Work as a MA or start RN program?

I have an AS in Medical Assisting, however I have never worked as one. Right after I graduated I started going to school full time, taking pre-requisites for the RN program. I'm finishing up my last 2 pre-reqs right now and I applied to start the RN program this May. However, now I'm doubting if this is really what I want to do. I already have about $25,000 in student loans and since I won't be able to work while I'm in the RN program I'll be adding to that with more. Also, my husband is in the Navy so there is no guarantee we'll be staying where we are currently stationed long enough for me to complete the program. I am seriously considering quitting school and working full time as a MA to pay off some of my loans and then returning to school later. Maybe even doing a bachelor's online in health care management or something.

So what would you do? Keep going in school or start working to pay off some debt. How do you know that nursing is really what you want to do?? :innerconf

(Also, if it matters I'm 20 years old, married w/ no kids)

What are you planning to do with health care management? RN is always the way to go. As an RN you can get a MS in healthcare management and have many more options.

wayunderpaid

Do the two year RN program. Forget everything else. Just my two cents worth.

I have an AS in Medical Assisting, however I have never worked as one. Right after I graduated I started going to school full time, taking pre-requisites for the RN program. I'm finishing up my last 2 pre-reqs right now and I applied to start the RN program this May. However, now I'm doubting if this is really what I want to do. I already have about $25,000 in student loans and since I won't be able to work while I'm in the RN program I'll be adding to that with more. Also, my husband is in the Navy so there is no guarantee we'll be staying where we are currently stationed long enough for me to complete the program. I am seriously considering quitting school and working full time as a MA to pay off some of my loans and then returning to school later. Maybe even doing a bachelor's online in health care management or something.

So what would you do? Keep going in school or start working to pay off some debt. How do you know that nursing is really what you want to do?? :innerconf

(Also, if it matters I'm 20 years old, married w/ no kids)

Honey, I think you are taking a big leap of faith assuming that you will even get in to an RN program the first time you apply. Nursing schools everywhere are becoming more and more competitive, and you need a near 4.0 to get in to even the community colleges. You should work as an MA if for no other reason to strengthen your application and develop your patient care skills. You also mention that you aren't sure that nursing is for you. Listen to your heart!! The best way to find out is to work in healthcare. You will get a much better glimpse of the life of a nurse as an MA than many other jobs you could obtain. I would work for at least one year as an MA, and pay off some of that debt, so you don't have as many finacial worries when you do start a nursing program. When you are ready to go back, I would opt for an LPN program first, since you may be moving around alot with the hubby.

Just FYI (from the heartbreak of others I know): a Bachelor's in health care mgt has a fraction of the employability of an RN license. It is in no way a career equivalent. I have a few friends who were sold on that as their career path and they all ended up very disappointed.

Before I'd do that I'd get my LPN. At least then you have a clinical license and can bridge towards RN if you want to.

I have always wondered if the rate of pay for a medical assistant with an associate degree is higher than one that went to a vocational school. I am not trying to be insulting; please tell me what you learned in your MA associate degree program. I have seen programs where they mentioned classes in anatomy and microbiology (for 4 credits each), etc. Are they the same as college credits going to courses such as nursing, physical and occupational therapy?

One of the major complaints I hear about regarding MA school is that the students pay a very high tuition, but are not financially compensated for their investment and many have difficulty finding jobs. If the pay for medical assistants in your area is low, and if jobs are hard to find in that position, you still may be hard pressed to make a dent on the $25,000 debt.

I think you should speak to friends that are nurses, see how they feel about their jobs and imagine yourself in their shoes. Nursing is very rewarding, but you won't get the pat on your back and praise you expect all the time. You have to basically encourage yourself. You say that you will be moving around alot. Maybe taking an LPN course would be ideal, to see if you are really made for nursing, before you take the big leap. Will you be able to 'remain put' for about a year of so, just to complete the course? Good luck in your decision!

I'm not assuming that I will be accepted to the R.N. program my first try but after speaking to my counselor and telling her the scores I received on the NAT and my GPA, she said I will have a very good chance of being admitted this May.

I got an A.S. in Medical Assisting instead of a certificate because prior to starting classes for medical assisting I had taken general education classes at a university, so I was close enough to an A.S. already that I figured I might as well take a few extra classes to get it instead of a certificate. I don't know about the pay differential as I am yet to work in the field. I had to take a speech class, basic A&P, medical terminology, a math class, biology on top of my more clinical classes.

I've decided to wait a month to see if I'm accepted and if not I will start working as an MA until I am. Another factor is the fact that I injured my knee 3 months ago and it's still giving me troubles. I had an MRI today so I'll talk to the doctor next week about the results and see if I will even be able to do a job where I am standing for a long time or if I need surgery.

So just so I'm clear, the MA certificate surely didn't cost you any majority of that 25k??? Please tell me it didn't. That's 2x what Nursing school cost me... and do you even NEED a degree to be a medical assistant?!?!