LPN versus CMA

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I was thinking at first of going for my Medical Assistant degree, since I want to work in a clinic so badly. I heard so much about how LPN's are getting phased out and only CMA's are getting jobs at clinics, and CMA's are higher up than LPN's. This of course coming from recruters from CMA programs. It would seem that the only difference between CMA's and LPN's are the fact that Med Asst's. get training in lab and x-ray. Well, I already am a certified Phlebotomist, and so I have that going. Any of you guys and gals work alongside Med Assts? Anyone work in clinics? :balloons:

Oh no, see I know what they do. I've asked around and such, and I hear that in a clinical setting they'll take CMA's or LPN's. I was just wondering if I wanted to work in a clinic, if I were up against a CMA, as an LPN I wonder if I'd get the job?

I am not going for my CMA though, mind you. I am starting the LPN program at St. Paul Tech in the fall. I don't, however, have any desire to work in a nursing home or LTC. I know it seems that it's a touchy subject when it comes to that, but I know I work better with kids. I really would like to work in a clinc, and I figure that since I have a degree in phlebotomy that would help me a little. I could also take a continuing ed. class in x-ray, if I had the money! No, I was just wanting to get an opinion from the LPN side of things. (Since I have already heard about CMA's up the wazoo. And, as a matter of fact, I had this woman who was recruting tell me that CMA's can write prescriptions.) I'll give her the benifit of the doubt and assume she was talking about Physicians Assistants. :uhoh21:

Oh no....

Specializes in Physical Rehab, Psych, MMTP, HIV/HCV.

There are no CMAs in my outpatient clinic. Only LPNs and 1-2 RNs. In our company's other satellite sites there are LPN's, very few RN's and 2-3 APRNs then the docs, of course, but still no CMA's. I guess it depends on the clinic and the need. Do what works for you in your area.

Specializes in Addiction.
It is true, the MA is a bit more skill directed; no nursing process involved. Also, there is no division between med-surg, peds; etc... they learn office skills to function in assisting the physician.

I'm interested to know the cirriculum being taught in your school. How long were you an instructor? I was interested in doing it myself at some point in my nursing career. Great to know that LPNs also can teach.

I am currently teaching in the program in addition to having a small private alcohol & drug counseling practice & helping the school I work in jumpstart and LPN Program. The CMA cirriculum is very skill based. The A&P is minimal and the health issues content is slim. It's more about getting them prepared to walk into an office, take v/s, room patients w/o much depth in what they are doing. For example, I teach the technical skill of doing an EKG but they have no concept of what it means. Everything they learn is based on "what does your doctor want you to do in this situation"

I am in no way degrading them because like I said in a previous post. They are hard working and this gives them a chance to get into the field and start making a living in a hurry.

But, it is NOT NURSING!!!!

;)

if yoiu ever want to continue on in you education go thru the LPN school at a local community college so that some of your credits will carry over, career schools education will not transfer at regular colleges. I work in one of the largest hospitals in ohio - the trend here is hiring nurse practioners and lpn's. The NP's can bill for services, RN's can't - the LPN then performs what the NP orders - All LPN's must have IV certification here. We are cheaper to pay for-there fore there are less Rn's and more LPN's

I work in an out patient radiation oncology clinic. Recently all MA positions were phased out here in the cancer center, also studies have shown patients do better under liscensed personel. Just FYI

Hi, I'm an MA. I have not taken the test to get certified yet, as it really doesn't make a difference in pay for me in Washington state. I have worked in cardiology and dermatology clinics. At both clinics LPN's and MA's were allowed to do the same things. Actually I had more training in phlebotomy than most of the LPN's did. But basically we assisted the doctor. Help with minor surgeries, refill meds, phlebotomy, vitals, ekgs. One is not necessarily better. I think it is much easier to advance as an LPN though. :rolleyes:

:nono:

What I hate the most is that CMA'S call themselves nurses. I mean if they call someone up they say "hello, this is so and so ,the nurse from doctor so and so's office" It makes my skin crawl. I don't know why it gets to me so bad it just does. I was a CNA for a year and I never called myself a nurse,until I was one. CMA does not stand for nurse... and I know what will happen if they end up in the urgent care,we will end up doing all the nurse duties and they will do the easy work and our company wants to pay them almost the same as we are getting paid. The problem here though is that the management have no medical education and have no idea about the differences between CMA and LPN's. It makes me crazy.

Why do you have to put all CMA's into the same category. I never called myself a nurse because I thought that was disrespectful to the nurses I worked with. We know we dont have as much education as a nurse. But I loathe when LPN's act like they are so much better. Believe me, I worked with a few LPN's that knew less than me as an MA, both of us right out of school. Where I am from we do the same duties in a clinical setting. We both work for the doctor and the RN!

quote=niteshiftlvn07;2315512]:monkeydance:I applaud any one who get's off their butt to go out and seek education:balloons: I'm happy that some aspects of nursing duties are delegated out to cna's, med aides, CMA'S ,etc... But, as an LVN I'm annoyed when I see job postings that say cma/lvn or cma or lvn only because I KNOW these careers are not interchangable. It's the dr's/management/HR/ that are trying to save a buck that's contributing to the rift between lvn's and cma's.I worked at a public clinic(agency) and the cma's took vitals signs,collected urine/bm/sputum/blood samples(no catheterizations or i.v. draws, no shots). The nurses or phleb. tech drew I.V. blood samples, and the nurses gave immunizations, neb treatments, EKG'S, etc.. A cma working at a private clinic/dr. office may do all of these task because there are no nurses or the nurses may be used in other capacities.

I've also heard that they're doing away with the LPN program at Forsyth Tech. How true that is, I have no idea. I decided to change to LPN a couple months ago, so I haven't had chance to talk to my advisor. I just hope I can get in by next Fall. If they had a Spring class, then I would be able to get in it (assuming I pass A&P and get a good grade), but they only have Fall admission for the LPN program. I wish advising day would hurry up so I can get some answers.

I didn't know that ECPI had an LPN program.

I just graduated from the LPN program at Forsyth Tech and 2 of my friends will be starting there next month. Guess they're not doing away with the LPN program.

I dont think it fair to say one is better then another. Being in the Nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. Doesn't it? Shouldn't that be all that matters?

I am a NRCMA, I graduated with a 3.67 GPA on the Deans list, and I know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. I do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if I wanted to I could work along with surgeons, However I have never called myself a Nurse (yet anyway) I started out doing the BSN program with a 3.6 GPA and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where I want to be (CRNA) Being a CMA is a stepping stone for me. One that lets me work while Im in school. LPN is my next step, and then RN. Being a working CMA allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what I love, Helping patients. In all aspects, I am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. Just because I have a different title beside my name does not mean I am not capable, or able to do what LPNs and Rn's do, it just means Im not licenced to do them yet. Every one has to learn, and Im sure some of you newer LPN's and RN's still struggle with certain aspects of your Job. Shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.
I dont think it fair to say one is better then another. Being in the Nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. Doesn't it? Shouldn't that be all that matters?

Yes, that matters, but a CMA is not in the "nursing profession". They are in the "healthcare profession"

I am a NRCMA, I graduated with a 3.67 GPA on the Deans list, and I know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. I do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if I wanted to I could work along with surgeons, However I have never called myself a Nurse (yet anyway) I started out doing the BSN program with a 3.6 GPA and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where I want to be (CRNA) Being a CMA is a stepping stone for me. One that lets me work while Im in school. LPN is my next step, and then RN. Being a working CMA allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what I love, Helping patients. In all aspects, I am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. Just because I have a different title beside my name does not mean I am not capable, or able to do what LPNs and Rn's do, it just means Im not licenced to do them yet. Every one has to learn, and Im sure some of you newer LPN's and RN's still struggle with certain aspects of your Job. Shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

My bold. It is fabulous that you are furthering your education to reach your ultimate goal. However, I'm willing to bet that when you finish your RN program, you will look back on this way of thinking and shake your head. If your current education is CMA and on your way to being an LPN, I'm guessing you don't know even 25% of what an RN knows, or the skills she/he knows. You may THINK you do, but I don't see how you possibly could, without having that RN degree.

It's not all about "titles". It's about the education, licensing, and doing the skills in a clinical setting.

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

you have a lot to learn about nursing. your way of thinking will change once you get into a nursing program and figure out that nursing is a much more complex process all around. i have been a cma/rma and it does not compare to what you have to know as a nurse. don't bet you know more than the charge nurse if you have never been to nursing school or even worked as a nurse..that is just silly.

i dont think it fair to say one is better then another. being in the nursing profession, just means you have a compassion to help others. doesn't it? shouldn't that be all that matters?

i am a nrcma, i graduated with a 3.67 gpa on the deans list, and i know so much more about nursing then the charge nurse thats works with us. i do anything from vitals to venipuncture and if i wanted to i could work along with surgeons, however i have never called myself a nurse (yet anyway) i started out doing the bsn program with a 3.6 gpa and just decided there were to many unnecessary courses to get me to where i want to be (crna) being a cma is a stepping stone for me. one that lets me work while im in school. lpn is my next step, and then rn. being a working cma allows me to better my skills, keep my terminology fresh, and do what i love, helping patients. in all aspects, i am a nurse/caregiver/phlebotomist/technician/ and anything else that fits here. just because i have a different title beside my name does not mean i am not capable, or able to do what lpns and rn's do, it just means im not licenced to do them yet. every one has to learn, and im sure some of you newer lpn's and rn's still struggle with certain aspects of your job. shouldn't you be willing to help teach us instead of bashing and downing us for essentially doing what you do "helping others"

LOL this argument seems so familiar. Just like the ones the RN's and LPN's have from time 2 time. We are all nurses, just on different levels. When I was a CNA, i was someone's nurse. I called myself a nurse. Now that i'm an LPN, I am someone's nurse, I call myself a nurse. If, the CMA call themselves nurses, why are we mad? Just like RN's and LPN's, the RN's will always be in a higher pay grade then the LPN even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind RN's can do things that LPN's can't). The LPN's will always be in a higher pay grade the CMA's even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind LPN's can do things that CMA's can't). We are all valuable for what we do. In my opinion, if you want to work in any nursing setting that you can, and make as much as you can, and have no question about who is over who, then become a RN with your masters. Because guess what even RN's have this argument amongst themselves, who's higher, who should get more pay, ADN or BSN.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
LOL this argument seems so familiar. Just like the ones the RN's and LPN's have from time 2 time. We are all nurses, just on different levels. When I was a CNA, i was someone's nurse. I called myself a nurse. Now that i'm an LPN, I am someone's nurse, I call myself a nurse. If, the CMA call themselves nurses, why are we mad? Just like RN's and LPN's, the RN's will always be in a higher pay grade then the LPN even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind RN's can do things that LPN's can't). The LPN's will always be in a higher pay grade the CMA's even if we do the same thing (but keep in mind LPN's can do things that CMA's can't). We are all valuable for what we do. In my opinion, if you want to work in any nursing setting that you can, and make as much as you can, and have no question about who is over who, then become a RN with your masters. Because guess what even RN's have this argument amongst themselves, who's higher, who should get more pay, ADN or BSN.

Only issue is that not all of the titles you mentioned are nurses. Nursing assistants and Medical assistants are not nurses, they are ancillary staff. Yes, it is true, that LPNs and RNs have had this same war. Many times, this war comes between the LPNs and RNs because depending on where we work, the scope of practice is so vague that at times, that it causes confusion. However, there is a far cry from what a medical assistant learns in his/her course versus what any nurse learns in theirs. It is like apples and oranges.

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