Medical assistant vs lpn

egglady, LPN · May 27, 2017

The difference is that a LPN is a nurse, and a MA is not.

Sour Lemon · May 27, 2017

What is the difference between lpn and medical assistant? Also which makes more ?

A medical assistant might work in a OB/GYN office, but not in the labor and delivery ward of a hospital. LPNs do work in hospitals (in some locations), but rarely in labor and delivery.

LPN is something you can build on and medical assistant is more terminal. I would imagine that LPNs make more when all else (experience, location, employer) is equal, but there may be some variation.

There are a million other differences, but what's important to you and what have you figured out so far? It might be easier for others to guide you if they know exactly what you're looking for. I saw your interest in maternity in your other thread.

HeySis, BSN, RN · May 27, 2017

In my area, MA'a are employed in physician's offices. They do the intake on patients, (VS and chart the reason for the visit). They make phone calls to insurance companies for pre-approval of services, and do quite a bit of office paperwork to make sure billing has everything they need. They'll make alls to patients regarding normal test results. In some areas they can give certain injections, such as immunizations and may be able to place catheters.

These are all things that when I started as an LPN, I did in an office setting. Back then their were no MA's.

Offices rarely hire LPN"s anymore to do those things and if they do, its at an MA's wages, which are lower.

LPN"s can do all of those things plus. They administer medications all routes except IV push. IV certification and scope varies state to state as does blood transfusions. LPN's can assess stable patients, and perform routine nursing cares on stable patients (wound care, dressing changes, chest percussion, apply appliances and so forth)

LPN's work in long term care, some hospitals, and other settings depends on where you are in the US. MA's do not work on the inpatient side of hospitals.

Most LPN programs will meet the requirements for the first year of the ASN degree, so one more year and you can become eligible to sit for the RN-NCLEX. Or people with an RN program can becomes eligible to sit for their PN-NCLEX after a certain amount of nursing courses are completed.

So it depends on your ultimate goals.

Cvepo · May 27, 2017

LPNs are skills based nurses with less focus on assessment, teaching, etc and have more restrictions in practice and skills. Usually they fall under the supervision of an RN. MAs learn basic medical skills, like vitals, but are also trained in almost like a secretary role as well from my experience. My facility's system does not employ any LPNs in acute care, only SNF, SAR, etc. In the ICUs we utilize CMAs instead of UAPs... not sure why since they do the same job. It really just depends on the system you look at.