MA to ICU RN, Testing and Advice?

HikingNurse8789 · Aug 28, 2016

Is there a reason your an MA first? Just wondering because its usually an associates degree, a nursing program may only take a year longer than MA and you would save a lot of money! Plus you could get your STNA in less than 4 weeks and make as much as a new grad MA.

dariannarnold · Aug 29, 2016

Well my current job kind of needs me here for a little bit longer, about another 6 months or so, I felt bad leaving before then. And at first I wasn't totally sure what type of healthcare career I wanted to pursue. The MA program offered lots of places to options to get a job at since it is so versatile. Once I decided I wanted to become a nurse I wondered if I shouldn't have become a CNA, but the more I looked into the more negative things I saw. I have not met a single person who enjoyed being a CNA. I understand that it might be just my area but it just didn't seem like a great position. So although it will take me longer, and cost more, I think the MA is good for me right now.

roser13, ASN, RN · Aug 29, 2016

I too would encourage you to think long and hard about obtaining an associates degree for MA (if that is what you're planning). Some employers prefer to train their own MA's and do not require any specific education.

Furthermore, the MA certificate or degree will not contribute to your nursing education - it will just prolong your education and your expenses. While you are still working at your job, why not just start taking prerequisites for the community college nursing program?

dariannarnold · Aug 29, 2016

I am not getting an associates in Medical Assisting. I am going through a 10 month certification program.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 29, 2016

I think PP means that your MA certification will not contain course content that will be transferable to a college hour program. The patient care experience and skills associated with your MA certification may help you with future clinical classes, but if you're using student aid on this program, it may limit your financing options when you decide to further your education.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2016

Once I decided I wanted to become a nurse I wondered if I shouldn't have become a CNA, but the more I looked into the more negative things I saw. I have not met a single person who enjoyed being a CNA. I understand that it might be just my area but it just didn't seem like a great position.

I am an ICU nurse. ICU nurses do all the "unpleasant" work that CNAs do. It seems to be the trend that ICUs do not utilize CNAs/techs, so RNs do total care. Most ICU patients are tubefed which creates loose/liquid poop, not to mention sputum, sweat, blood...their mouths get NASTY... Even if the ICU does hire CNAs (mine does), the patients are sick enough and helpless enough that the CNA can't indepentently do the "aide work" while the RN does the "RN work." The RN has to be right there to physically help, plus manage the vital signs, pain, airway, all that jazz.

I agree with the others, that an MA program will not help you achieve your goal. A CNA program can be done more quickly and does help get your feet wet for nursing.

LonghornChic, BSN · Aug 30, 2016

I was a certificate MA for about 12 years. Am currently in my senior year in a BSN degree and have been working as a CA (clinical assistant or CNA) at the hospital for the last 6 months.

The MA cert was useful for me in the manner that I needed money at that moment and was not going to be furthering my education for several years. MA work is not the same as acute care nursing work. CA work however, does have the basic nursing care embedded in it. It has been much more beneficial for me as a nursing student to have experience as a CA rather than an MA. As a CA at the hospital I make about the same that I made as an MA working M-F.

A BSN will take a while to obtain and your schedule as an MA will most likely interfere with your nursing classes.

On the bright side, you can get your MA cert and TRY to apply as a CA but it's not always guaranteed that they'll take you. Also, I second that comment about the financial aid. I'm having to pay my last 2 semesters completely out of pocket because I used some of my FA on the MA cert.

CardiacDork, MSN, RN · Sep 3, 2016

I also question whether the ICU is really the place for you simply based off your resistance to become a CNA.

ICU Nurses manage airway, breathing, and circulation. Maintaining homeostasis at best possible with the latest biomedical technology and pharmacology available to modern medicine. You'll make decisions, carry a lot of responsibility, and your assessment will dictate many times the plan of care from the medical standpoint.

That is the "RN" role but you also have to do the "CNA" role and I say CNA role very lightly because truly the things CNAs do ARE nursing responsibilities that are delegated to an unlicensed person.

Truth is you'll be cleaning bloody, watery, poop in the ICU. You'll be cleaning vomit. Bright red blood from every orifice imaginable. Lots of drains! With malodorous milky drainage. You will be performing oral care every 4 hours on vented patients. This means you'll be cleaning mouths 8 times or more a day if both patients are vented. You also have to turn every patient every two hours and bathe one patient per shift.

I mean these patients are totally dependent on you! Just as much as they depend on YOU the ICU Nurse to run the ....

Breathing machine (ventilator)

kidney machine (CRRT)

Heart machine (IABP)

Drugs keeping their heart pumping and pressure adequate

They also depend on you for the basic necessities...

So ask yourself what turns you off for CNA?

Also MA schedule is typically Monday through Friday .... This WILL undoubtedly interfere with school and clinical whereas a CNA job you can work weekends and nights or whatever to accommodate school.

dariannarnold · Sep 3, 2016

Well your right, I don't know what place is best for me yet. I am just starting out in this field. I am looking to gain insight and knowledge about everything I can. Some of you come across so judgemental to people who are just trying to grasp an understanding of what everything is really like. I don't want to sit here and talk you ear off about why I am choosing to become a MA. It works with my schedule, it works with the timing of me leaving my previous job, and in my area MA's are hired a lot. I am not "resistant" to become a CNA, I just chose a different route because I heard lots of negative things from people I asked and places I inquired. Also the CNA position does not make enough money for me to be able to pay my bills. That being said, I am not unaware or naive of the messiness and gritty side to this field. I simply haven't experienced it yet. That's why I am asking. I wish some of you on this site would be more open to people asking you questions, I understand some people are naive, and I understand people don't want to sugarcoat the truth about nursing but the negativity on this site is exhausting. Some of you are just so quick to try to talk people out of whatever they're interested in, a little encouragement would be nice. Anyway, I suppose I will just figure things out one way or another. Thanks for the responses!

Not trying to attack anyone here, this post has been very informative, I suppose I just have seen it a lot on other posts. I guess I am just venting! Sorry!

rachaelofcourse · Sep 3, 2016

Well your right, I don't know what place is best for me yet. I am just starting out in this field. I am looking to gain insight and knowledge about everything I can. Some of you come across so judgemental to people who are just trying to grasp an understanding of what everything is really like. I don't want to sit here and talk you ear off about why I am choosing to become a MA. It works with my schedule, it works with the timing of me leaving my previous job, and in my area MA's are hired a lot. I am not "resistant" to become a CNA, I just chose a different route because I heard lots of negative things from people I asked and places I inquired. Also the CNA position does not make enough money for me to be able to pay my bills. That being said, I am not unaware or naive of the messiness and gritty side to this field. I simply haven't experienced it yet. That's why I am asking. I wish some of you on this site would be more open to people asking you questions, I understand some people are naive, and I understand people don't want to sugarcoat the truth about nursing but the negativity on this site is exhausting. Some of you are just so quick to try to talk people out of whatever they're interested in, a little encouragement would be nice. Anyway, I suppose I will just figure things out one way or another. Thanks for the responses!
Not trying to attack anyone here, this post has been very informative, I suppose I just have seen it a lot on other posts. I guess I am just venting! Sorry!

I honestly don't see anyone being judgmental, just honest.

I can understand that CNA pay sucks, but the fact that the "negative input" you have heard from people and places is also dissuading you is what is alarming about your stance. You will surely experience the disgusting aspect of nursing during clinicals, but it is important for us commenters to remind you that "CNA work" is ALSO "RN work." RNs who leave CNAs to do all the dirty work are not very well liked or respected in the system I work for. While not many people LOOOOVE to change soiled briefs and make beds, it is a necessary task that all RNs need to do. Many people in my cohort failed to see that the title "RN" does not excuse you from the gross stuff. A good chunk of those people decided not to continue on with the program because they had a false belief of what an RN does.

Good luck with your endeavors.

roser13, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2016

Well your right, I don't know what place is best for me yet. I am just starting out in this field. I am looking to gain insight and knowledge about everything I can. Some of you come across so judgemental to people who are just trying to grasp an understanding of what everything is really like. I don't want to sit here and talk you ear off about why I am choosing to become a MA. It works with my schedule, it works with the timing of me leaving my previous job, and in my area MA's are hired a lot. I am not "resistant" to become a CNA, I just chose a different route because I heard lots of negative things from people I asked and places I inquired. Also the CNA position does not make enough money for me to be able to pay my bills. That being said, I am not unaware or naive of the messiness and gritty side to this field. I simply haven't experienced it yet. That's why I am asking. I wish some of you on this site would be more open to people asking you questions, I understand some people are naive, and I understand people don't want to sugarcoat the truth about nursing but the negativity on this site is exhausting. Some of you are just so quick to try to talk people out of whatever they're interested in, a little encouragement would be nice. Anyway, I suppose I will just figure things out one way or another. Thanks for the responses!
Not trying to attack anyone here, this post has been very informative, I suppose I just have seen it a lot on other posts. I guess I am just venting! Sorry!

In the interest of fairness, please quote any post that has been judgmental. It is unfair to come into a group and cry about perceived injustice without illustrating your (supposed) poor treatment.

Personally, I see fair, reasoned responses that may or may not coincide with some preconceived ideas that you had. Please recall that you asked a forum of professional nurses for their opinions. Those opinions may or may not be in line with what you expected/wanted to hear.

Again, please back up your assertions with "judgmental" quotes.