Student Nurse = Medical Assistant??

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Hey,

Has anyone ever heard of a nursing student being hired for a medical assistant position? Just a thought, because they seem to be in high demand here, currently.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I think MA's have a certifying or diploma to recognize competency. While many of the skills overlap, MA's have been bred to meet specific criteria for doctor's offices.

They do some skills that nursing students and even nurses do not do such as take radiographs, blood draws (depending if your hospital has phlebotomis, I haven't seen a nurse to a blood draw unless it's from a PICC, in several years), local anesthesia (under the MD l), and some dermal procedures.

Again, you'll have to shop around. Maybe in your part of the country they'll just do on-the-job training and hire you so who knows.

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I know that in my area (South FL), that once you have completed your first semester of nursing school (again it depends on the facility's policies) they allow you to work as a patient care tech (pretty much what you would consider the scope of practice for a CNA). I would check the job boards or talk to the HR dept. of the hospital that you are interested in.

Good Luck! :up:

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

Forget the hands on skills. Most medical assistants also have to know about insurance and billing too! I'm in central Florida and the MA's here are the ones making the phone calls, scheduling appointments, contacting insurance, calling in scripts, bringing patients back, vital signs.

This wouldn't necessarily help you get a nursing job unless you want to work in that same place. Usually MA's are hired into doctors offices. They aren't even allowed to do my TB skin test anymore because insurance companies want the one staff nurse to do it...she's the staff RN for all 6 doctors in the building too! I'm guessing she's not giving up that position anytime soon either.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.
I know that in my area (South FL), that once you have completed your first semester of nursing school (again it depends on the facility's policies) they allow you to work as a patient care tech (pretty much what you would consider the scope of practice for a CNA). I would check the job boards or talk to the HR dept. of the hospital that you are interested in.

Good Luck! :up:

This. A lot of hospitals have it listed as "have completed at least 1 clinical rotation of nursing school"...also some nursing homes, SNF, LTC, etc will also hire you as well, if that's more your speed.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Check your state's Medical Board. Each state handles this differently. In my state anyone can be a Medical Assistant if the doctor is willing to train you and you work under the direction of the doctor or nurse he delegates to.

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Great! Thanks for all your help, everyone!

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