MA Question?

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jan 8, 2008

I went to medical assisting school back in 2001 at my Junior college. There were not any pre-requisites but you had to test high enough in math to be able to do algebra and high enough in English to be able to take college level English. At the time the classes seemed hard because I did not know squat about medical stuff unless counting a pulse got me any credit. However, now that I am in nursing school the stuff is relatively easy in comparison. The program was two semesters/ 1 yr long. We did not start clinical until second semester. Aside from the actual medical assisting classes we had to take medical terminology, psychology, sociology, and business English. Everything else we learned in the actual medical assisting classes (vitals, injections, blood drawing, medications, coding, billing, ect). The program trained how to be a clinical and administrative medical assistant so I was eligible to sit for both exams but at the time I only wanted to work in the back. Before I went back to school I was doing both clinical and administrative; without any additional certifications. Sadly, most administrative positions are more secretarial/receptionist that do not take any special training other than how the place you work for runs things.

I was hired at 8.25/hr and was making 9/hr when I went back to school in 2006. It is the last job to pick if you need to make money. You would make more as a CNA.

I graduated in 2002 with a Certificate of Completion and became certified as a clinical medical assistant and have been ever since. I never got my degree in medical assisting per-se. When I was ready to transfer to the University after I got accepted into their nursing program I went to apply for an Associates degree. I was going to get my A.S. in medical assisting but my adviser advised against it saying it was a dead end degree (not that that is bad if you do not plan on going any further) so I got an A.A. in University Studies; I had enough units to apply for any degree that was not specialized.

Being a medical assistant has been a good experience for being in nursing school. However, you may be hard pressed to find a job that will pay you more if you have a degree vs. just graduating from a program.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 11, 2008

There are degree programs in medical assisting, I understand, and vocational schools. Some colleges offer the course. It would be vital signs, phlebotomy, EKG, specimen collection, taking a patient history, learning about different diagnostic tests,. insurance forms, scheduling, maybe a bit of medical billing.

I do think it can be a bit helpful for nursing, but the pay and finding a job is really bad. The program, whether it is a degree or vocational training is very expensive, and the rate of pay most MAs make is not that great...maybe about $8-10 an hour, no benefits in most cases, and you are limited to the doctor's office. It may not be a bad thing, but usually, the pay is less than the tuition and loans people have taken out to take the course. I would consider CNA training with additional skills in phlebotomy and EKG. Believe it or not, many CNAs qualify to work in an office, and they have the choices of working in clinics, hospitals, home health and assisted living. Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2008

I completed a Medical Assistant program back in 2000, and it was one of the worst mistakes I have ever made. I could never find a job as an MA since my local job market in So. California was flooded with new MAs, and the pay rates being offered were too low to support a middle-class lifestyle. In addition, the skills-based training of the MA program did not benefit me when I attended an LVN program 4 years later.