Medical Assistant - I want to be a nurse

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I am wondering. I am almost finishing a program for Medical Assistant because I want to become a paramedic and then be a nurse in the Emergency Room. I just want to know if you think I am taking the correct way to do it. I am taking the medical assistant because I want to be able to work and get paid.

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Dear Wants to be a Nurse,

There are many paths to becoming an RN. It is not necessary to work in the medical field to attend nursing school, but it may help with your application when you are ready.

The majority of nurses in the Emergency Department have never worked as medical assistants (MA) or as paramedics. Working as an MA will give you experience in the outpatient setting, but does not directly translate to being an RN or a paramedic. However, as you say, you are doing it to land a job.

Many nurses do work in a hospital as a patient care tech (PCT) or certified nursing assistant (CNA) before and during nursing school. Working as a PCT or CNA familiarizes you with the hospital setting and helps you to land a nursing job down the road.

MA and paramedic training is vocational, but you will need a college education to be an RN. You should start taking pre-requisites at your local college, such as general education classes, which you will need to get your RN. An example of a general education class is English. There will also be required science classes, such as Chemistry.

Make an appointment with a college counselor at a reputable, preferably accredited college, to get started.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I completed a medical assistant program 17 years ago, but was never able to secure employment as a MA. Remember that nursing is part of the nursing model of care provision, whereas medical assisting and paramedicine (paramedic, EMT) belong to the medical model.

Other than the hands-on procedural skills, medical assisting and paramedicine will not get you to your goal of becoming a nurse any faster. Rather, these training programs will add valuable time and expense to your educational trajectory.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

MA and paramedic training is vocational

For the most part, this is true. However, community colleges offer the associate of applied science degrees in medical assisting and paramedicine / emergency medical technology.

Therefore, someone who wants to become a MA or paramedic can opt to attend community college and earn a two-year degree instead of going to vocational school.

[Shellaaay10x]

I am a lvn but a nurse regardless. I am not a RN. I did my medical assisting first to get my foot in the door, and I learned many valuable things. I worked in an outpatient surgery center and was cross trained in both preop and post op, helping alongside the rn's. Once I got into the nursing program, I was one step ahead of a lot of my fellow classmates because I had that experience. I was able to get a job as a school nurse because a lot of my references were RNs I worked alongside with. They vouched for me. I don't see anything wrong with the steps you are taking. A lot of experience is worth it, but so is taking the time out to get the education and get your professional license. I agree with The Commuter, I know MA's that have their degrees and I also know LVNs that have their associates degree in science. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck!