RN question to CMA's (tell me it ain't so)

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Once you have completed your CMA requirments, have you found that your credits from the MA courses you took transfer to an ADN program or BSN program ? I really hope so. My freind that is an MA, bless her heart (one of the sweetest people you will ever meet), wants to go to school for her RN. I work with an CMA , who told me she went to a 11 month program , became certified and when she went to apply at an ADN programe they told her that none of the credits would transfer. She said she left in tears. She said she felt like she had been robbed. That it even sent her into a depression for a while. I hope this isn't true. My friend worked so hard ,payed a good sum of money, but has already found that the pay isn't what they had told her. I guess, I want to be prepared to be there for her if she faces the same difficulties. I like the CMA I work with but, I have to tell you , I hope she did somthing wrong. I really don't want my freind to go through this.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Yes , my transcripts helped in reducing or getting credit for certain classes. I used the MA Program and my LPN and Associated transcripts for the RN program I am in now, and they gave me more credit than a college in a close town. It appears every school is different, does your friend have options for schools in your area? I hope the best for her too.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.

Same thing happened to me I went to school for my MA (we don't need to certified in my area) decided that I wanted to go to school to be a nurse got my transcripts and the community college told me that they don't accept any of the credits but if I want to go to the university later on that they would aceept my A&P as a the lecture but not the lab. I wasn't very happy about this because the school I went to said that credits were transferable to all of the local colleges.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I've slowly taken the courses needed to complete this RN mission. And due to the time factor I had to repeat A & P along the way. Yuck. How is microbiology, any pointers?

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

Where I am CMA classes do not count for any college credits (unless the person got their degree from a community college, as opposed to the much more common vo-tech type of school).

And yea, the vo-techs often lie and tell the students that the credits transfer.:angryfire

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

The only **** I got before starting school was a counselor telling me "oh Sheri, u won't want to work weekends or nights if u become a nurse". This was after a test I had to take (welfare) to see what area of the workforce I would do well in. So I hit it with Science and not as an architect (can't sew either), that was annoying. So when I entered the MA program I had no expectations, just to pass. And by the way I was so humiliated with that test I had to take, I went out the night before and had a few and the next morning took it hung over (denial?,who knows), but I passed in top 3% of nation. Who can't put a square block in a square hole? Too weird. I wrote that counselor a letter and told him to lighten up as I was working, and on weekends and the 3-11 shifts and going back to school. Anyway.....

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Thanks for your best wishes for her. Kind of sounds like if she had an assos. MA, they may transfer but, perhaps the 11 month school she went to may have been a waist of time (I mean as far as money and time in school ) not the experience. Although it seems many things they taught her were wrong. None the less, she is kind smart and deticated so I'm sure she will do fine but I just hate to see her disapointed. Sometimes I think the schools need to be looked in to (for the students sake) Best wishes to you too. We need more nurses like you out there.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

it depends on how the ma school is accredited. if a person took their ma classes at a community college then more than likely yes. but it has been my experience (as a cma/rma now lpn, almost rn) that trade schools..you know the ones you see on tv , their credits will not transfer.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
Thanks for your best wishes for her. Kind of sounds like if she had an assos. MA, they may transfer but, perhaps the 11 month school she went to may have been a waist of time (I mean as far as money and time in school ) not the experience. Although it seems many things they taught her were wrong. None the less, she is kind smart and deticated so I'm sure she will do fine but I just hate to see her disapointed. Sometimes I think the schools need to be looked in to (for the students sake) Best wishes to you too. We need more nurses like you out there.

Where I am, there is a 24 month associates for MA. NONE of the classes are able for transfer into an ADN program. I find this unbelieveable. I had experience with this when a cousin of mine wanted to go to MA school, unfortunately they only one around here is a 24 month $26,000 course. They told her that the credits would transfer, but they wouldnt. The sciences were too little amount of credits and the math wasnte right. Micro wasnt as in depth.

So, just check out the school. Dont just take their word for it that their credits are acceptable at the schools. Ask the schools themselves.

Good Luck

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I've slowly taken the courses needed to complete this RN mission. And due to the time factor I had to repeat A & P along the way. Yuck. How is microbiology, any pointers?

I loved micro; to me it was much easier and more interesting than anatomy.

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

Crux, wow what a price tag on that nasty school. Did they allow testing out of classes for RN, or anything of the like. You'd think education higher-ups would be way proud of their schools and prevent conditions like this.

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I attend a private college that has programs in both Nursing (LPN) & a 2 year MA (associates degree) program. Everytime a new nursing class starts, there are "drop-ins" from the MA program, either those who have graduated or who started the MA program and realized that it wasn't all that they were told & decided to try nursing instead. In our 4 term nursing program, the MA students get to drop in to the 2nd term. If they have taken the 5 Gen ed courses (Public Speaking, College Writing, Psychology, & A&P 1&2) they don't need to repeat them. The A&P courses they take in the MA program aren't really as intense as ours iare (ours are more geared toward disease) but they are accepted.

I recently talked with a couple of my teachers about our school's NCLEX pasing rate, which is pretty low. They mentioned that the former MA students tend to have a more difficult time passing the test than the ones who had all 4 terms of nursing. They have their MA skills down well but have a hard time with thinking like a nurse, critical thinking skills. It is tothe point that they are rethinking how they fit them into the program. They might require them to complete all 4 terms of nursing classes.

I think they are saying that nurses & MAs have a different way of thinking. I know that it was a skill I've had to learn this year. I admire the MAs & expect to work very closely with them as I hope to work in the clinic setting after graduation (in 2 weeks!!!!!) I wish I had some of the technical skills they had to learn, the ones I'll have to learn on the job.

Dixie

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