NursingLink

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) as they are called in Texas and California, care for the sick, injured, convalescent, and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses.  

Most LVNs provide basic bedside care. They take vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They also treat bedsores, prepare and give injections and enemas, apply dressings, give alcohol rubs and massages, apply ice packs and hot water bottles, and monitor catheters. LVNs observe patients and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments. They collect samples for testing; perform routine laboratory tests, feed patients, and record food and fluid intake and output. They help patients with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, keep them comfortable, and care for their emotional needs. In States where the law allows, they may administer prescribed medicines or start intravenous fluids. Some LVNs help deliver, care for, and feed infants. Experienced LVNs may supervise nursing assistants and aides.

A Medical Assistant (MA) is a multi-competent health care professional involving administrative and clinical task to keep the offices, clinics, and laboratories of physicians running smoothly. The duties vary from on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants usually are "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, or physician. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.



 Duties Administrative



Medical Assistants answer telephones, schedule appointments, greet patients, update and file patient charts, order supplies, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, handle billing, collections, and bookkeeping.

if u want more information please visit our site licensed vocational nursing

I don't understand how a medical assistant can almost be a nurse. Nurse as in RN? Smart enough? That makes no sense to me. I agree with eduimed. Those are the skills I've heard medical assistants perform. 

I know for sure it is the schooling. A MA can spend up to 9months in school, where is a LPN can spend a year to 18 months in a accredited nursing school program. What I was told by a MA, MA's are taught by doctors in school, whereas, LPNs are taught by a nursing instructor, the pay is better for the LPN, i was told that MA 's make between 12 to 14 dollars a hour coming out of school whereas the LPN can make 17 to 18 dollars a hour coming out of school, and last but least.  LPN's have to take the NCLEXPN, I don't think MA's have to take such a test, when they are done with school.

saiyuki says ...

How long it takes to become an LPN ?

Here in OH they have LPN courses that can be done in a year.

Depending on where you went to school and the state you live in, it will be the length of your schooling and the ammount of your pay.  I am a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant and I am getting ready to start my schooling as an LPN.  I've worked in many practices for the last 10 years since my husband is in the military.  Depending on the practice and the state is what you are allowed to do or not. For example when I lived in Alaska (1999) I earned $15hr at a hospital clinic. I worked alongside LPN's and were supervised by RN's. We did the same duties, hence tha pay.   The only person allowed to do IV's was the RN as long as they have pass a hospital test that allowed them to do so.  In FL (2003) I was getting paid $10hr at another hospital specialty clinic and had to do clerical and clinical work, including phlebotomy and specimen collections, holter monitors and flush dialysis ports. I've been in Va for the last 9 1/2yrs. I've worked for 2 different practices. One Famiy medicine who was independently owned, the other one OB/GYN that was part of a Major Hospital group. At the family medicine my Nurse manager was an RN but we had 2 RN's, 3 LPN's ans 2 MA's. We all had the same duties and reponsabilities. We had to do the same functions because each of us was assigned to a MD or NP. The only exception was the head nurse that was in charge of all our schedules and evaluations.  At the OB/GYN clinic we also had a head nurse that was an RN, but everybody else was an LPN or MA.  In this particular practice each LPN had assigned an MD or NP and also an MA. The MA will assist the physician on the exam rooms and also be the runner for the LPN whose job was to do the patient ck in, blood draw and education.  Ma's had to learn all the functions of the LPN and if one was out, the MA will cover for the LPN. Also part of the rduties was to clean and restock rooms. Salary for both this jobs were between $10 - $12.

What I'm trying to say is that an MA has to becertified if the company/state requires you to.  I chose to do it anyway. Also that an MA can perform diferent duties and you can be allowed to do as much as your MD and RN allowes you to under the law of each state. We can do many things LPN's do, but the truth is we don't get the pay.

I was taught by a wonderful group of MA's, Midwives, and RN's when I went to school. Programs can be up to 14mo long for MA's.

Now, I love what I do and won't change it for the world, but now is time for me to move on. I choose to go to LPN school and futher my training. Eventually I will go to RN school, but I'm pacing myself.  As a military wife and a mother of 2 I have to think short term while living long term. LPN now, RN later, because you never know where Uncle Sam will send you and is really hard to transfer schools...

Do your research and do what you feel comfortable doing. Pace yourself, because ultimatedly it is you sitting in class.

Hey, someone told me that I should forget about LPN, because there are no jobs there anymore and is a waste of time.  I Love a Challenge... Let's prove that one wrong!

FYI, there is a difference between a medical office assistant program and a nationally accredited medical assistant program which enables you to sit for the national exam thru the american association of medical assistants, which is about a 300 question written test you have to sit for to get your certification which also requires 60 CEU's every five years to recertify.

LPNs are higher level than a Medical Assistant. But Medical Assistants are higher level than CNAs.  MAs are ASSISTANTS they do Medical Office Assisting EKG & Phlebotomy. Medical Assistants dont require a Associate degree its optional. You can basically get a Associates degree in anything now? My BF best friend has her associate degree in Culinary arts at community college( Virginia College). But anyways as i was told Medical Assistants do NOT make NO $20 hour? (Don't confuse Medical Assistant with Physician Assistant) Medical Assistant the pay is $8-$10 hour with no exp.  LPNs make more $17-20 hour with no exp. LPNs are Nurses and Medical Assistants are NOT Nurses. Medical Assistants can just work Dr.'s office and Hospitals. LPNs can work Dr.s office, hospital and also Home care, School Nurse, Paralegal Nurse etc.  thats the difference! i work in a Dr.s office part-time and thats what my Dr. told me.

mariah08 you trained LPNs/RNs and your a Medical Assistant? And you are sayin that  MA's perform per form IV's, Ultra sounds, surgeries, injections? NOT at my office i work at? And my Dr. must have lied to me (which i doubt!).  But If they do all of that then there's NO point of Nurses existing they should just phase out all Nurses RNs/LPNs/NPs and just hire all MAs? LOL

Many people have answered this well enough already. I am recently going back to MA school. I went once 16 years ago when the subject was brand new. I had a massive car accident, which led to my having to drop out. That being said, I have seen a lot through my mothers employment. She is an office manager for a General Practioner. I have seen some smart as a whip, then there was those you know played throughout the program.

There are people who take the course very serious, and then there are those that just "make it" by. I am going to an accredited school and it is a 2 year program. I asked this very question today, as all of our instructors are Doctors in some specialized field. He said, "There is NO difference between you ladies (no guys in class) training for an MA degree and those going for an LPN degree. EXCEPT, MONEY."

Also, you as an MA can get trained during CE to do IV's as well as take exam and pass for future certification. You can also take CE to further your knowledge for phlembotomy and also get certified in that as well. Everything just depends on how far you want to go with CE.

The one thing I did notice, and my RN relative concurs with me, is that Nurses disrespect each other more than any other field. If I have ANY advice to give. Know that we are all supposed to be in this field because we supposedly care about the people. Yes, money is good too, but really would you trust someone who wants money or the one that actually cares about you??? Trust me, we all know the difference when we meet these people in the field.

Having been a patient many times myself, I know when someone is in the field for the love and not necessarily for the money. I wish they had a class to train MA's and or ANY form of Nurse, how to deal with their own in the field. I don't care about all those cool insignia's we wear or how many abbriviations after our name we get. We are supposed to be there for the people. Period.

One day down the line I will make it to RN, I too, am taking my time as I still have children home. Once they are on their own, I will have nothing but free time and no worries as to who is caring for who at home. I always wanted to be a nurse ever since I first laid eyes on Nurse Dixie McCall on Emergency! during the 70's as a little girl. She always fought for the health field and for women in the field. I promised myself one day I would be that person. I am now finally working on it.

I hope everyone loves their CHOICE and always strives for more. 10-4

Connie,

I am an LPN! Some RN's like to bash any title below them such as LPN or MA. I have worked with MA's under me and they did the same thing I did in an office setting I just had to sign my name and title behind  thiers.The only things the MA in my office couldn't do was draw blood or dispense birth control pills. I understand pacing yourself and wanting to become an LPN before RN because you are a military wife. My career was started and then put on hold back in the 80's due to a military move I had to Germany. And I don't know who told you there are no jobs for LPN's if there wasn't there would not be schools for LPN's. I have lived in several states while being an LPN and I have NEVER had to empty a bedpan, give a bed bath or do my own vital signs. Thats what the CNA does. And I started as a CNA and I am not above them but that is part of thier duties. I believe some RN's are trying to discourage you by telling you these task when they don't exsist on any job duty I have ever had! LPN's have just as much resposibility as an R.N sometimes more because "you know what rolls down hill" and the LPN gets it from the RN! I have been in many rewarding jobs where I was the only Nurse with other healthcare professionals under me and it was nice not having an RN to control me. And I wish that the RN's that want to compare and make differences would just remember: WE ARE NOT A TITLE BUT A NURSE! OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO SAVE LIVES, NOT FOCUS ON A TITLE BUT TO WORK AS A TEAM AND COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER!

So, I commend you for starting an LPN program and when you have some experience under your belt the sky is the limit. At my last correctional job I was the charge nurse in a Med ium Security Prison and I made $23.00/hr. Not bad for an LPN huh?

Good Luck! 

Get the RN.  I stared as an LPN and it took me 10 years to go back and finish.  LPN's are finding fewer and fewr jobs these days.  As far as the difference between a MA and an LPN it is simple.  A LPN is a nurse.  Which means they are responsible for patient care, medications, treatments, managing complication care plans and just about anything that pop's up.  A LPN works directly under the supervision of a RN.  A MA will generally be supervised by either a LPN or RN.  Nursing is slated for some of the biggest career growth margins in the country, not medical assisting.

100% right, angienwgeorgia!

Although I agree intellegence crosses all types of nurses and MA's there is a difference on what is taught. It does vary state to state. In my state we are LPN's not vocational nurses. In my state you can attend vocational or community college to prepare for licensure. I attended community college which required an entire year of pre-reqs before entering the nursing program.

Where I live it is a difference in training and disease process knowledge. Although it may seem to some that LPNs and MA's function the same, they are trained with different objectives in mind. I was trained to look for changes in patients conditions in a hospital setting. This included changes in vitals, labs, medication reactions. I also was required to learn nursing care plans which is specific to nursing care. LPN's assit RN's in making changes to these plans to increase postive outcomes for the patients. I don't believe MA's are taught care plans or nursing diagnosis and interventions. LPNs are required to be able to detect changes in EKGs, ABG's, LAB values, vitals status, ect. Although MA's may perform the above procedures I am not sure it is required they know what is normal and not normal.

LPN's can work independent from an MD, meaning if we are delegated by an RN to perform a task within our scope of practice we do not have to have an MD present. MA's do. LPN's are responsible for themselves. If they due something wrong they are responsible, not the MD who ordered something. We are to question orders if they seem incorrect just like RN's do. We cannot simply do something because a MD tells us too.

I work with some very smart MA's, I also work with some who think there isn't a difference and take offense to that. Just keep in mind that all heathcare professions are meant to compliment one another. Just keep in mind although MA's can take a test to become certified they still do not work independently from an MD.  I am not sure what the purpose of having MA's licensed would be if that is in the works?? In my state they are liceansed Heath Care Assistants, they still have to have a Doctors name on their License as a sponsor.

what ever it is you do just have pride in it, that is what gets you respect, not your title. 

Please don't take offense to this, but the difference between an LPN and an MA is that an LPN is a Nurse, an MA is an assistant.  Don't get me wrong, both are very important positions, but regulated by very different rules.  An LPN used to be limited to "basic nursing skills" or "long term care," but not anymore.  Many states have expanded an LPN's scope of practice to answer the need provided by the nationwide nursing shortage. I was a medical office assistant and pathology transcriptionist for many years then decided to become a Nurse.  I didn't want to become an RN just yet so I chose to become an LPN. I graduate in December, God willing. I have taken all the required classes to ensure a smooth transition into the BSN program, however I want to try this on for a while.  I suggest once you become fully comfortable with your position as an MA and want to move up, go on to become an LPN or an RN.  Again each position has it's own reward,  the bottom line is your happiness along with providing compassionate patient care. 

Good luck to you and best wishes,

Pam

NOT TRUE ABOUT MEDICAL ASSISTANT'S.IM A MEDICAL ASSISTANT AND I WORK AS A SCHOOL NURSE.I DO EVERYTHING A LPN DOES BUT I DONT GET THE PAY AS A LPN.IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT A MEDICAL ASSISTANT IS MORE LIKE A LPN I WOULD HAVE GONE FOR MY LICENSE AS A LPN JUS TO MAKE MORE MONEY.A MEDICAL ASSISTANT IS JUS A LPN WITHOUT THE LICENSE AND THE MONEY PRETTY MUCH.I DO IT ALL FROM NEB.TREATMENTS TO I.V.'S,EKG'S,INJECTION'S,ADMINISTER MED'S,WOUND CARE YOU NAME IT.PLUS NOT ONLY DID I GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN THIS BUT ALSO GOT TRAINED BY DOCTOR'S ON THE JOB.