MA to LPN?

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I just lived in Denver Colorado for the past 7 year. I got my CNA 5 years ago and I have working as a CNA since then. Along the way I got my MA (last year).

My schooling was 6 months and I learned a lot. Also learned EKG monitoring.

I just recently moved back to south Florida and I now work at a small hospital as a CNA and also tele monitor tech.

I love school and was thinking of getting in to an LPN program. I found one that is pretty cheap, has a part time schedule (so I could also work).

The question is, im just not sure if its smart of me to do, because I do already have my Medical assisting and its so similar.

I'm just kind of stuck. I also don't have much experience as an MA. Only 5 months.

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It may appear that way in a doctor's office setting, but the role of an LPN vs an MA is very different

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Go for RN instead if it is feasible.

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Congrats on taking the initiative towards learning more in the medical field and continuing your education, that is always a wise choice. In respect to working as a medical assistant or going for LPN it sounds like you would be happier going for your LPN. The reason I say this is because you seem to want to have the option to progress your education and have more options available to you career-wise. As an LPN you can then bridge over to your RN ... NP or PA ... etc. etc. You cannot bridge to an RN from a medical assistant. Good luck in your decisions!!

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Thank you. Yes eventually I want to go for my RN. My MA classes were fairly easy but thats just the very beginning of nursing. I get over whelmed very easy, so I'm thinking my goal is LPN, work for a year or 2, then do a bridge program. Thanks for the advice.

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I completed my MA program in a 6 month program and after extern immediately enrolled into a Part time 20 month LPN program. The MA program helped me with basic nursing skills such as vitals, ekg's, injections, capillary sticks and blood draws and gave me a leg up on lab values. So my first term was a breeze then we dove deeper into assessment's and the nursing process and more advanced skills that in my area MA's dont perform such as IV's, catheters, NG tubes, well any Tube, ostomy and stoma care, wound care and wound vacs, drainage systems. Also as a LPN your pay rate will bounce from $13-$15 an hour to $21-25 (kansas city pay rates). Lastly your a nurse which is a big deal and comes with more responsibility and autonomy as you have a License and are responsible for the care you give and your own actions you perform or delgate to others. I heard it a lot in MA school that your pretty much a LPN, skill wise, critical thinking, and the nursing process is so much more than that of an MA. I think you would benefit greatly and its a nice stepping stone if you want to bridge on to your RN at a later date.

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I was an MA before going into LPN. I like to think of it as a stepping stone. I learned a lot from my MA program, and it wasn't as hectic as my LPN program. I thought I came out better because I went for MA first and got acquainted with the basics of healthcare, not to mention having a sort of one-up on EKG and Phlebotomy.

Sometimes, I do regret not going straight for my RN, but I chalk it up to being a learning experience. Where I live, LPN's are being phased out of clinics and replaced by MA's. I loved working in the clinic setting, but after starting my first nursing job in the hospital on a Med-Surg floor, I'll never ever go back to a clinic.

Do what you love, and what YOU want to do. Good Luck :)

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