Medical assistants and LPNs

asoonernurse · May 19, 2008

Community college programs are definitely the way to go. The price point I was quoting comes from local private institutions here in Cali, which, from the look of things, are not hurting for applicants these days.

Michael

The cheapest program I saw in a community college for Medical Assisting was $2500. It is a 4 month course that also included mandatory clinical time for about a month in a doctor's office. I would suggested interested people to do that, but not for more...and that is because it was held at a community college that has a decent reputation. I also think they would be sure to at least have licensed instructors teaching them.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 19, 2008

Yes. I have nothing against people that wish to become medical assistants. Obviously, they are needed. I just don't see the sense of getting into so much debt to possibly have a hard time getting a position and/or not get paid enough to repay the heavy loans.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 19, 2008

Stirring the pot here but in California alot of the schools for MA's do not require a HS diploma....????? just a thought.

This is true but some of them I'm seen in the fine print say "while you may take a course in xyz without a diploma or GED your employment opportunities may be limited"

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 19, 2008

Community college programs are definitely the way to go. The price point I was quoting comes from local private institutions here in Cali, which, from the look of things, are not hurting for applicants these days.
Michael

Have you been to a community college in CA lately and tried to get into classes you wanted? I can barely get into ones I want and I've been going off an on to the local one since 2002 an get a 1st day 10.30am appointment. They are so impacted.

ari3sdog · May 20, 2008

HI all,
I have just finished a medical assisting program and im now looking for a job. I have noticed alot of job openings for lpn but nothing for medical assistants. I was wondering first of all what is the difference? I can pretty much do everything an lpn can do. I was wondering if I applied to lpn positions would I be a candidate for lpn positions or would I be wasting my time? Please somebody answer my question I would greatly appreciate the advice.

I heard from a friend that they are making the Medical Assisting to do a dirty job (if you know what I mean). They all psyche up about it.

I don't know the difference though. But I rather have LPN license than Medical Assisting, because I'm able to work in Long-term care, Acute Care, Rehab Care. It's a good practice for me, because I'm bridging my LPN to RN.

Peace.

asoonernurse · May 20, 2008

Good point! No, it's been many years (abt. 20+) since I've been to college, so my memories are certainly out of date!

What are your going after, TTP?

Good Luck.

Michael

Have you been to a community college in CA lately and tried to get into classes you wanted? I can barely get into ones I want and I've been going off an on to the local one since 2002 an get a 1st day 10.30am appointment. They are so impacted.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · May 20, 2008

Good point! No, it's been many years (abt. 20+) since I've been to college, so my memories are certainly out of date!
What are your going after, TTP?
Good Luck.
Michael

Am many years of dithering in my major I am biting the bullet and taking lvn at a private for profit college but am then going to go finish off my Rn asap. I have applications in at all the cc's within driving distances of me an figure by the time I get my lvn I may be in somewhere and can then challenge the first years nursing courses under the lvn advanced standing clause. If not at least I'll be able to practice some form of nursing in the meantime.

Though for medical assisting in california you can go to a regional occupation center and do a 6 month course for about $800. Which is as good a deal as the cc's

asoonernurse · May 20, 2008

That's the way I'm going as well, although this will be my "second" career, so-to-speak.

I'm in the third (and final) level of my LVN at a for-profit college and will "attempt" to find a nice, inexpensive (compared to what I'm paying now!) step-up RN program somewhere.

Meanwhile, I'll "do my time" at an LTC here. My goal is trauma.

Good Luck.

Michael

Am many years of dithering in my major I am biting the bullet and taking lvn at a private for profit college but am then going to go finish off my Rn asap. I have applications in at all the cc's within driving distances of me an figure by the time I get my lvn I may be in somewhere and can then challenge the first years nursing courses under the lvn advanced standing clause. If not at least I'll be able to practice some form of nursing in the meantime.
Though for medical assisting in california you can go to a regional occupation center and do a 6 month course for about $800. Which is as good a deal as the cc's

katbaxt7 · May 21, 2008

That may be the case in Alaska but it is certainly not the trend in the states. I have held an LPN license for 31 years now and was a Practical Nurse in the Army for 8+ years. MAs were implemented to supplement staff in clinical settings where the degree of skill is not needed to justify paying an LPN or RN salary. Sorry if I sound elitist but an MA is NOT a nurse and never will be. The MA position compares out to a CNA position in every state I have ever worked in and that has been 11 so far. Sorry...Alaska is just not the norm for this kind of comparison.

katbaxt7 · May 21, 2008

"Actually, no. But I will let the LPNs cover that as they can explain it better than I."
Not to be a devil's advocate but in reality MA's can do the same as an LPN and sometimes even more......Medical Assistant's work under a physicians liscense and are not regulated by the Nursing Board. If a physician is confident in a MA's skills and directs the MA to do a task then by law as long as they have been trained to do the task they can perform it.
In Alaska this is the norm not the exception. Physicians and hospitals are hiring MA's because there is more flexability in the position as an MA, than an LPN. They are hiring Certified MA's that have taken national certification tests not just OJT MA's. They are also looking at the educational facility where the training was completed. CAAHEP and ABHES approved facilities are those that are having 88-95% placement for thier MA's here.

I will address it. MAs were implemented to supplement the staffing needs in clinical settings when there was not the skill level needed to justify paying the salary of an LPN or RN. They are certified as an assistant while LPNs are licensed and are not bound by an MDs license in order to practice. The skill set allowed and scope of practice for an LPN varies from state to state. As an LPN of 31 years...8+ active duty Army I have worked in over 11 states and with the exception of perhaps Alaska...and that I will deduce is only because of the severe shortage of nurses in the state....the MAs role in the health care spectrum is equilalent to a CNA. That is why they are called Medical Assistants and LPNs are called nurses. For the record...I went to a full 2 year LPN program and the curriculum is no where near as comprehensive in the MA programs as the one I took...as a matter of fact when my older sister started her AD nursing program a year after I graduated she was using several of the same nursing books we used in my program. While I applaud you for trying to educate others about your role in our field to compare an MA to an LPN is to compare apples to grasshoppers.

irish6363 · May 22, 2008

katbaxt7, I couldn't agree more...very well said.

BCCnurse · May 24, 2008

I am not saying that one is better than the other I am simply stating that CMA's with a physician that trains them can do MORE than and LPN in some states, specifically Alaska. I have administered narcotics IV, per a doctors order and according to the state nursing board here a LPN can't do that. And we can administer medications as well as dispense them under the physicians order in Alaska. It does vary from state to state, but here we are allowed to by law. :twocents:

That is how it is in my state I currently teach the RMA program and they are certified by the AMT.They can do more than me in the clinical setting since they are directly under the MD's liscense.There is no governing board for my state as to their scope of practice.AMT simply states thet they can do anything they have been trained by the MD to do if that provider is comfortable leting them do under their liscense.