Why Even go for your MA? Don't Understand...

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please enlighten me as i don’t understand. i was talking with a medical assistant at a doctors office today. she stated that she went to school for 2 years to become a ma. she also stated that she was required to take all the classes that an rn takes before they can get into the program (anatomy and physiology, etc), but she gets pain less than an lpn who only goes to school for one year. how is that fair? why not just get an lpn license or rn license instead and make more money. please, i know it’s not all about the money but i don’t think one could advance any further from a medical assistant the way an lpn can advance to an rn? am i wrong or crazy for thinking this way?

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Sorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

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Sorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

Well, goodness...so sorry General E. Speaking, I have edited this post just for you :) They were just bold letters and frankly, this is a bit picky. If you did not like my bold letters, don't be a smart ****, just don't even post.

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People who become an MA do so because they prefer the office setting and/or they are given slanted information by the salespeople who are promoting the profitable school programs. If they had accurate career advice, they would know that nursing offers greater job and pay opportunities.

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I come on here to read, ask questions, comment, give the best advice possible, and have fun. I don't come on here to post and have my bold letters or grammer scrutinized. If you don't like, don't post. Don't hate, lol :)

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Sorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

Ok, I literally LOLed at this.

To the OP.....MA programs are often at for-profit technical institutions, and I see ads for them on TV all the time. Maybe not everyone who goes that route thinks it through the same way you do? Maybe there are more MA programs than LPN programs? Maybe it's easier to get in? More flexible schedule? Maybe they're interested in the more clerical focus that MAs can do? Maybe they prefer an office environment, which is what MAs are geared towards?

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Specializes in Cardiology.

No, I definitely do not understand why a person would take two years to go to school and end up with just an MA. RN's do work in doctors offices such as for cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists. Even if they work in a GP office they may not make as much as in the hospital but definitely more than what an MA makes.

I think the large bolded print comes across as shouting, but maybe that's just me :rolleyes:

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People who become an MA do so because they prefer the office setting and/or they are given slanted information by the salespeople who are promoting the profitable school programs. If they had accurate career advice, they would know that nursing offers greater job and pay opportunities.

Great reply. I respect MAs to the fullest, but I have to agree that I don't feel as though they get acurate career advice. This one MA I was talking with knew her stuff. She got lots of experience in school but complains that she gets paid less than an LPN even though she went to school longer. I wanted to ask, "Then, why didn't you choose to be an LPN or RN?"

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I think the large bolded print comes across as shouting, but maybe that's just me :rolleyes:

lol, wasn't trying to shout. I didn't even capitalize all my letters, they were just bold. I thought maybe some readers could see better, lol. Thanks for clarifying. :lol2:

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

Some MA's don't want to be an LPN or RN. It's possible they do get bad career advice but there is only one out of 4 colleges in my area that even offer an MA associates degree. There are about 5 different private colleges that will train you in around 10 months to be an MA. When someone is desperate for work it looks pretty attractive along with good hours especially when you have school age children.

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Specializes in ED, MICU/TICU, NICU, PICU, LTAC.

In some instances, it can be a little easier to get into MA programs. When I lived in Florida they really pushed those programs, citing job opportunities in the military as a civilian, etc. While you don't have to take a placement test to get into an RN program (hence the high attrition rates in some places) sometimes there's quite a wait list - the program I went through averaged 150 apps per year, and matriculated 60. So if someone's ready to get started in the medical field, it might be an attractive option, instead of waiting :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.

I am NOT saying that this is the reason some people choose to be MAs - but if someone has a drunk driving charge, or an arrest record, or charges filed against them for whatever reason..... most Boards of Nursing will not let someone sit for the boards. I remember when I was in nursing school we had to do a background check the first week of clinicals. I felt bad for a fellow student who had to drop out. She was arrested 15 years earlier in a bar fight and was charged with assault. She could not be a nurse. BUT she could be a state tested nurses assistant! (Stna)

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