Medical Assistant Prog before nursing

[carlarenee02]

HI all

I just started a 6 month med. assistant program in St Louis area (will finish May 2007). I feel this will give me valuable experience before I apply to nursing. I have all my prereq done except for chem and anatomy.

Does anyone out there start out as medical assistant first.?

Thanks

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In St Louis, MO at the hospitals, it is next to impossible to get on at hospital as CNA unless you are in nursing school or have medical background. I thought MA school is better than no med background.

If you're going to spend more than $2,000 on the MA program, don't do it. The salaries are pitiful and the schooling won't help much with the nursing program. The CNA route is the way to go. The training is cheaper and the job description and duties are more pertinent to the field of nursing.

Hospitals are not the only places that employ CNAs. Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other extended care facilities all need CNAs.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

If you're going to spend more than $2,000 on the MA program, don't do it. The salaries are pitiful and the schooling won't help much with the nursing program. The CNA route is the way to go. The training is cheaper and the job description and duties are more pertinent to the field of nursing.

Hospitals are not the only places that employ CNAs. Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other extended care facilities all need CNAs.

MA school was failry reasonable here in California. But it is true that CNA is cheaper and faster. At a local nursing home they will pay you while they train you and if you do it at the local CC it is only one 6 unit class.

[labrador4122, RN]

I wish that I could go back in time and just do a CNA course and worked at a hospital as a CNA ----- but I opted to not do any research and went on ahead with medical assistant school that cost me $5k ----

[dallet6]

Holy thread resurrection batman! hehe This thread looks to be 2 years old. Sorry to hear about your experience though. Hope nursing school works better for you.

[ThatPoshGirl]

Speaking as a former MA, I say don't bother. (I know it is too late for the OP but for anyone else). MA jobs are hard to come by and the pay and benefits are not good. If your cc has a cna program that would be better imo because you can work in a hospital.

[ThatPoshGirl]

I wish that I could go back in time and just do a CNA course and worked at a hospital as a CNA ----- but I opted to not do any research and went on ahead with medical assistant school that cost me $5k ----

I made the same mistake. I got hired after my externship into a "part-time" temporary position by a major health care conglomerate. They worked me 39 hours a week for six months and then let me go. After that I could not find another MA job. My program was around $8000 and that was in 1994. If I could do it over again I would go straight for the RN program and maybe CNA.