It is not uncommon for a medical assistant to aid a physician during a patient's checkup or record a … Unlike for nurses going from LPN to RN, there are no medical assistant to RN bridge programs and there is no accelerated process for a medical assistant transitioning to a registered nurse. Education is an area in which there are many differences between a medical assistant and nurse. While these roles are very similar in several ways, they also have significant differences in terms of responsibilities and educational requirements. Rhode Island medical assistants work under supervisory agreements. So in conclusion medical assistants are a very important and essential part of the medical and health care profession. As previous stated, there is a major need for MA’s. Medical assistants can be versatile and valuable additions to family medicine practices. Home health aides and certified nursing assistants, the largest category of healthcare workers, lack the equipment and job security nurses have. Medical assistants are assigned a variety of duties that include both patient care and administrative responsibilities. I will learn how to place IV’s and catheters, which does differ from a CMA, but as a Tech, I did these routinely in the ER. Their duties are broad, but they do not work autonomously. First of all there are different kind of MA’s. Home health aides and certified nursing assistants, the largest category of healthcare workers, lack the equipment and job security nurses have. I have serious concerns about Md offices hiring medical assistants and calling themselves nurses. In reality, they have no lab or administrative background, and have to be taught by other CMA’s how to do these things. They may not administer medications, communicate orders from doctors, perform wound care, or perform nursing assessments. Same core classes, same clinical labs, same body parts. The problem with medical assistants is that no one really regulates them. Patients really have only 2 titles they use: nurse and doctor (although that is changing!!). • Calculate a new serum dilution. A nurse works under their own individual license, whether they are a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The last time I checked, I don't know ANY Nurses of ANY degree or level who are having a hard time finding a job. These important healthcare employees are the first point of contact for patients. If they can’t compensate credentialed MA’s for there schooling, why should it differ from nurses? Recently, there has been a debate about the role that Medical Assistants should play in the healthcare field. A CMA is certified and I have my CCMA-AC which is California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants. LPN is at least one year of prerequisite classes and then one year in nursing school. Medical assistant programs are similar to a first-year nursing program. They provide hands-on patient care, administering medications, monitoring patient conditions, managing intravenous lines and communicating with physicians. Medical assistants also learn how to code both paper and electronic health records (EHRs) and how to record patient information. This is bound to change as medical assistants become more in demand in doctor's offices, hospitals, and clinics. Start with nursing. We had a CMA quit and an LPN replaced her. Medical assistants perform tasks like answering phones and scheduling patients, while a nurse typically only performs tasks related to patient care, such as documenting their condition and writing care plans. Indeed, some go straight into the profession when they leave high school. Licensure requirements can vary by state but typically require completion of a training program and passing a licensure examination. Hi all! While nurses have some administrative responsibilities, they focus primarily on patient care. Some medical assistants with advanced certification may be able to start intravenous lines and assist with emergencies. This allows for a wider scope of responsibilities than a medical assistant. A medical assistant certification holds practically no value. Medical assistants generally attend an MA program for two years, one year or nine months. Generally here VA MA programs are Associate degree programs. Ok, what is up with all these Medical Assistants saying that they do more than LVN/LPNs and that they are phasing out their jobs? His staffing agency, IntelyCare, surveyed their nurses and nursing assistants in Massachusetts and more than half report being told they cannot get the shot. Medical assistants may not interpret the results of skin tests, although they may measure and describe the test reaction and make a record in the patient's chart. Just my 2 cents. Medical Skills . Nurses dont like being looked down upon. MA are typically assigned a variety of responsibilities including patient care and administrative duties. They are not nurses. Medical assistants are not allowed to administer medications or injections into the IV line. All of them are under the higher supervision of an MD. Students looking to enter the healthcare field quickly might consider working as a medical assistant, since medical assistant jobs require only a diploma. Two popular careers in this field are medical assisting and nursing. Their primary responsibilities include: Related: Certified Medical Assistant Resume Samples. Nurses perform most of the same duties as a medical assistant. In a hospital setting in NY, there are charge nurses that are “in charge” of the nurses and assistants during the shift that those staff members work. In any job search, you have to sort through many job postings to find the ones that are right for you. Medical Assistants are not nurses but (in Virginia) they are trained to do vitals, meds, injections, phlebotomy, etc in a physicians office or clinic. In this article, we will explore medical assistant vs nurse and what they do on a daily basis, where the similarities between the positions lie and how they are different. However, some employers preferentially hire or even require certification. You'll be asked to administer medications, give injections, apply dressings, draw blood, secure blood and urine samples, remove sutures, perform EKGs, and convey information and relay questions from doctors to patients and vice-versa. You must then pass the exam administered by the American Association for Medical assistants. 3 Licensee Delegation to MAs: The Task Force Approach Questions frequently arise regarding medical assistant scope of practice and why individuals in this role are not regulated or licensed in most states.