Interested in LPN or Medical Assisting

[shae3]

I'm looking for feedback on the two areas of healthcare: LPN or medical assisting.

I'm over 40 and finally have the opportunity to return to school. I would have to continue to work. I work as a pharmacy technician for a local store (big box retailer). I find it somewhat stressful even at my entry level and I find it insane how miserable your co workers will try and make you. Which in part is driving me to try and do something different. As with any work place they're are going to be co workers like that.

Yet I would like to get back to a Mon thru Fri position with some health insurance.

I believe the Medical Assisting would improve and enhance my life. If anyone out there has taken this own with a similar mindset and work environment like the one I'm currently at. I would love to hear from you.

I go Monday for orientation and it is expensive.

[Sour Lemon]

I go Monday for orientation and it is expensive.

Orientation for what? I'm confused. If it's for medical assisting and it's expensive, I'd encourage you to strongly reconsider.

[LisaMG]

I just got my LPN license and passed NCLEX PN 11/2018. I am 48 yo. I have been a medical assistant for 24 years, which actually helped a lot in PN school. In AZ, they do not pay MA's very much and this is why I chose to go further and do the PN. I loved being an MA!! I got a job offer as a LPN for 24/hr with benefits(waiting on background check) and as an MA here, I was making 18.60/hr. I would check Indeed or Glassdoor, they have estimates on salaries in your area, if you look under reviews. Hope this helps you. Oh btw, I was second in my class Salutatorian, so even at 48 yo I did well. Good Luck to you.

[Fiona59]

Good luck with a Monday-Friday gig as an LPN.

It took me two decades to land one in my hospital system.

I'm looking for feedback on the two areas of healthcare: LPN or medical assisting.

I'm over 40 and finally have the opportunity to return to school. I would have to continue to work. I work as a pharmacy technician for a local store (big box retailer). I find it somewhat stressful even at my entry level and I find it insane how miserable your co workers will try and make you. Which in part is driving me to try and do something different. As with any work place they're are going to be co workers like that.

Yet I would like to get back to a Mon thru Fri position with some health insurance.

I believe the Medical Assisting would improve and enhance my life. If anyone out there has taken this own with a similar mindset and work environment like the one I'm currently at. I would love to hear from you.

I go Monday for orientation and it is expensive.

I'm not a medical assistant but I employ five of them in my primary care clinic. Our full time medical assistants work Mon to Friday 8 hour days and have weekends and holidays off. They have benefits like heath insurance and a 401k match.

The pay is less than an LPN but it would be much easier to get a Monday through Friday clinic job as a MA. The cost/investment in education is also less than an LPN as well which may factor in to your decision at 40 years old.

My one word of caution would be: if you are stressed out as a pharmacy tech, you are also goign to be stressed out as a MA. It is intense work and is anxiety provoking.

[T-Bird78]

I'm an LPN who's only worked M-F 8-5 hours, so it can be done. You'll have more options as LPN than as MA. I've worked with many great MAs in my 10 years of nursing. LPN does pay a little more than MA. I work in specialists offices and allergy clinics because I need my evenings, weekends, and holiday off to be with my family.