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:

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

what i said was do not bet you know more than your charge nurse, when you not even a nurse...

im not here to impress anyone!

i never said i was superior to anyone! im not. im quite sure there are those who are better than i. what was meant by my statement was a.) ill have x amount of years in varying medical fields and settings (diversity) and b.)ill have had twice the schooling then the average lpn/rn meaning i will out qualify quite a few of you!

was i not told in a previous post that until i knew what i was talking about i was just being silly? im just trying to prove a point! i guess my title will be nrcma/rn. does that mean im better than any one? absolutely not! it just means i went to school for a long time! and i might have some valuable information/resources for some one else should they need them! it also means i can teach!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
apparently you didn't read my post, i did go to a 4 year nursing school! i left, i did the psychology, microbiology, and chemistry and passed each class with nothing less than a b. i just didn't think a speech giving class, orientation, and a few others were needed to be a nurse. so i'm going at it bass akwards! i even studied for my nclex. so dont tell me, i dont know what im talking about. i do. i chose to study this profession because i want to help people, not to say im better than someone else, because i rank higher.

i am in a bsn program an we have to give 20 min presentations this semester. i would not want to attempt that without a speech class. and regardless whether or not i ever give an official speech when i become a nurse does not matter because to pass my nursing classes which will give me permission to take the nclex i have to give speeches and presentations, many of them. you can study the nclex until the cows come home, but without the proper nursing classes thye are not going to let you in the door to take the test. with an additude like, "i did not think taking such and such class were needed to be a nurse..." just further proves you don"t know what you are talking about. in my school any one can take micro, chem, and psyh; they are pre-requs' just like speech, they are not nursing classes. you have to apply for those; and get accepted, and if you did not take the speech class because you thought it was unnecessary, i am sure they did not accept you without completed pre-requs

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Wow, I am new to this site. I am absolutely appalled that everyone acts like this. RN vs LPN vs CNA vs CMA What difference does it make? We are all in this for the reason, to care for an individual! Where is the compassion here? I am a CMA and by no means do I feel like I am better than someone else. I do and have worked in a clinic, and I have alot of patients who adore me, as I adore them. I looked in Websters and the definition for a NURSE is someone who gives cares for someone. Well, that could be just about anyone, couldnt it? I have been a CMA for 10 years and I choose not to move on. I like what I do, and am very good at what I do. In the clinic where I work, none of the doctors want any RN's on site. We do have a few who work on the other side of the clinic in an express care setting, and I have even worked there. In the clinic I work in, we all do the same. I have worked side by side with the RN's and I do the same as they do. I just wish you could all look at yourselves and ask the real question, Why do I choose to do this job? I think your answer would be: because you are caring, compassionate, loving people. NOT because you have a title different than someone else's, or because your paycheck is bigger.

No one is saying that the medical assistant is not a valuable person in the health care profession. And, it is also true that a nurse can learn from anyone above, below or lateral to her position. I went to school for medical assisting, and thought the same way, but when I completed nursing school, it demonstrated to me the difference in training, learned all 4 domains that a nurse can work and the legal implications if we err in our duties. In fact, I used a few of my notes from MA school to support some of the new things I had to learn; however, I actually walked away in SHOCK of all that I had to learn to become an LPN. We are also legally responsibile for what the assistants that work below us do if they make severe errors. There are so many things that can happen that a licensed practitioner can be held liable of, even if we are totally unaware.

The actions you perform at your job fall under the liability of the physician, should you make an error. And, if there is an LPN or RN on site, we may have to answer for that as well. The more we can trust a CNA, Patient Technician or Medical Assistant, the better off we all are. You are doing some nursing duties, however, to call yourself or introduce yourself as a nurse to the client is wrong. As an LPN, I cannot introduce myself as an RN because I am not. She has additional training and theory that I did not receive, therefore, the RN has even more accountability and responsibility than I do.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
If part of the job description included running circles around people, maybe i'd be impressed.

RN or not, that kind of superiority thinking is quite alienating to potential co-workers, no matter what title they hold.

Oh, yeah, I have seen that happen too many times. And, this happens to all levels of nursing. An ego too big can lead to set ups, and situations that a new nurse has no idea how to handle. Diplomacy is best, and asking questions in a humble, non-accusatory manner.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I am in a BSN program an we have to give 20 min presentations this semester. I would not want to attempt that without a speech class. And regardless whether or not I ever give an official speech when I become a nurse does not matter because to pass my nursing classes which will give me permission to take the NCLEX I have to give speeches and presentations, many of them. You can study the NCLEX until the cows come home, but without the proper nursing classes thye are not going to let you in the door to take the test. With an additude like, "I did not think taking such and such class were needed to be a nurse..." just further proves you DON"T know what you are talking about. In my school any one can take micro, chem, and psyh; they are pre-requs' just like speech, they are not nursing classes. You have to apply for those; and get accepted, and if you did not take the speech class because you thought it was unnecessary, I am sure they did not accept you without completed pre-requs

And, at times, especially for a person who is not comfortable speaking in public, it takes time and skill to stand in front of a class of people and keep them interested for even 10 minutes. It can also be intimidating to see before your very eyes that you are losing the interest of the spectators. I have seen some fall asleep, make faces and even mock an orator if it is poorly represented.

Yeah, no matter what...the NURSING courses will qualify one to sit for NCLEX because it is assumed that they have a chance to comprehend the scenerios presented on that exam; and it is not straight forward for most people. The Bursar's Office at the respective school will scan that transcript with a fine eye to ensure that ALL required classes for pre-requisites as well as the core nursing courses are satisfactorily completed before they send the transcript to the BON. I had this happen to a friend. He completed all of his courses for nursing, however, upon review by the Bursar's Office, it was discovered that he didn't pass the entrance exam for Math. The guy went to the pinning ceremony and all. He was forced to sit for another semester and take an algebra class at night while working before he was able to apply to take the boards. He completed in June, and now, he has been away from studying nursing for longer than he anticipated and is getting nervous.

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:rolleyes: This is why I said what I did.

I dont have to explain myself, or my views, I chose to. I was in no way insulting anyone, I tried to explain why I feel the way I do & I was trying to have a grown up debate. Apparently you guys had it rough in school, I havent had that problem, and I dont anticipate having it in the near future. I can and will continue to think the way I do. I dont have a big ego, Im confidant in my abilities, there's a biiiggg difference.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread closed for review.

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I am a nationally registered certifide MA,PT,EKG,& PhT, and now I am a LPN student - the LPN program goes much more into depth than the MA program does. The MA program has helped me in my LPN program - but MA's are in no way a replacement for LPN's.

In my area they seem to be phasing out the MA's over the LPN's. there are several students who cannot find jobs as an MA - as far as nurses go you can get a job anywhere. Im lucky I am centered around 4 hospitals that are all within 3 miles of me.

I am proud to be an MA - don't get me wrong I worked hard for it and I finished top of my class - but it is different than a nurse. just like an RN is different from an LPN - sure we are taught the same things, but one goes into more depth than the other. also there is no nursing process in the MA program. there is a need for all of us out there, we all serve a purpose.

maybe someday we can put the patients first and our egos last. who cares who is in charge, who has what letters after their name just do your job and make the patient #1

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I am a nationally registered certifide MA,PT,EKG,& PhT, and now I am a LPN student - the LPN program goes much more into depth than the MA program does. The MA program has helped me in my LPN program - but MA's are in no way a replacement for LPN's.

In my area they seem to be phasing out the MA's over the LPN's. there are several students who cannot find jobs as an MA - as far as nurses go you can get a job anywhere. Im lucky I am centered around 4 hospitals that are all within 3 miles of me.

I am proud to be an MA - don't get me wrong I worked hard for it and I finished top of my class - but it is different than a nurse. just like an RN is different from an LPN - sure we are taught the same things, but one goes into more depth than the other. also there is no nursing process in the MA program. there is a need for all of us out there, we all serve a purpose.

maybe someday we can put the patients first and our egos last. who cares who is in charge, who has what letters after their name just do your job and make the patient #1

Nicely put. When I saw the difference, I was horribly overwhelmed, and I felt very naive.

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Specializes in geriactric care- no place i'd rather be!.

i was a CMA for 7 years before graduating in january of this year. CMAs pass the meds, do the treatments (depending on what they are). LPNs are the ones doing all the assessments, talking to the doctors and taking the new orders, making the judgement calls in a situation (depending where you work). i have never known of a place where CMAs are above LPNs. the pay difference is considerable, i got a five dollar payraise when i went from CMA to LPN at my job.

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Specializes in medical assistant.

So what would you do when A PATIENT who doesn't know (or care) about the differences in tile refers to you constantly as a "NURSE"? Do you risk offending the patient (to the point of that person not wanting to return to the practice, thereby losing income for the entire office staff) by correcting them...or gracefully smile, knowing that when referring to yourself or other staff members, you will use correct titles?

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