Why did you become an MA?

[studentih]

So I am being told that the only reason folks go to MA school is because they....

1. They wanted something fast and quick to get into the medical field

2. They were unemployed and lazy

Next, I am told that because of these two reasons, MAs are incompetent and are not trained appropiately to be considered "medical professionals"

I am really just venting.....but I work hard everyday as an MA. I have learned so much about the medical field, and have even taught a lot to my coworkers (RNs, LPNs) too. I just feel like some people have this messed up idea about MAs. From one bad experience they judge the whole lot of us. I am applying to nursing school this year and my time that I have spent working as an MA has help me realize that I am making the best decision for myself. If you have never gone through the MA training and worked as an MA then you cannot speak about it. You cannot tell me what my job entails. You cannot tell me what I learned and what I didn't learned. You don't know the work, don't act you do.

That felt good

So my question to my fellow MAs....

Why did you go to MA school?

IH

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

An MA told me she didn't know she could do any better.

Well, there's that.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

...I'm feeling a sense of déjà vu...does this really have nothing to do with another thread last week?

I worked a dual role as anLPN/office manager for a large outpatient organization where most of the office staff were MAs back office. There's a huge difference in what an MA or a nurse can do legally, and that's why they had a manager that was also a nurse, for those specific situations that they didn't want a lawsuit over later.

[Dogen]

I became an MA because they wouldn't let me be a vet tech...

[pixiestudent2]

I became an MA because they wouldn't let me be a vet tech...

You know... I was gonna make a comment, but it was totally gonna be taken the wrong way.

😸

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

So my question to my fellow MAs....

Why did you go to MA school?

I attended an MA program back when I was 19 years old and working a dead-end job as a grocery store cashier. I was under the impression that a job as an MA would improve my financial situation and be more interesting than cashiering.

I never got the chance to work as an MA because employers in the area where I lived wanted experienced MAs only. In addition, I didn't have the right look, verve, or bilingual skills that employers valued in that particular part of southern CA.

[nursingstudentjess]

I became an MA to get my feet wet, and gain some hands on experience in the medical field. I knew it would be nothing compared to nursing, but I truly value my 6 years of experience as an MA. I learned a lot of valuable lessons that I will carry with me as I begin my nursing career.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

1. I don't know why you compared my job to that of an RN. That accomplished nothing.

2. Like I said before, You didn't go through MA training, you don't know what I learned in school. Don't act like you do. I don't go around acting like I know everything a nurse is trained to do. I don't rely on an internet search to tell me what they do either.

I did become an MA and I know how they differ from nurses and the post this quote is on is accurate.

I became and MA back in the 80's when it was a new career field and I have worked in offices as an MA. I went to a community college in Nebraska and finished before we moved to Indiana so my husband could study in a 4 year Master's program. I became the MA so I could obtain gainful employment during this time.

I had always wanted to become a nurse and was able to finally do so. I can tell you that the training and scopes of practice are way different. Yes, an internet search can and does tell one what either profession can do and what the education for each consists of.

It does sadden me to learn that after 35 years, there still is an uncertainty of where MA's fit in.I would have thought that would have changed.

There are MA's out there who shouldn't be MA's as well as nurses who should not be nurses. Do your job honestly land don't tread into areas that are considered nursing. Know normal values of VS. Do procedures accurately and not sloppy and you will have respect of the patients. Don't do things correctly and nurses in the exam room will not appreciate you. That is true of all things.

If you hear of MA's doing things wrong or presenting as a nurse, teach them the correct way and let them know they should make it clear that they are not a nurse. That you can't answer many of their questions that they have to ask the nurse or the physician.

These things will go a long ways in gaining respect for your position and career choice. When I use "you" and "your" I am referring in the general sense, not any particular person.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

I became an MA because they wouldn't let me be a vet tech...

I think I love you! That was brilliant

[ButtaflyRN]

I went to school to be an MA in California because I did want something that would get me into the medical profession quickly and in CA MA's were utilized and seemingly respected. I actually obtained an AS degree and learned a lot of practical skills as an MA but when I moved to KS is seemed that the job wasnt very respected and you could obtain the title with on the job training. After working in KS as an MA for 2 years I went back to school to become a CNA so I could do something I else and within a year I was in school to to get my LPN and soon after that getting my RN.

Medical assisting is a great career if you are in a place, clinic, state etc that respects the field, when we are trained in school we can do a lot of things that nurses (hell in CA I was trained to draw blood when in KS LPNs couldnt unless they were IV certified) can do what I found that I lacked later was the knowledge behind the why's of some things. I think if I had stayed in CA, I would've stayed an MA, there was a lot of diversity in drs offices and the respect of the field was greater.

[ButtaflyRN]

I think I know what thread inspired this post, and I sincerely believe that you misinterpreted much of what some of our members were saying. Just my personal opinion.

Another issue: we can easily find out what an MA learns in school by researching it. We can look up course catalogues and figure out what you're learning. For instance, at my community college, the MA students do not have to take Anatomy and Physiology; they simply need a cell biology course. We can also easily determine what an MA's job duties/scope of practice entails.

As a reference:

"Medical assistants are unlicensed, and may only perform basic administrative, clerical and technical supportive services as permitted by law. An unlicensed person may not diagnose or treat or perform any task that is invasive or requires assessment. The responsibility for the appropriate use of unlicensed persons in health care delivery rests with the physician.The classification of medical assistant is defined under the provisions of the Medical Practice Act (Business and Professions Code sections 2069-2071) as a person who may be unlicensed who performs basic administrative, clerical, and technical supportive services under the supervision of a licensed physician, podiatrist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife."

Medical Assistants Practicing Beyond the Scope of Their Training

The fact that MAs and RNs have different job duties and scopes of practice does not mean people hate MAs. The fact that members on here are aware of the differences between MAs and RNs and have shared that information on this forum is not evidence that people hate MAs. Some people may, but many do not.

I am an RN but years ago went to school to become an MA, in California we were required to perform 75 injections in various sites and 120 blood draws to pass the course. In my LPN program in KS students were only required to give 3 total injections. I didnt have to take that class as I had already taken a similar class for my MA but I was shocked at how little injections they actually had to do. I understand that not all MA's are trained this way but those are invasive procedures and where I am now an LPN does not draw blood unless she is IV certified. It really varies on where you obtained your training, I was trained in back and front office and IMO trained well.

If I were to sign my name with all my past titles it would look something like this...MA, CNA, CMA, LPN, RN

[studentih]

quiltynurse56,

Your post really made me feel better.

Thank you.

[studentih]

Thank you to all who responded to my question!

I became an MA because I wanted to learn more about the medical field and wanted a job where I can learn and experience what it would be like. I learned so much from MA school and it has lead me to a job that helps me pay for my pre-nursing classes, allows me to use my skills that I learned from school and enjoy working everyday. This job has given me a chance to work with all different sorts medical professionals and helped me realize my desire to move up.

Excited about starting nursing school next year

keep sharing your MA stories!!

IH