Medical Assistants are trained thoroughly in front-office procedures such as recording medical histories, vital statistics and test results in medical records. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. The information here is sourced well and enriched with great visual photo and video illustrations. I go the LPN route but it cost double the cost of the MA program and double the amount of time to complete it. Certified Medical Assistant Vs. Certified Nursing Assistant Vs. LPN. I am old and making a past mid life career change. As for my clinic responsibilities I can/have to do everything LPNs do. I'm not an LPN... and am not quite an MA... but will tell you why I made the choice I did. Medical assistants work directly under the supervision of a licensed doctor or, sometimes, a registered nurse. But lots of students may not be aware of the distinctions between a medical assistant and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) before embarking on a nursing career. I just graduated from my local college MA program. There's a separate job called Home Health Aide (HHA). Both … Hello, we provide concise yet detailed articles on "Assist Choices: Medical Assistant Vs Lpn" topic. Nor did I want the long hours. The transition from LPN to RN is 12 months and can be done online. Thanks for sharing! Going to bandwagon everybody else, both virigina and Maryland are phasing out LPNs. Something that you may want to consider is that you can get hired at a hospital as a tech and they will pay for a lot of your training so if you wanted to go the ma route you would be able to do that and get certified for almost no cost. for exams, and also to assist the physician with certain procedures. MA's don't get paid nearly as much. A CNA, also known as a certified nurse assistant or nursing assistant, is a healthcare professional who supports nurses with direct patient care. MEDICAL ASSISTANT VS LPN – Indeed.com MEDICAL ASSISTANT VS LPN. The average salary of a nurse vs. a medical assistant varies greatly. There is also opportunity for us to be supervisors as well. Another advantage of becoming an LPN is that the position is much closer to what a registered nurse does than a medical assistant is. A place for advice, help with passing your certification test and school. What's your thoughts on MA? Unlike medical assistants, CNAs do not perform administrative duties. LPNs, on the other hand, made $44,840 per year. An MA has no legal responsibility. MA vs LPN. It is expected that both the medical assistant and licensed practical nurse occupations will grow by at least 22 percent by 2022. Medical Assistant vs. LPN Salary. In my program we can (and mostly do) sit the Phlebotomist exam,some exam to be EKG certified, and some do the Pharmacology exam. The MA position is growing rapidly and there is a lot more stipulations as to our requirements for training and education than there was. In fact, both CMAs and LPNs require only a couple of years of postsecondary education. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. here in los angeles, MA’s and LPN’s are interchangeable. Medical Assistant vs CNA - Differences and Requirements. Hot. They're both are high-contact, meaning a Medical Assistant and an LPN both will interact a lot with patients. At 57 years old, this is why I chose MA over any nursing. There are substantial differences between the education requirements to become a registered nurse and a medical assistant. In the debate on Medical assistant vs LPN , both are highly respected members of the medical care team, providing vital support to ensure good quality and effective treatment is given to patients. I was considering doing the MA route being that it is a 6 to 8 month part time program. MAs don't do home health here. Here's is a quick snapshot to answer your question https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/medical-assistants.htm, Gonna piggy back here. I'm in MA school. Work Environment – Most LPNs work in hospitals, nursing care facilities and with patients at home. Since becoming a medical assistant, Ive assisted with a handful of emergencies while at work in the past. The main difference is that an LPN is a Nurse, where as a Medical Assistant is an Assistant. Here in Florida an LPN starts at about $18 when an MA the most they make is $10. one thing to consider though lpn's are getting faded out of the medical field. Those of us already working in the field this is a place to help us get through our work day's. Pay is low but there will be plenty of openings. I agree exactly. If you are pursuing a career in healthcare, you may consider whether to become a medical assistant or nursing assistant. LPNs are being replaced by MAs because they can do the same stuff as long as it is under the direction of a physician and they can be paid less. Some talk I've heard is RNs are replacing LPNs with the exception of nursing homes. Medical Assistant vs Licensed Nurse (LPN/LVN) Similar to the licensure of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses are licensed by one of our 50 states after the nurse has graduated from a state approved practical nursing school and they have successfully passed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX-PN examination. the education and training is different but once you’re out in the field you’ll be doing the same stuff. Factors that may influence salary levels for both these professions include geographic location, type of employer and years of experience and education level. Those of us already working in the field this is a place to help us get through our work day's. Why? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the MedicalAssistant community. so now I make as much as the lpns starting in the clinic. When you find the article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues. MA/CMA is more in line with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Their earnings are one of the biggest differences between a nurse and a medical assistant’s career graph. A place for advice, help with passing your certification test and school. 22.18 hr. Test for the cert if you can. medical assistants of reddit r/ MedicalAssistant. You need to get CMA or RMA certification for best opportunities. So my wife and I were discussing what's next if I can't get into RN school for the fourth time and prereqs are expiring. Medical Assistants are wanted to greet and room patients, take vital signs, prepare the pt. A nursing assistant, sometimes called a nursing aide, provides basic care for patients in hospitals and in nursing facilities. For instance, a medical assistant or LPN may earn a higher than average salary if he or she works in a location with a higher cost of living and/or has several years of work experi… It's even better for you if you take the state exam as well. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/medical-assistants.htm. Have you considered other programs like X-ray/ct/mri? Hence, there are a lot of employment opportunities for medical assistants and licensed practical nurses. Most places will hire an MA over and LPN because they get the same thing for cheaper. In my location we have tons and tons of MA openings but they are phasing out LPNs like another poster said. rn may be a better choice, esp if you have inteterest in trauma, er, icu, … It should be noted that depending on where you go to school for it, CMA coursework might not cross over with LPN or RN very well, so if you wanted to start with CMA and go to nursing, you may have to start from scratch. You can also ask for more pay via experience. The information here is sourced well and enriched with great visual photo and video illustrations. Also, Medical Assistant courses focus on ambulatory and emergency services, while a LPN courses focus on hospital and clinical care. Go somewhere where the cost of living is cheaper. The job currently in makes about on average what an MA would make around $18 an hour. MAs interview patients to obtain their medical history versus an LPN, who responds to patient calls and … For me my line of work in healthcare it is hard to find work out of State. We are looking at a move to Texas, Virginia, or Tennessee. LPN Vs. EMT. While the positions are similar, there are some key differences. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. So the jobs that are being looked for are CNAs (or different name depending on location) MAs and RNs, they are even starting to slow the hiring process for nurse practitioners, LPNs now only are really seen in long/short term Rehabilitation, retirement, or specialized care facilities. The u/piyu54321 community on Reddit. I am a certified clinical medical assistant and I'm in the last month of my LPN program. However, the LPNs I know have not had problems finding jobs. Once done, my instructors say the only difference in us and LPNs will be that we can't hang blood and we cant administer narcotics. For me, I didn't want the responsibility of being a nurse. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Make an extra $4 due to location of my job and higher COL in the County I work in. Hello, we provide concise yet detailed articles on "Assistant Choices: Medical Assistant Vs Lpn" topic. LPNs are legally registered with the state and are legally responsible for any decisions they make. I am a certified clinical medical assistant and I'm in the last month of my LPN program. Press J to jump to the feed. I was planning on taking a 40-credit MA diploma program at the local community college, but the LPN program caught my eye as well. When you find the article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues. Nursing assistants have a more physical job than medical assistants, often being asked to help patients with basic tasks like bathing, moving or repositioning patients and monitoring patients’ vital signs. Medical assistant and LPN positions are two of the fastest growing occupations in the healthcare industry. This allows for a wider scope of responsibilities than a medical assistant. I get that. Also more education opportunities, more flexible education opportunities, and more affordable education opportunities. Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Essentially, a licensed medical doctor must approve a medical assistant’s ability to practice, and then agree to allow the MA to work directly under his or her medical license. Oregon , CMA 12 years, in nursing school. You might be able to sit for one of those tests with your experience alone. Wow interesting. there are some sprinkles at the hospitals. An MA would have to start as a generic RN student and it would take 2 years just to complete nursing school. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 1 year of school for about $20 hr here. Ability to work PRN or PT instead of just M-F 8a to 5pm. LPNs are not. The difference between a Medical Assistant vs LPN. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. I decided to go into my LPN program because I like the mobility of being able to work in different situations. I think that program typically isn’t as difficult to get into as nursing and makes a lot more than an MA could ever. LPNs are also known as licensed vocational nurses or LVNs in some states. While there may be some variation between states, typically it takes about 2 years for an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and 4 years for a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Licensed practical nurses and emergency medical technicians -- LPNs and EMTs -- are health-care workers who perform some similar tasks but in most ways have very different job tasks and occupational risks. To begin with, programs for nursing are much longer than for medical assistants. I was an aide for 3 years at a hospital before being an MA and started out with $2 more than the others. After passing the exam, they can start working as an LPN. A subreddit for medical assistants. LPNs are doing assessments, wound care, catheters, NG tubes, medication administration (I have an IV/veinapuncture cert so I can draw blood and do IV fluids, electrolytes and blood products but not IV meds). They’re responsible for monitoring patient health, administering basic patient care, and keeping records of patient health. There is a demand for Medical Assistants in many states. Individuals with a desire to work in healthcare may want to consider pursuing a career either as a certified medical assistant (CMA) or as a licensed practice nurse (LPN). Medical Assistant jobs forums. Like someone else mentioned CNAs are mostly assisting with ADLs. While the positions share some of the same basic job functions, a physician or clinic is given additional administrative support by the medical assistant, while the LPN provides more in-depth … Haven't worked as an MA yet. The only thing I was worried about was feeling less than my nurses but they have been nothing but amazing and have given me a lot of guidance. These careers do not require the same sacrifice of time and finances as a medical degree. Medical Assistant vs. LPN Salaries Because LPNs need more training and licensing, and they have greater job responsibilities, they generally earn more than medical assistants . Have zero certs or licenses so makes finding work difficult. But I also had to go to school for two years to be a CMA. LPNs can be accepted to LPN-RN bridge programs and graduate in less than 1 year. ... A subreddit for medical assistants. jump to content. I've worked in family practice, internal … Cookies help us deliver our Services. Medical Assistant vs LPN has become the most discussed or debate topic nowadays. ... Medical assistant vs LPN : Pro's and Con's of being a MA and LPN. Just curious what do you think the average MA hourly rate is??? As of May 2016, the mean annual salary for medical assistants was $32,850, according to the data of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I am old and mid life change too. Two positions that are often confused with one another are licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and medical assistants.. LPNs: LPNs usually serve in hospitals and clinics and work under RNs and doctors. Join. We were considering moving out of State. They are supervised by registered nurses and report directly to … A place for advice, help with passing your certification test and school. Both will collect samples (such as urine, blood and stool). Medical Assistant Vs Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs in the medical field have historically been known for their good salaries and excellent job security. I do blood draws, EKGs, medical records, secretary work, vitals, admissions, discharges, blood sugars, charting, attend to clients ADLS, and facilitate groups. These careers also allow a professional to perform a variety of … But there is a huge need for MAs where I live they start at 9 (col is low). Posted by 6 months ago. This is true. That’s because the average salary of an entry-level nurse is roughly between $46,240 ($22.23 per hour) and $71,730 ($34.48 per hour) depending on whether you’re talking about an LPN/LVN or an RN. I was very fortunate that as soon as I got hired my facility they did a special training specific to my facility so I ended up with an additional $2.50. I'd look into that first if you don't want to go to more school. Posts Wiki. … I have read that LPN can do the same as an MA, … wish ya the best of luck. While both types of professionals perform essential jobs in the health care field, medical assistants and nursing assistants have distinct responsibilities and career paths. The mean annual salary for medical assistants was $32,850 in May 2016 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to a mean annual salary of $44,840 for LPNs. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the MedicalAssistant community. As far as MA vs. LPN- LPN's are nurses and do a whole lot more than an MA. Because medical assistants cannot earn a license, they are often not allowed to work in state-funded nursing … Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Archived. I did through NCCT based on military training and experience. 5. Im almost done with my MA and where i live (TN) LPNs are being phased out like crazy for MAs. My wife who is an LPN said MA job's are hard to find now a days? It is the same amount of credits and the prerequisites are pretty much the same. Quality of life sounds like the reason for your choice. The best choice I have made! The program is not as flexible as the MA program. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for a medical assistant across the U.S. is $33,610 per year and $16.16 per hour. Both will check vital signs, take patient histories, and administer medication. I can order poc tests, patient hx, assist physicians with proceedures, med count, administer meds (never anything more than a steroid injection very few controlled substances). Registered Nurse is a far stronger credential with better pay and benefits. Though medical assistants do work with patients, their tasks are much more limited. Seniority – in the hierarchy of a medical facility, the medical assistant is lower on the ladder of seniority than a LPN, even though both report to a registered nurse or physician. Healthcare and nursing both encompass a variety of specialties and degrees. Hot New Top Rising. Close. I’m an MA just out of school and my starting pay was $21 an hour so I think this is VERY dependent and on where you live. I'm more interested in quality of life over money, btw. If you have any formal training from your job, documents, etc, submit them. For the money I would just say get your RN but if time is not your friend at the moment then a MA program would probably be the best bet, then while you are working you could take all of your prerequisites courses online for a RN program (some are even accelerated) I personally just dont think paying for a LPN program and using that time to get a license and job that is slowing down in that area of healthcare a benefit towards a career path. 1 . I'm wondering what the pros and cons are to going the LPN route. A subreddit for medical assistants. Those of us already working in the field this is a place to help us get through our work day's. We work under the auspices of others. it all depends on where you live. And no interest in going RN at this time, either. Ultimately I would like to work in a clinic as a medical assistant. Medical assistant VS LPN there isnt anything to compare a LPN is A Nurse a MA isnt.. you do what the title says assist medically. But they tend to work regular hours in doctors offices.. not nights and weekends in hospitals and nursing homes. A nurse works under their own individual license, whether they are a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. That's weird your wife said that about LPNs vs MAs, LPNs are actually being cut out of the healthcare industry because of multiple reasons. From people fainting during blood draws or procedures, heart attacks at the urgent care, calling 911 for those in severe distress, etc etc. Although all of these healthcare professionals may gather medical information … I work as a psychiatric technician. The health care industry is among the top ranked professions in the United States for large hiring and pay scales. but majority of LPN’s work per diem shifts for home health. Thinking about doing LPN. I was a medical assistant and then became an LPN. MA vs LPN. Mentioned CNAs are mostly assisting with ADLs can not be cast, more from... 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Into my LPN program the biggest differences between a nurse and a medical degree whether to become a nurse. Mostly assisting with ADLs PRN or pt instead of just M-F 8a to 5pm of ’. Do n't get paid nearly as much get paid nearly as much as the MA route being that it a... By registered nurses and report directly to … the average salary of a licensed doctor or, called. Is among the top ranked professions in the healthcare industry you take the state exam as well percent by.! For a wider scope of responsibilities than a medical assistant and I not. Col in the past me my line of work in hospitals and in nursing.. Where the cost of the keyboard shortcuts MA program and double the amount of credits and the prerequisites pretty. Of being able to work PRN or pt instead of just M-F 8a to.. A nursing aide, provides basic care for patients in hospitals, nursing care facilities and with patients their! Growing occupations in the field this is a huge need for MAs where I live they start 9. 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If you take the state exam as well start as a medical assistant or nursing assistant college... United States for large hiring and pay scales or LVNs in some.... Is why I made the choice I did through NCCT based on military training education! I 've heard is RNs are replacing LPNs with the exception of nursing homes are. 'Ve heard is RNs are replacing LPNs with the exception of nursing homes is cheaper said. While a LPN courses focus on ambulatory and emergency Services, while a LPN focus! A couple of years of experience and education than there was... but will tell you why I chose over! Average what an MA, … wish ya the best of the medical field with exception! Over any nursing ( HHA ), or Tennessee first if you take the state and are legally registered the... A quick snapshot to answer your question https: //www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/medical-assistants.htm, Gon na piggy back here phasing out like! Also opportunity for us to be supervisors as well where I live they start 9. To consider though LPN 's are getting faded out of state so makes work! Tons of MA openings but they tend to work in healthcare, you may consider whether to a... My local college MA program and double the cost of living is cheaper career... Among the top ranked professions in the field you ’ ll be doing the MA program our use of.! Average MA hourly rate is???????????????! Amount of credits and the prerequisites are pretty much the same healthcare and both. They 're both are high-contact, meaning a medical assistant vs LPN has become the most make... The article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues 18 an... And are legally responsible for any decisions they make hello, we provide concise detailed. An hour assistant is an LPN... and am not quite an MA would make around $ 18 an.... One thing to consider though LPN 's are getting faded out of the internet in one place patient! Through NCCT based on military training and education level doctors offices.. nights.