Is a Medical assistant a nurse?

Question

I was told by a private school teacher that a Medical assistant is a nurse. The ranks are: RN, LVN/LPN, MA, and CNA. Is this true?

Answer 1

No a medical assistant is not a nurse. They can work in clinics and Dr's offices doing paperwork, taking vital signs, billing, assisting the Dr during certain exams and also taking blood. They can also work at planned parenthood, doing pregnancy tests and drawing blood as well as cleaning equipment and assisting Drs during pap smears and pelvic exams. I was an MA before I became an RN.

Answer 2

am an RN with 30 years experience. A CNA (certified Nurses Aide) has about a 6 week training time. They used to be called Nurses Aides. The poor CNA does most of the "grunt" work like bathing, changing briefs, feeding pts. bathing and dressing pt.and getting them into and out of bed. A Medical Asstant usually works in a Dr.s office taking pts to the rooms, getting a brief history of why they are there, takes Vital sings (BP, Temp, pulse) after the Dr. exam they may draw blood or preform an EKG (heart test) Depending on where you train this can take up to a year. An LPN and RN are similarly qualified except most LPNs work in Nsg. Homes. LPN's generally cannot start IV's or give IV medicine.An LPN has about a year of training. An LPN cannot read ekg strps and give appropiate meds related to the strip. LPN's also get the work of pasing meds and doing dressing changes. An RN takes almos 4 years of schooling and the field is wide open to whatever you want to do, ICU,ER,OB, Cardiac care. Most critical care (ER,ICU) nurses have additinal training which allows them to start a code Blue (no heart beat or breathing) priop to a DR. arrival. They are trained to give medications in this event.RN's also have more training in assessment and intervention of a pts. needs.

I work with alot of CNA's who are in nursing school. Many get the LPN (one year) and continue working as an LPN (more money) while they continue into RN school.\

Hope this answeres your gqustion.

Good luck.

Answer 3

No!
A medical assistant is NOT a nurse and neither is a CNA/NA.

An RN is a registered nurse. To be a registered nurse you have to go to nursing school and pass nursing boards to get either an Associates of science (ASN) in nursing or Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree/diploma and your nursing license. Nurses help coordinate patient care, help carry out treatment, devise care plans, carry out day to day care for patients, and advocate for patients. Nurses do not practice medicine - they practice nursing.

There are also nurses with masters (MSN), speciality masters (like CRNAs and nurse practitioners(ANP, FNP, etc)), and doctorates. Some nurses with masters degrees can practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor. Most nurses with advanced degrees teach, do research, work in administration, and so on.

An LVN/LPN is a licensed vocational/practical nurse who's scope of practice isn't as wide as an RN and they actually work under the direction of RNs. They generally have 1-2 years of schooling to get an LVN degree and you also have to pass boards to get a license.

CNA/NA are nurse assistants (they can be ceritifed) who help take care of little things that the nurses are too busy to do - like get water, help bathe patients, take vitals, etc. They usually go through a training period or 4-6 week course to have this job (no degree). They usually work in retirement homes and hospitals.

Medical assistants do generally the same things as CNA/NAs do except they usually work in doctor's offices - they have generally the same training (no degree).

Only doctors (MDs) can legally practice medicine, but PAs (physician assistants) can practice medicine under the direction and supervision of an MD. PAs are graduate degrees. Do not confuse a PA with an MA. They are *NOT* the same thing.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

They told you wrong. Even an RN goes to school for at least 2 years. Medical assistant is maybe 8 months. Try to at least be an RN for good pay.

Answer 5

no an ma is NOT a nurse

ma's typically go to school less then a yr (about 9 mo)

they can do some of the things that nurses do
-give shots
-draw blood

cannot do iv's

they also get paid way less then a nurse

btw its my understanding that ma's get paid more then a cna

Answer 6

Go for the Nurse Assistant. They make more.

Answer 7

No. You can take a couple months of specialized classes to become a medical assistant - you need a couple years to become a nurse. It's a certificate vs. a degree.

Medical assistants can "assist" the Dr. with many duties whereas a nurse can actually "do" some duties in lieu of the Dr.

Answer 8

No. You go to nursing school to become a nurse and you take special classes to become a physicians assistant. They have different roles.
Nurses are covered under the state nursing license rules and regs. PA's have their own separate identity, license, etc.

Answer 9

Also a PA. RN's make around $32. an hour when working in the OR & ER.