Medical Assistant (MA) to RN
Medical assistants (MAs) are an important part of many healthcare teams. Often working in outpatient medical offices, MAs usually perform both administrative and clinical duties. Becoming an MA is a great entry point to a healthcare career, and it is an effective way to gain valuable patient care experience.
Some people choose to become an MA to gain clinical experience prior to pursuing a nursing career. Read on to learn the different ways an MA can become a registered nurse (RN).
What is a Medical Assistant (MA)?
Medical assistants (also known as certified medical assistants) are unlicensed medical personnel who care for patients in various outpatient healthcare settings. Medical assisting is an entry-level field that does not require a college degree; however, MAs must complete a certification program.
Similar to certified nursing assistants (CNAs), MAs work under the supervision of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses. They usually perform both patient care and clerical tasks within clinics or medical offices.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for medical assistants is $38,270. The projected growth rate for the medical assisting field from 2021-2031 is 16%, which is much faster than average.
Approximately one year of schooling is required to become an MA. However, some employers do not require a certificate, instead offering on-the-job training for those who are interested in a medical assisting role.
What is the Difference Between a Medical Assistant and a Registered Nurse?
There are a few significant differences between a medical assistant and a registered nurse, including scope of practice and education requirements.
Medical assistants primarily work in a supportive capacity within outpatient facilities under the supervision of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and/or licensed practical nurses. They usually perform both clinical and administrative duties within the outpatient setting.
Examples of clinical tasks performed by MAs include:
- Collecting patient health history information
- Preparing patients for exams and procedures
- Collecting samples and performing basic laboratory testing
- Phlebotomy
- Obtaining vital signs
Examples of administrative tasks performed by MAs include:
- Answering patient’s phone calls
- Checking patients in
- Scheduling appointments
- Insurance coding, billing, and bookkeeping tasks
Registered nurses, on the other hand, usually focus exclusively on patient care. RNs do not typically perform administrative duties unless they are in a leadership or managerial role. RNs are also employed in a greater range of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, outpatient centers, same-day surgery centers, home health, long-term care facilities, and more.
Under their scope of practice, RNs can perform more advanced clinical tasks than MAs can.
Examples of clinical tasks performed by RNs include:
- Performing patient exams and assessments
- Administering medications and monitoring for side effects
- Obtaining vitals signs and monitoring for concerning changes
- Inserting and maintaining intravenous lines, nasogastric tubes, and urinary catheters
- Providing education to patients and their families
- Providing advanced wound care
Another significant difference between MAs and RNs is the amount of required schooling.
MAs usually require a high school diploma or GED and completion of a certification program, which typically takes about a year. RNs must obtain at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) in order to obtain a professional license.
Because RNs work under their own licenses, they are able to perform a wide range of duties without direct supervision from another medical professional. MAs do not have such freedom, requiring supervision for all clinical tasks.
How to Transition From MA to RN
Unfortunately, there are no direct MA to RN bridge programs as seen with other healthcare careers (such as LPN to RN). This is mostly due to the fact that the curriculum and clinical experiences in MA programs and RN programs are very different.
Luckily, there are a few other ways to transition from medical assistant to registered nurse. Each path has its pros and cons, which must be weighed heavily. Career goals, financial aspects, and personal responsibilities should all factor into your decision.
Option #1: MA to ADN
This is the quickest path to becoming a registered nurse. An Associate Degree in Nursing is usually offered at community colleges and takes around 2-3 years to complete. MAs may be able to apply some of their prior coursework credits toward nursing prerequisite courses. This largely depends on the MA program, so it is important to check with your nursing school to see if that is a viable option for you.
After completing an ADN program, you are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN examination in order to obtain your RN licensure.
Although earning an ADN is the quickest way to become a registered nurse, it does not open up as many job opportunities or career advancement opportunities as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) does. Therefore, it is important to consider your long-term career goals when choosing a path to becoming an RN.
Some employers will also provide tuition assistance to ADN-prepared nurses to go back to school for their BSN. This can ease some of the financial burden of furthering your education, but you would need to check with your employer to see if they have a tuition reimbursement program in place and if there are any stipulations.
For example, some employers require employees to work for them for an additional amount of years after they complete school, or else the employee will be required to pay a portion of the tuition back to the employer.
Option #2: MA to BSN
This is a more extended path to becoming a registered nurse, but it does have some important benefits. BSN-prepared RNs have an edge during the hiring process as most employers prefer to hire RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree. BSN-prepared nurses can also advance more readily into leadership and management roles. In general, having a BSN opens up more career opportunities compared to an ADN or LPN.
BSN programs take around 3-4 years to complete, depending if the program is traditional or accelerated. Some credits from the MA’s previous education may be transferable to nursing prerequisites, but students should always check with the school to find out if that is an option.
After completing a BSN program, you must take the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain your RN license.
If you are interested in eventually pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the BSN pathway is the best option. Without a BSN, you cannot further your nursing education at the graduate level.
Option #3: MA to LPN to RN
This is the longest path to becoming a registered nurse, but it is a great option if you are still unsure about a career in healthcare or if you want to become a nurse as quickly as possible.
A licensed practical nursing (LPN) program usually takes between one to two years to complete, depending on the program and whether or not you pursue full- or part-time study. LPN programs are most often found at community colleges and technical schools. Similar to an ADN or BSN program, MAs can sometimes apply some of their prior coursework toward nursing prerequisites, but it is important to check with your school to determine if that is an option for you.
After completing an LPN program, you must take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) in order to obtain your LPN license.
Once you become an LPN, you can work and gain experience as a nurse before enrolling in an LPN to RN bridge program. LPN to RN bridge programs usually take around 2-4 years to complete, depending on whether you are pursuing an Associate or Bachelor Degree in Nursing.
