is a list of pros and cons. So far, the sites I have looked like do not have much of a difference. I took the NLN test last Monday, and I will find out in March if I made it in to the Practical nursing program. I guess if I don't, then I will go into MA.

Another question is: do LPN's draw blood? That is one skill I would like to have. I also heard that nurses can gain skill certificates, and I was wondering what different ones I could obtain. It has been slightly hard, because so far, I have only heard people talk about how inferior LPNs are to RNs. Now I know that they all work together, but surely one position does not cancel out the other? I decided to work from the bottom up because it is easier for me to apply practical matters than theory. That may come with time later!

Parakeet · Dec 4, 2014

Do LPNs work at all at hospitals anymore? I thought that most hospitals were replacing them with RNs. I would love to work in a hospital environment for experience, but it seems to be less and less possible.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 4, 2014

Do LPNs work at all at hospitals anymore? I thought that most hospitals were replacing them with RNs. I would love to work in a hospital environment for experience, but it seems to be less and less possible.

Yes LVNs can draw blood & work in hospitals. It depends where you work but in my area they still hire LVNs in hospitals. Some hospitals don't hire LVNs any more, some do. Do a search of hospitals in your area & see if they hire LVNs. RNs don't cancel out LVNs.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2014

Do LPNs work at all at hospitals anymore? I thought that most hospitals were replacing them with RNs. I would love to work in a hospital environment for experience, but it seems to be less and less possible.

I work at a specialty hospital that employs both MAs and LPNs. The LPNs are utilized as primary nurses, and therefore, provide care to their own patients. On the other hand, the MAs are utilized as unit secretaries who perform tasks such as filing, scanning documents, answering phones, faxing, obtaining signatures, and completing the midnight census update.

I am honestly not looking for pay.

You might be saying that the money is not important now, but try living off $10 per hour and see how far that takes you. Then again, I suppose some people actually enjoy living from hand to mouth. I also do not know of any MAs who go on medical missions.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Dec 4, 2014

I am honestly not looking for pay. Since I want to go into medical missions overseas, that would not be a big choice either.

Nurses are able to go on medical missions; although most who are able to do nursing care overseas are RNs

Both programs I am looking at are the same amount of time. I have researched both, but it seems like the only difference is that the MA gets some office training. What I really need is a list of pros and cons. So far, the sites I have looked like do not have much of a difference. I took the NLN test last Monday, and I will find out in March if I made it in to the Practical nursing program. I guess if I don't, then I will go into MA.

Sorry, but I implore you to do more tea search on the role of the LPN; MAs are NO WAY near an LPNs education, experience, or scope, heck even pay; not knocking MAs, but the amount of cost for their education and their limited scope and pay is NOT worth the amount that most programs are going for; you will be a licensed nurse, that has the ability to working in a variety of settings and gain experience in the nursing model, which will transcend into gain more education and opportunities if you desire such, especially if you want to be active in being a part of medical missions.

Your best be is to look into the Department of Occupations website and compare professional roles as well as salaries; Google it and take a look.

Another question is: do LPN's draw blood? That is one skill I would like to have. I also heard that nurses can gain skill certificates, and I was wondering what different ones I could obtain. It has been slightly hard, because so far, I have only heard people talk about how inferior LPNs are to RNs. Now I know that they all work together, but surely one position does not cancel out the other? I decided to work from the bottom up because it is easier for me to apply practical matters than theory. That may come with time later!

A few things:

LPNs can draw blood, become IV therapy certified, wound care certified, can work in home health, specialty hospitals, corrections, medical daycares, adult daycares, LTC, Sub Acute.

As a former LPN, I have NEVER felt inferior nor did anyone think that I was; if they did, they didn't tell me to my face, or don't understand what LPNs do; or I didn't care; my nursing practice spoke for my competence; and that experience was able to transcend into a RN career and be sought out for my experiences.

When you hear that BS it inferiority, it's best to ignore it.

,

PD82 · Dec 4, 2014

I graduated MA school in 2011, and graduate tomorrow from a LVN program.

They are completely different careers! As an MA you will be utilized in doctor's offices doing front and back office work. You will do vital signs and basic lab stuff like urinalysis and strep tests. In school you will also learn very thorough phlebotomy and injections. Your medical knowledge won't go much higher than that because your job will not be to treat or to assess. And that job works just fine for a lot of people.

As a LVN, a nurse, you will learn how the "what,where,when,how,pathophysiology" of disease process and illness. You will live and breath medications and who/when to give them. You will assess and treat, you will be responsible for people lives. Phlebotomy, injections, IV's....the list of duties goes on and on.

If medical missions are what you plan to do, then nursing school is your better option. MA's and LVN's have a different scope of knowledge and responsibilities and it sounds like you are aiming for a nursing role.