Medical Assistant Or LPN?

Golden_Clover · May 18, 2006

Well from my understanding LPN is the way to go. Only LPNs and RNs are considered nurses. My cousin is a MA and she doesn't get paid very well. Also if you ever want to pursue getting your RN there are a lot of LPN to RN programs and they are slightly easier to get into. Good luck with your decision!!:welcome:

NurseWeaver · May 18, 2006

I graduated from a MA program in 1999 making 7.49/hour and worked a few months in a physicians office and then left to work in a hospital laboratory for the same pay but I got benefits. Doctor's office usually don't pay well and many do not have any sort of benefit package. I am now a LPN and will be a RN in December. Take this advice from experience don't waste your time in a MA program. Good luck to you in whatever you choose.

WannaBeMaleRN · May 18, 2006

I paid 7k for a Medical Assistant program at a Business College and got no job, they all want experienced people but never want to give you the experience, a waste of money in my book! I am going back for my RN, finishing up pre reqs now. Good luck on your decision.

Little Panda RN, ASN, RN · May 18, 2006

I am a medical assistant who went back for my LPN. I loved working as a medical assistant, but it did take me 3 years to get a job. I wont go into all the reasons I went back for nursing, but my advice is to go for your LPN. Don't waste your time with medical assisting. Wish I would have become a nurse in the first place. I am so glad I went back to be a nurse. I am currently waiting for my authorization to take the NCLEX from the board of nursing in my state. Good luck with your decision!

nurse2be2008 · May 18, 2006

I graduated from an MA program in 2000 and got hired at my externship site which was an OB/GYN office. They worked my butt off and I was paid only $7.00/hr and no benefits. I stayed for two years for the experience and interviewed at a different OB/GYN office for a medical receptionist position that started me at $12.00/hr which was a huge difference. In my opinion, it's a waste of time and money.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 18, 2006

As much as I love being a Certified Medical Assistant, and even though it has given me much more experience, I would have to say that if you ever plan on moving up like to say an R.N. then go the LPN route. I make horse pucky at my job. I am definitely underpaid. I have been at my job since june 2002 and only make 9/hr. No benifits, and part of the reason I "make so much" is because I am a float while I am going to school and am flexible, plus they do not pay out benifits like they do those that work full time.

snovbunny25 · May 18, 2006

Hello All, I am new to this site and happy that I found it. I am currently in a accelerated Medical Assistant program in Indiana. I have been in the program for about 3 months but now I am seriously thinking about trying to transfer the few credits I have and going into the LPN program. Has anyone worked as a MA and is now a LPN? I'm wondering what the differences are? I know MA's work mainly in doctors offices and LPN's in hospitals. MA's draw blood, do LPN's draw blood as well? Who makes more money? Any info will be appreciated as I need to make this decision before the next semester starts (may 30)
Thanks!

I graduated as a MA 10 years ago, and have made descent money, BUT- now iam back in school AGAIN pursuing R.N. I have a lot of experience, but i wish someone would have told me to pursue nursing LPN/RN right away, and not waste my time making little money compared to a real nurse. If I were you, I would go right to R.N. and skip LPN....but if you want a degree quicker,then go for LPN... I guarantee you will end up pursuing RN later down the road... Good luck with whatever road you take. But I agree with everyone else, your wasting your time on MA .

tookewlandy · May 18, 2006

Hello All, I am new to this site and happy that I found it. I am currently in a accelerated Medical Assistant program in Indiana. I have been in the program for about 3 months but now I am seriously thinking about trying to transfer the few credits I have and going into the LPN program. Has anyone worked as a MA and is now a LPN? I'm wondering what the differences are? I know MA's work mainly in doctors offices and LPN's in hospitals. MA's draw blood, do LPN's draw blood as well? Who makes more money? Any info will be appreciated as I need to make this decision before the next semester starts (may 30)
Thanks!

If i were you i would try and transfer the credits you have and go the LPN/RN route. CNA's make mor ethan medical assistants, at least here in Pittsburgh in most LTc cna's make 10.00 and up. You can work as a CNa while pursuing your nursing license. I am not a medical assistant but when i was looking through colleges and things like that i just read through all the medical assistant programs because its so hard to get inot a nursing school but they just did not seem worth it. Maybeyou could finish you Medical assistant degree while working on your nursing(lpn/rn)

Princess74 · May 18, 2006

Go for nursing. MAs make horrible money, there are basicly no options as far as going into different aspects of patient care and no room for advancement.

vonsay · May 18, 2006

Thank you all!!! I have been losing sleep these last few days tossing the decision around in my head! I am 34 and dont have time to waste in a career that is going nowhere. I have done that before working in the steel industry. I was making decent money (about $18.00 an hour) but when the place closed, then it was over.

Of course the folks at the MA school are saying that you can make $15 to $18 an hour starting out as a MA and that there is such a popular demand for them. Yet when I look through the job ads I very seldom see anything listed for MA's hummm.... Yet I always see LPN/RN's. I thought that being an MA was less stressful and maybe it is, but who wants to spend time in school only to make the same kind of money that you can make at Walmart?

You guys have been a tremendous help to me!! I'll keep you posted!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 18, 2006

Go for nursing! (LPN or RN, whatever works better for you and your family)

As an LPN, you will make more, be allowed to do more, and have flexibility to change job area's if you get sick of working in an office. An LPN can do everything a MA can do, but a MA can't do everything an LPN can do. There are so many more jobs available for CNA's/LPN's/RN's as compared to MA's. CNA's make more than MA's, and you can get training for free to do that. If you stay with the facility long enough they will pay for you to go to school for LPN or RN. If you go the LPN route, you can use some of the credits to transfer to the RN program, or atleast challange out of the first semester. You will have so many more options and better pay in nursing!!!