Ranking Order.

:thankya: I had to work really hard at it.

Anyway, about the MA/LVN thing...MAs aren't licenced, LVNs are. LVNs/LPNs can be certified to give IV meds, and can actually administer medication. MAs can never do either. (See, I just think nurses are better). I used to think of MAs as, well, someone who wears scrubs...but I just had a great conversation with someone here about it. I did not know that there is an AA degree in medical assisting! She says that you don't have to have one to be a MA, and some of them are basically pulled off the street. They don't have to take any kind of boards.

Hi prickly, :)

At my college they offer an Associates in Medical Assisting. Upon graduation, they are can take an examination to become CMA (Certified Medical Assistants). A great friend of mine graduated last year, and according to her it makes a difference in pay and job opportunities for them to become certified. I just learned this recently though. It is not something I was familiar either. Of course, it might vary from state to state.

Have a good day,

Jessica

:thankya: I had to work really hard at it.

Anyway, about the MA/LVN thing...MAs aren't licenced, LVNs are. LVNs/LPNs can be certified to give IV meds, and can actually administer medication. MAs can never do either. (See, I just think nurses are better). I used to think of MAs as, well, someone who wears scrubs...but I just had a great conversation with someone here about it. I did not know that there is an AA degree in medical assisting! She says that you don't have to have one to be a MA, and some of them are basically pulled off the street. They don't have to take any kind of boards.

Hi Pricklypear! It was me who you had that conversation with and I think most of the previous posters are correct in their rankings. Although MA's aren't licensed, we take the same pharmacology course as the nursing students and can pass meds (but only under the supervision of the physician). We can also be taught to place I.V.'s, again under the supervision of the physicians. Most MA's work directly under the M.D. (or PA/NP), and in clinic settings, at least what I'm familiar with, nurses and MA's usually work independently of each other. I think that physicians may also teach MA's specific duties (I worked for an orthopedic surgeon who taught me how to cast his pts for all of the different types of fx's), depending on the specialty. Again, anything the MA does is under the direction of the pysician and under his or her license. :)

well, you guys have convinced me!! I guess I would rank MAs parallel to LPNs - since their scope has a much wider potential than CNAs. Hi Andi! Nice to see you again!

Thank you, thank you . I'm much obliged to all who replied.

Signed,

the OP