Medical Assistant or EMT B

hookyarnandblanket · Jun 16, 2015

If you are going into nursing school, the EMT route will give you a better basis. Our head of ED is a former paramedic and EMT. It was easy for him to transition from that to a RN. Medical Assistants are more used in clinic settings, whereas the EMT option gets you experience in trauma.

bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN · Jun 19, 2015

EMT would expose you to more types of patients and disease processes than MA. MA is also going to be clinic hours which are mon-fri 8-5. EMT you can work different shifts and may be able to go to part time once in nursing school so you'd still have an income. I say go for the EMT.

ievent2 · Jun 19, 2015

I say do what you think is best! I can say that I got my EMT Basic and worked part-time with my local fire department and then went on to get my Associates as a MA. I worked full-time as an MA and then got my EMT Intermediate (now Advance), and then went to Nursing school.

If you go the EMT route, it gives you better experience critically thinking, but as a Basic, you're often limited to interfacility transfers, and wheelchair pickups.

However, as an MA, I worked in a large family practice and got a lot of exposure to tests, procedures, injections, etc. I gained a lot of pharmacology knowledge too.

Ultimately, it comes down to what do you want more... A Monday - Friday 8-5 job in a well controlled environment, or one that changes on a minutes notice and you work regardless of weather conditions?

Hope this helps!

WCSU1987 · Jun 20, 2015

I worked EMS year's back my cert lapsed. I notice a lot of hospital's aren't hiring EMTs over CNAs. My fiance who is starting LPN school in the fall just completed her CNA course can see why. It is a cramped in condensed OTA program very detailed, shame they don't give them better pay.

I notice a lot of hospital's are switching to either LVNS or certified Medical Assistants in Medical Assistant positions. However, some can be filled by an EMT or a CNA.

Work as a unverified psychiatric nursing assistant my bachelor degree only requirement. However x pay varies from $10 an hour to $25 an hour. Very few openings...I make about $22 an hour and work part time with three other per diem job's. Psych is burning me out after close to five year's just in it and need a change.

I am trying to decide if I should do EMT or MA because thinking may go into nursing or may go for my Med technologist degree. I see a lot of lab techs not mts who are certified as lab tech's. However, what is the benefit of an associate degree in MA studies. There are at least 6 to 8 program's at a few of the state CCs. There are about 5 certification program's. CC cost about $20,000 and $10,000 grand for certification program.

Also the program is as long as an LPN program and cost about the same...so it is quite a conundrum.

WCSU1987 · Jun 20, 2015

I apologize for anything that may seem rude, but don't know much about MAs. I have worked CNAs and Multi Skilled Tech's. I am not sure is there a difference between a Mutli Skilled Tech and a Medical Assistant? Our state requires a class and 70 sticks to be a phlebotomist. However, Multi Skilled Tech's and MA's in our state only need 30 sticks and you can go out on your own do phlebotomy. Heard MA's learn about lab work in addition to venipuncture. Also MSTs can do EKGS. Some places depending on where they learn it will do more in depth then 12 lead EKG. You learn about the monitor's, different rhythms, and a few other lead placements. From what I heard you go more in depth with MA with lead placements and rhythms.

One of the hugest differences with MA's 's they can do coding and medical records they learn to be a medical coder. Also you can leave some invasive skills such as inserting a catheter, setting up for x rays, apply dressings to wounds (Nothing in scope of nurse's, but similar to what an EMT does.) Remember working with a MA once they were setting up a camera for a procedure.

I read these horror stories how people can't find jobs as an MA and work is terrible. Just curious. I can knock out the CNA exam in a month.

However, MA is a lot longer and is it worth it?

Any benefit having a degree over a certificate course?

Appreciate the feedback.

bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN · Jun 20, 2015

We have a CMA who got her associates degree in medical assisting and another who went to a 6 month training course for held the price. They make the same amount per hour and perform the exact same duties. Please don't waste your time and money getting an associates in medical assisting. If you are going to go that route then apply to the LPN program or even RN program.