Nursing Assistant or Basic Medical Assistant?

trauma_lama, BSN · Jul 26, 2011

If you want to be a nurse, NA is a better choice. NA is taught/works on principles of the nursing model while MA is taught/works on principles of the medical model. Good luck! Also the type of work you will do as a NA will be much more similar to th type of work you'd do as a nurse.

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Jul 26, 2011

Generally, Medical Assistants work in an outpatient setting primarily assisting MDs, while Nursing Assistants tend to work more in hospital/long term care setting assisting nurses. If you are aiming to become an LPN the Nursing Assistant course and job will probably be closer to your ultimate career goal.

CordaeP · Jul 26, 2011

I graduated and worked as a MA. The clinic that I worked at did not have a nurse, so everything that a LPN would do we did. I gave shots, lab work, drew blood, ekg's, assisted with pap exams or cultures, and I also worked in the clinical area. This is what motivated me to pursue my nursing career.

DanielleMoore · Jul 26, 2011

thanks ladies :) my mother is trying to get me to go for my mat first then my lpn. she said i wouldn't want the job of a cna.... but i think that anything is better than just sitting around. nurses will be needed forever. lol:lol2:

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2011

There will be a great opportunity for MAs when obamacare kicks in all the way IMO. It's all about cost and MAs can basically do everything a licensed nurse can do. A CNA is an assit to a nurse and doesn't do all the things an MA does in most instances. CNAs get a certificate after 3 months of training and I think that MAs get an AD after a year and can get some type of license though I don't know what it's called.

What do you mean by "basic" MA? If you look in the paper it's always advertising for an MA or LPN. I know this leads people to believe they are the same but in many settings they are since an MA can do all the things an LPN can. If I were you I would bypass the CNA part and go for the MA. That's my :twocents: . But do not be fooled, the MA programs are very competive and you need to be on the ball as far as being able to study lots of material. Also MAs have more autonomy then CNAs IMO ... Good luck.

philanahopefulrn · Jul 26, 2011

I would do MA, I currently work as a CNA and its not the best job! Trust me go for MA! Good Luck!

Birdbr · Jul 26, 2011

both are great, i have my cna. i definitely agree with philanahopefulrn; unless you want to go to nursing, like the other commenters said. to be honest, i always thought the wonderful medical assistant at my clinic who always gave me shots, took my bp, height and weight was a nurse. it wasn't until i was in 8th grade and became more interested in the healthcare field that i learned she was a medical assistant. i'm sure many people make that mistake. both mas and rns are great, but i think there is big difference between those careers. so you should definitely see if you'd like to work in a medical office or sometimes in a hospital, primarily long-term care.

good luck on whatever you decide. sorry for the long comment!

ArmyWife11B · Aug 15, 2011

Nursing assistant you will have the chance of working in the hospital, doing direct pt. care, and getting to see the other side of what nurses actually have to do and all the crap they have to deal with.

As an MA you'll be doing clerical type work at some jobs, and others mostly working at doctors offices, or clinics checking pts in, vitals at the begining of Dr. appts., shots, ect.

It just depends do you want to be wiping butts now? or when you're a nurse? lol!!

mymy1219 · Aug 15, 2011

Nursing assistant would be great for you because It is more hands on and you are dealing directly with a patient!