medical assistant?

Question

Is medical assistant like a nurse? or not? just wondering what it is???

Answer 1

There are significant differences in the roles, educational preparation and skills required between a medical assistant, and one of the two levels of primary nurses, the RN and LVN/LPN.

Primarily Medical assistants, take vital signs, and assist in the processing of patients through ambulatory care settings.
Their roles and responsibilities are:
Assists a Physician, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant in examination and treatment of patients, performing miscellaneous delegated duties under the direction of provider. Interviews patients, measures vital signs, such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height, and records information on patients' charts. Prepares treatment rooms for examination of patients.

The Vocational or Practical Nurse normally performs most of the direct, hands on, care (with the assistance of certified nursing assistants) of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and home health settings, but they may also be seen in Physician's offices and other facilities. Their job functions are:
Provides prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill, injured, convalescent, and disabled patients in such settings as hospitals, clinics, private homes, schools, sanitariums, and similar institutions. Takes and records patients' vital signs. Dresses wounds. Observes patients and reports adverse reactions to medication or treatment to RN or medical personnel in charge. Administers specified medication, orally or by subcutaneous or intermuscular injection, and notes time and amount on patients' charts. Requires an LPN or LVN license

A Registered Nurse usually considered patient management level of nursing care. They perform hands on care, but also perform unit and higher level management of nursing facilities and hospitals. They are also seen throughout the healthcare venue, performing a very wide variety of tasks, which defy a standard definition. Traditionally seen on hospital units, in nursing homes and in home health settings, RNs:
Provide general nursing care to patients in hospital, nursing home, infirmary, or similar health care facility. Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques. Prepares equipment and collaborates with the physician during treatments and examinations of patients. Observes patient, records significant conditions and reactions, and discusses issues related to thepatient's condition and reaction to drugs, treatments, and significant incidents with other members of the health care team.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Medical assistants are trained in Ambulatory Care and primarily work in medical offices and clinics; Nurses are trained in In-patient and long-term care and work primarily in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities; and some offices and clinics.

Medical assistants perform the duties already mentioned, but depending on the state and physician or clinic they work for, may also give injections, do EKG's, take X-Rays, do suture removals, apply dressings, do telephone triage, do Audiograms, draw blood and perform lab tests, take patient's health histories, refill prescriptions, patient education, and sterilize equipment. Some Medical Assistants also do the administrative work; submitting and following up on insurance claims, patient billing, scheduling of appointments and tests, medical transcription, filing, collections, accounts payable and payroll. Because they work under the physician's license, Medical Assistants do not have a scope of practice in most states; and therefore are not limited in what they can do. It depends on the physician and what they have been trained to do. In some states they need to be certified to give injections, but not in all. They can either attend a diploma program or a two-year Associate Degree program. If they want to take the exam for Certification, they need to make sure to attend an Accredited Program (by CAAHEP or ABHES). Some places hire uncertified Medical Assistants and other don't. Hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

If you look on yahoo hot jobs it will give you a complete description of what medical assistants do. Best wishes

Answer 4

Check out this website

Answer 5

Is not much difference. The specialist just have their specialize field.