Someone Please Help Me!!!!!!!

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if i take a cna course do i have to take a medication aide course too to become an lpn?

I'm assuming this person is young and has little guidance in the health care field.

Here's the deal:

CNAs must take a class and pass a state exam (not too difficulty, really) to become a CNA. CNA=certified medication aide. There are no prereqs for taking a CNA course; I don't even think you have a high school diploman.

A medication aide is a CNA who has taken an additional course to learn how to pass *some* routine medications. That's it. They don't do treatments, they don't do assessments, they don't do all meds. They are still mainly a CNA that is able to pass certain meds. I think the only prereq is the CNA course, but I suspect this varies a little from school to school. Some may have you take a basic math course.

LPN=Licensed Practical Nurse. Although many schools now require you to be a CNA before you apply to LPN school, being a medication aide has nothing to do with being an LPN. LPNs learn and practice WAY beyond the scope of a medication aide, and the two are really not comparable. You have to go to a community college or technical college (some private colleges will have course, too, but they are VERY expensive, especially in light of the fact that LPNs don't make that much money) and then you have to pass the NCLEX-PN, a state licensing exam. LPN programs usually require basic college math, biology, anatomy and physiology, basic college English, Psyc, and Sociology.

Hope that helps.

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I thought young'ns were adept at searching.

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They were searching... their search led them here.

Gee whiz, they were just asking.

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helloooo,,,,wats this IPN:)

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That's ok. Just today I had someone tell me he was "almost" an LPN. "Almost?" I ask...and the response is "well, I just have one more course to go". "Oh? What course? Do you graduate soon?" Response: "I haven't started the program yet, so I have the LPN course to go...."

Yes, that's right. The 'one course' this guy needed to claim "his" LPN license was the entire program. Sigh.

That's a hoot!

I guess that makes me "almost" a doctor...after all, all I have to do is go to med school and complete a residency program!!!

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That's a hoot!

I guess that makes me "almost" a doctor...after all, all I have to do is go to med school and complete a residency program!!!

Forget that! I am almost the Emperor of the world! Now just for that pesky 'taking over all the countries' thing...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Second that. All in favor?

Yep! I say :up:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Indeed!!! I keep thinking the NCLEX part is understood.

Every medical profession seems to have that final government mandated exam to become whatever it is they are trying to become.

Those government mandated exams...such pesky little blocks, aren't they? :p

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Those government mandated exams...such pesky little blocks, aren't they? :p

I know!!! the government butts into EVERYTHING. I swear!!! :chuckle

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well i kno you have to do all that to become an lpn but do u have to take a medication aide class along with a cna class

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well i kno you have to do all that to become an lpn but do u have to take a medication aide class along with a cna class

No, you don't even have to be a CNA. Unless the school requires it.

It is advisable to become a CNA while in nursing school. The experience is wonderful.

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well i kno you have to do all that to become an lpn but do u have to take a medication aide class along with a cna class

No, you do not have to take a medication aide class to become an LPN. They are two completely separate entities.

Look at it this way. A medication aide is a CNA with a little extra training. An LPN is a NURSE.

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