marie4nursing

The main difference between CMA and CCMA is the different certifying organizations. CCMA is offered by the National Healthcare Association(NHA). The CMA is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants(AAMA). Another difference is the CMA has more strict requirements than the CCMA. The medical assisting program must be accrediated by the CAAHEP or ABHES, both are accrediating bodies of allied health education. The NHA does not require this. As long as the school is accrediated and approved by the NHA, you can get the CCMA. Also, you are not eligible for the CMA if you have a felony. The job duties are the same, just different certifications. As far as the associates vs diploma, it depends on your educational goals. If you don't plan to further your education or you just want short-term training, get the diploma. If you plan to go back to school and want to transfer your general classes to a bachelors degree, then get the associates degree. Getting your associates degree doesn't make your pay higher than someone with a diploma in medical assisting. You are paid according to ypur experience, not your length of education. This is why some people think it is a waste of time to pursue your associates. However, if you want to save money and time on taking general classes towards your bachelors, get the associates. If you plan on going this route, make sure the college is regionally accrediated so you can transfer credits. This is the path Im going because I plan on getting my Bachelors in Biology for Physician Assistant, since I recently discovered that nursing is not for me (despite what my username says! Lol!) Sorry for the long post!:) I hope this helps...

I know someone who is going through this situation at my job. This person is getting their certification revoked and will never work in healthcare again.

Being a CNA helped me to make the decision that nursing is for me. Just saying. :)

I am a CNA in LTAC. My residents/patients are always calling me "nurse", even though they are well aware that I am not one. I do not go around telling people that I am a nurse. I guess its easier for the resident/patient to say "nurse" than "nurse tech" or "nurse aide." I really can't wait to go to nursing school and become a nurse so I don't keep explaining that I am a CNA...lol

Thats awesome news! Working in a doctors office is a good decision, especially for your kids and back. Lol. I am not sure what are your long term goals in healthcare. I was in medical assisting school but left at the end because I realized that medical assistants are limited on the clinical side. It was more clerical to me and felt like a glorified office worker. When I was going to the doctors office, the LPN told me that LPNs are more hands on and get paid more. Nursing is not limited to bedside. I know many nurses who work in clinics. You will have more options as a nurse than a medical assistant. Thats why Im back in school to become a LPN. Im not trying to discourage you. Do what you have to do to better yourself. Its just something to think about. Im happy for you!

I have been a CNA for a year in LTAC and I love it! It can be stressful at times but very rewarding. I work 3-11 because I am a pre-nursing student and take classes in the morning. I clock in and get my report from 1st shift since I have a permanent assignment. Then I pass ice, do vital signs, change people on diapers, and get people ready for dinner. After dinner, I do the 2nd round which is the busiest round of the shift, because we start putting people in bed. I take out the trash or linen, then do my ADLs, and do a final round. Give report to third shift and clock out. This may sound routine, but sometimes the unexpected events messes things up. Like a resident seizes during lunchtime or a CNA calls out sick. I am glad I became a CNA because I mastered the basics and focus on the more advanced skills once I get accepted into LPN school. I wish you the best in the CNA field!

I am 27 years old and married. I changed my majors five times and dropped out three times out of college. I was too young to know what I wanted in life until I hit 25 when I cleaned houses for the elderly, disabled, and bedridden clients as a housekeeper. It was then that I wanted to be a nurse. It's scary for me as well because people tell me that you need straight A's in your general classes and I'm struggling in my math class right now with a 84. The fact of the matter is that you have more life experience and are more focused than you were the first time. Just work hard and give it your all. :)

A career choice shouldn't be based on money or statistics. It should be based on your interests and career preferences. I did sometime ago wanted to choose between nursing and medicine, but I finally choose nursing. I choose nursing because it take less time and less money on school to be a Nurse, if you get bored with one speciality you can easily transfer to another speciality(unlike Physicians) and you can actually have a life outside of work. I also choose nursing over medicine because my aunt is a Physician. Yes she makes the money, but never gets to enjoy it. She has a big house and barely stays in it. She has no spouse,no kids, and no life. She works long hours and always being put on call at her hospital. Plus, Physicians get sued more than Nurses. They hold a huge responsibility. Im not trying to scare you out of being a Physician. But just prepare to make life sacrifices to be one. If you want to do medicine and have a life, be a Physician Assistant. They basically can do what a Physician does without the medical school expenses. If you decide to be a Physician, you can take a PA to MD program(if they have one in your area). PA is my backup career if nursing school doesn't work out. Good luck in whatever you plan to do.

Im choosing to be a LPN (LVN) first because I want to be a nurse sooner and earn money while pursuing the RN. Here in Georgia, they have some LPN-to-RN bridge programs that are hybird: classroom work done online and the hands-on done in person. You don't have that flexability when you are pursuing the ASN or BSN. If the program for ASN wasn't so competitive, I would of went for RN. But LPN or LVN is good enough for me. My husband supports me in it 100%.

I agree with this comment for the most part. But as a former medical assistant student, I'd like to add that medical assisting helps you to do more than just take vitals. Medical assisting will also help in other things to be comfortable around patients. They do the clinical tasks(back office): take vitals, height/weight, take assessments(only RNs or the Physician do the initial assessment in my state), EKGs, being comfortable drawing blood and giving injections, record medical histories, assist in pap smear and minor surgical procedures, perform sutures, and do basic lab testing. They also do the administrative part( front office): answering phones, doing EMRs, billing and coding, filing out patient records, scheduling, phone triage(some offices let the nurses do this), etc. The duties depend on your state and what the Physician allows you to do. This is what I was taught in MA school, which I didn't get through the entire program because of personal reasons. MAs are not limited to doctors offices, like most people believe. If you get the MA and CNA certifications, you can work as a Patient Care Tech, EKG Tech, Phebotomist, Lab assistant, or a Clinical Care Partner which is less backbreaking AND more pay than being a regular CNA. MAs have more options than CNAs. I wish I gotten through the program because all I do as a CNA 90% of the time is wipe butts, change diapers, and lift patients. The experience has allowed me to see how to delegate tasks to CNAs and to never treat my CNAs like crap when I do become a nurse. I love my residents, but hate the fact that I do the same thing everyday and want to learn more than personal care on residents. If you do want to be a medical assistant, save money and go to a community college. The career college I went to force me to pull a private loan and I am thousands of dollars in debt. Taking a Clinical Medical Assisting course is a cheaper option. Always get the diploma, the associates degree in medical assisting is a waste of time. Make sure your MA program is accredited by NHA, CAAHEP or ABHES. However, medical assisting will not transfer to RN. But its better than being a CNA as far as saving your back and pay. Some nursing schools require the CNA certification. In my situation, my college uses a point system and being a CNA puts me 50 points ahead of those candidates who are not CNAs. The healthcare program advisor at my college said they favor CNAs over the non-CNAs when they do the final selection. But they also would favor anyone with healthcare training over someone who does not. Just something to consider. I am working on my prerequisites for my LPN. God knows I don't want to be a CNA forever. It depends on what you want to do and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Any experience in healthcare is valuable. Good Luck to whatever you decide to do! :) *Sorry for the long post. LOL

[*]What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? ---CNA [*]Where are you located? ---Georgia [*]What is your hourly wage? ----$10.00 on weekdays, $11.00 on weekends [*]Are you paid shift differentials? ----50 cents for 2nd shift, $1.00 on third shift [*]What shift(s) do you usually work? ---2nd shift [*]What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors' office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? ----Long Term Care [*]How many years of experience do you have? ---0 years, 1 month [*]What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? ---Full-time [*]Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? ---LPN then bridging over to RN. Currently a pre-nursing student.

Im sorry that this happened. But most nursing schools want you to score above the national average. I would study or take a prep class at the college, and then retake it. Did they tell what part of the test you scored the lowest??

If I ever become a nurse, (still deciding if I want to or not), I would never treat the CNAs/PCTs so badly. I have career CNAs in my family and I don't know how they do it!

I am a CNA and I work in a nursing home, which is way worse. But I understand what you are going through. It takes all my strength to go there everyday. I am there for my residents, not the nurses or anyone else. Most of our nurses are lazy and rude. If you have to stay, I would tell the manager about how you are being mistreated. Otherwise, I would try to get out of there asap--which is what I am doing after I get the experience I need.