Why Even go for your MA? Don't Understand...

please enlighten me as i don’t understand. i was talking with a medical assistant at a doctors office today. she stated that she went to school for 2 years to become a ma. she also stated that she was required to take all the classes that an rn takes before they can get into the program (anatomy and physiology, etc), but she gets pain less than an lpn who only goes to school for one year. how is that fair? why not just get an lpn license or rn license instead and make more money. please, i know it’s not all about the money but i don’t think one could advance any further from a medical assistant the way an lpn can advance to an rn? am i wrong or crazy for thinking this way? Last edit by skittlebear on Dec 2, '10 : Reason: complaint about bold letters
Sorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

Quote from General E. Speaking, RNSorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

People who become an MA do so because they prefer the office setting and/or they are given slanted information by the salespeople who are promoting the profitable school programs. If they had accurate career advice, they would know that nursing offers greater job and pay opportunities.

I come on here to read, ask questions, comment, give the best advice possible, and have fun. I don't come on here to post and have my bold letters or grammer scrutinized. If you don't like, don't post. Don't hate, lol

Quote from General E. Speaking, RNSorry, having a hard time responding because your GREAT BIG BOLD LETTERS are freaking me out!

No, I definitely do not understand why a person would take two years to go to school and end up with just an MA. RN's do work in doctors offices such as for cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists. Even if they work in a GP office they may not make as much as in the hospital but definitely more than what an MA makes. I think the large bolded print comes across as shouting, but maybe that's just me

Quote from caliotter3People who become an MA do so because they prefer the office setting and/or they are given slanted information by the salespeople who are promoting the profitable school programs. If they had accurate career advice, they would know that nursing offers greater job and pay opportunities.

Quote from jossjjojoI think the large bolded print comes across as shouting, but maybe that's just me

Some MA's don't want to be an LPN or RN. It's possible they do get bad career advice but there is only one out of 4 colleges in my area that even offer an MA associates degree. There are about 5 different private colleges that will train you in around 10 months to be an MA. When someone is desperate for work it looks pretty attractive along with good hours especially when you have school age children.

In some instances, it can be a little easier to get into MA programs. When I lived in Florida they really pushed those programs, citing job opportunities in the military as a civilian, etc. While you don't have to take a placement test to get into an RN program (hence the high attrition rates in some places) sometimes there's quite a wait list - the program I went through averaged 150 apps per year, and matriculated 60. So if someone's ready to get started in the medical field, it might be an attractive option, instead of waiting

I am NOT saying that this is the reason some people choose to be MAs - but if someone has a drunk driving charge, or an arrest record, or charges filed against them for whatever reason..... most Boards of Nursing will not let someone sit for the boards. I remember when I was in nursing school we had to do a background check the first week of clinicals. I felt bad for a fellow student who had to drop out. She was arrested 15 years earlier in a bar fight and was charged with assault. She could not be a nurse. BUT she could be a state tested nurses assistant! (Stna)

To answer your question, I think this person perhaps did not know about LPN and RN programs. I bet she paid a fortune for the 2 years too. That's sad, perhaps she can still pursue LPN or RN. Yes, I agree with the person who said, "They are given slanted information by the salespeople who are promoting the profitable school programs. If they had accurate career advice, they would know that nursing offers greater job and pay opportunities."