MA student/CNA position

[lmsmom2]

I need some advice. I am a MA student in my last semester of school. I currently work as a clinic assistant in a urology practice(for a large hospital) where I have all the responsiblities of a MA. I am seriously considering continuing my education to become a LPN. I have interviewed for a CNA position in a Med/Surg unit in the hospital I currently work for. I applied for the job since I am planning on continuing onto school to become a LPN and thought that this would give me more experience since a CNA works closely with nurses to care for patients. The nurse manager is allowing me to shadow a CNA to give me an idea of what the position is really about. If they offer me the CNA position am I making a mistake by taking it? Should I just stay where I am until I find out if I am accepted into a LPN program? I guess I should mention, I have already told them I cannot take a cut in pay and it would need to be a lateral move as far as my pay is concerned.

Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks!!:)

[yorkieluv]

Cna is very hard work. I am one, I would STAY in your position and go for your Lvn. I see MA a step up from Cna, for sure.

[PTKChic]

Why are you going for LVN after CMA? They are the same level. It seems redundant.

[shotcaller28]

There are vast differences between an LPN/ LVN and a CMA. I realize I am feeding into it by replying to that statement but I do not want the OP to make a decision either way because they think the two professions are one in the same. There is nothing wrong or less about being one over the other but they are different.

[Stephalump]

Why are you going for LVN after CMA? They are the same level. It seems redundant.

No.

Eta: No. Again. Because my message wasn't long enough.

[MandieeRN]

Why are you going for LVN after CMA? They are the same level. It seems redundant.

I strongly disagree. In a clinic setting they may function the same but the scopes are much different. This is like saying a LPN is the same as a RN.