What is the difference between a Medical Assistant and an RN?

Answer 1

In this city a new MA will make roughly $7.60 an hour, if they can find a job. There are 20 schools training MAs in the metro area and there were 15 jobs advertised in the past 3 weeks. RNs in the city are making well over $60,000 a year as a staff nurse. so there is a slight monetary difference.

As the state I am in has no requirement that MAs be certified, nor is it required that offices use school trained MAs. Therefore, at my last office out of the 8 MAs on staff we only had 2 who were trained in a program and certified. We found it easier to train them ourselves then to unteach all the incorrect information provided by the "for-profit" MA schools.

RNs have a minimum of an associates degree, but as there is a requirement for prerequisites prior to the admission to the nursing programs locally, they all take at least 3 years. We also have several bachelors of science (BSN) RN programs. Addionally, there are masters and doctoral programs for RNs in the city.

MAs are employed to help physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and PAs in processing patients through an ambulatory care setting. Their duties are, generally, perform the routine vital signs, height and weight and screening questions prior to a medical appointment, and place the patients in the exam rooms. The will assist in the exam rooms if neccessary, and clean the exam rooms between patients. They can also do basic tests, and draw blood, when required. Some MAs will help with some office administrative functions in small offices.

RNs are employed throughout the health care mileiu. The roles in which they are utilized are widely varied, and vary from staff nurse, to Chief Executive of the Hospital. Nurses manage the care patients receive while in the hospital, interpreting lab results, evaluating the effects of treatments and coordinating the care with other members of the health care team, including the physician. It must be remembered, that the physicians who admit patients to the hospital, generally, are with the patient approximately 3 minutes per patient once or twice a day. The other 23 hours and 54 minutes of the day the care of the patient is the responsiblity of the RN.

Answer 2

Tons.

A MA is basically a glorified nursing assistant. They can take vital signs, do some clerical work, etc. You can become a MA with very little education, and while you are "certified", you are not "licensed" and regulated by any government agency, which means you are not really in a professional career and are not as valuable as if you were in a licensed profession like nursing.

Nursing is a unique profession. Nurses are trained in a variety of skills. Not only do they take vital signs, they are able to interpret complex results, they know more about pathology and anatomy & physiology, nurses have their own unique set of diagnoses (not medical diagnoses, but rather nursing diagnoses) for which we create goals, a plan of care including specific interventions designed to meet those goals. We have a tremendous amount of legal responsibility and liability. We must be good communicators, be empathetic, and have excellent critical thinking skills.

A RN needs a minimum of an associates degree but can hold as high as a doctorate degree. RNs have enormous job potential, there are SO many different specialty areas, work settings, etc. to choose from, and with the looming nursing shortage only expected to get worse, you will ALWAYS have a job.

Answer 3

A MA and RN are quite different. The MA is more comparable to the LPN/licensed practical nurse, but not in its entirety. There are not supposed to be too may jobs for the MA these days (or medical biller or coder). Wherever you decide to get training, please steer clear of those expensive private schools and instead look into the county vo-tech school or community college (if even non-credit course).

US colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

Career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or medical assistant.

Answer 4

“An M.A. is not a nurse”. That’s true, but an MA does perform nursing procedures; as well as procedures from many other professions; and is taught “critical thinking.”. An MA receives training from the following professions:

Nursing
Laboratory Technician
Surgical Technician
EKG Technician
Respiratory Technician
Dietetic Technician
Medicoparalegal
Psychology
Pharmacy

I have never heard any of the other professions be as hostile about MA’s saying that they perform the same duties as the other professions; as nurses are. Granted, in order to pursue any of the above professions it requires additional schooling; BUT, an MA would have an advantage in pursuing any of the above areas, just by having been trained in the basic skills of each of the professions. Besides, MA’s may also have other degrees besides Medical Assisting, which have given them additional knowledge and experience above the basic skills of each of the above professions. There are also many Medical Assistants who LIKE being Medical Assistants and wouldn't change careers for the world. Certification vs. Licensure is a political thing. If they would make Medical Assisting a Licensed profession, maybe it would bring more credibility and accountability. As it stands, there isn’t even mandatory Certification; and programs do not have to be accredited; although many are. However, because Medical Assistants work under the physician’s license, they are really not limited by a “scope of practice” in most states; and can perform just about any duties their physician employer wants them to, if they have had the appropriate training. Medical Assistants, are required to take an exam, just like nurses, to prove their knowledge; in order to get their Certification. Continuing education contact hours are also required.

It is unfortunate that some of our society is so elitist and some so insecure. We each have our own path in life. Not all Medical Assistants can or want to be LPN’s/RN’s or LPN’s want to/can be RN’s. Those who do want to should, but should stop judging everyone else. Nurses are specifically trained to work in hospitals and Medical Assistants are specifically trained to work in Ambulatory Care, for the most part. However, Illinois is currently hiring Medical Assistants to work in hospitals. Medical Assistants really have no reason to call themselves nurses. They should be proud of being trained professionals, who have a significant impact on patient care. Those who are Certified, should be even more proud. In regard to pay, part of it has to do with our lousy economy, and the area of the country you are in. In my area Medical Assistants are paid $ 12.00-$ 14.00/hr.; not bad money; but yet more than LPN’s in some areas; that resentment is understandable. That has to do with economy, not with the contribution of each of the professionals or their education. If someone doesn’t want to work in a hospital, there is little reason for them to pursue nursing. Just my two cents. Try to have a good day everyone and be proud of who and what you are.

Answer 5

About 20K a year difference, to start!

An RN goes through much more schoolwork than an MA, but they have far more duties.

If you want a job, be an MA. If you want to be respected in your career, be an RN.

Answer 6

several years of education and about 15 dollars an hour if you are hired by a good hospital.