Can a medical assistant apply as a CNA?

Question

Applying for a position that you are not.

Answer 1

Dominique,

CMAs do have a longer course of instruction, but they are not instructed in the tasks of a nursing assistant, which are hospital based, nursing tasks. The purposeof a Medical Assisting Program is to train students to perform routine Medical Assisting administrative and clinical tasks, primarily in a physician’s office, hospital outpatient clinics and other health care facilities. Medical Assistants work under the direct supervision of a physician, Nurse Practitioner or PA, and although their duties may be similar, or even overlap, they are not nursing assistants. The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office and/or practice to practice. Administrative duties often include answering telephones, greeting patients, making appointments, performing transcription, initiating and maintaining medical records and managing the financial records of a practice, as well as performing duties in billing, coding and collections. On the other hand, the clinical aspects include taking vital signs, positioning and preparing a patient for examinations, assisting the doctor with a variety of medical and surgical procedures and collecting specimens. Medical Assistants also dispose of contaminated supplies, and decontaminate and sterilize instruments. Many perform phlebotomy and perform routine simple blood and urine tests within the office. They may take electrocardiograms, perform diathermy, remove sutures, perform dressing changes and assist with the application of casts.

As many CMA graduates are finding difficulty in finding positions, dispite claims of a rapidly expanding job market, many markets have become saturated. In my local area there are 20 programs (not including online programs, providing Med Asst classes of varying length) in the past 2 months there have been 15 positions advertised in the same job market.

The schools have the following disclaimer in small print at the bottom of their website and print literature:

"However, the College cannot guarantee your eligibility either to take this exam or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of high school (or its equivalent), not having a criminal record, meeting other licensure or certification requirements, or the program or College itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure. Externship sites may themselves require a criminal background check or medical examination.

This program is designed to lead to entry-level employment in the field or to jobs in related fields; however, the job titles may not be specified in the program title. Although the College will assist you with job placement, finding a job is ultimately your responsibility. The College does not guarantee that you will be placed in any particular job or at all."

The average entry wage for an MA in this city is $7.60 an hour due to the oversupply of MA graduates in our market.

We do need some NAs, but the basic training course to take the certifying test is as short as 3 weeks, so an MA graduate could easily qualify for the position quickly.

In this area some good MA candidates are hired into NA positions and then sent to the CNA course by the employer.

Good luck

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can a medical assistant apply as a CNA?
Applying for a position that you are not.

Answer 4

No. A Medical Assistant cannot apply as a CNA. If you are a Certified Medical Assistant You are a CMA. It takes special training for your position as a CMA and special training as a CNA. Both are different positions in the medical field.

Answer 5

In my experience, virtually anyone can be hired as a CNA. Kind of kidding there. Certified means there must be some type of qualifying course. I'm pretty sure that you'll need different training but with your experience, it wouldn't be hard for you and you'd be an attractive applicant. Best of luck.

Answer 6

Technically speaking a Medical Assistant has more experience than a CNA. You can apply for a CNA job as long as you are a Medical Assistant. Good luck!

Answer 7

There is certified medical assistant, it's called CMA. They are certified from american medical assistant association www.aama-ntl.org/

please make sure your information is correct before you post it online.

Answer 8

No.

There is no such thing as a certified medical assistant...it is not a regulated profession in any state and the only entity doing the "certifying" is the school...which isn't worth the paper it's written on.

A CNA, is a certified nursing assisant, that IS regulated by the state...you complete an accredited program and take an exam, and are licensed through the state.

A CNA can be an MA easily, but not the other way around.