What is the difference between a LPN and CMA?
481619
LPN I think can give injections?  I think a CMA can only to sugar testing an things like that.  I might be wrong :(\n\nLPN stands for licensed practical nurse \nCMA stands for certified medical/medicine assistant.  The next step down would be CNA (certified nursing assistant), and the next step from LPN would be RN.  A CMA can pass meds, but I don't think they can do injections.  And I seem to think that a LPN can't start an IV, but an RN can.  Please someone correct me if I am wrong.
552151
I think nursing is the harder of the two jobs..you need to have thick skin, and can't be the squeeming type...the hours may not always be great, but you can sure make some money doing it.  Don't do it for the money, do it because you want to, or because your interested in helping people.
1031792
I would say in your situation that medical assisting would be the better choice. You can get your certificate in 3-6 months and then start working. \nMy niece just finished LVN school and she had to go to school Mon-Fri, 8 am to 5 pm...sometimes she would have to stay later than that. The program lasts an entire year. She was not able to work, or do anything extra because when she wasn't at school she was having to study. \nThe last semester you will also have to attend clinicals at local hospitals, nursing homes, and metal health facilities. This is on top of your classes. \nI'm not saying that it's impossible, but it would be extremely difficult if you have 2 little girls. Escpecially if you do not have a LOT of help and support at home.
133950
Nurse Practitioners don't necessarily have more experience than PAs.  Most PA schools require previous medical experience, so many PAs were previously paramedics, nurses, medical assistants, CNAs, etc.  In fact, PA programs typically have more patient contact hours written into their programs than nurse practioner programs.  Nurse practitioners usually stick with one specialization, whereas PAs are trained as generalists (can be derm PA for a few years, then go to Family practice, etc.)  Most PA programs are becoming graduate programs.
916429
I know three women who are in the process of going from LPN to RN.  The one who is somewhat ahead in her classes says it significantly easier going from LPN to RN that it was getting the LPN in the first place.\nThat's the extent of what I can contribute to your question other than good luck to you!
795279
I'm a CNA right now.... I've been trying to figure out the same question. Should I become a nurse??? Well, I'm not. I'm enrolled in a 2 year course to get my associates degree in medical assisting. you get to help the doctor in the office or run the paperwork part of the office. I'm doing that then going for my physicians assistant which is bacholers degree.... good luck :o)
949228
With the nursing shortage here, it will not matter which college you attend, just as long as you have the nursing degree and the credentials to be a nurse here. In some states you can become a licensed nurse by having just a 2 year degree in nursing and you can be an LPN with just a diploma.  In addition to the degrees most states require that you sit for your nursing board exams, which vary by state.  I would figure out which state I would want to work in and check out their nursing requirements to see what type of education I would need to become a nurse.
916862
I am not a CNA.  But people like to be able to help others and being a CNA is a start into the medical field.  Don't stop there.  Go for your LPN and work in a hospital or medical that offers tuition reimbursement.  Let them help you financially through nursing school.  CNAS's are at the bottom of the ranks and other nurses will treat you as such.  Expect more for yourself and don't stop there.  Good Luck.
781814
Assuming you're talking about the Canadian version, the CMA is a professional assocation.  They specialize more in cost accounting than auditing or reporting.  If you want to be a cost accountant (in Canada) this is the organization to join.
254620
not really quick but an LPN is 1 year course and you can get associate degree later if you like your work
1135860
Do you want to become an LPN? There are no online degree programs in the US that will let you become an LPN "from scratch" online. There's too much hands-on information you have to have. You can do most, if not all of your Gen Ed portion online or by testing out with CLEP or DSST exams.  If you are already licensed as an LPN, Excelsior College has the only LPN to RN program available online. You do have to go to a location for the clinical testing, but they have several locations in the US and it only takes a weekend.
528915
It depends on what degree you have and what capacity you nursing. For example a school nurse entry level position may only pay you between 24,000-28,000 US dollars per year, but entering the field as a nurse specializing in trauma, or geriatrics, pediatric, OR Nurse, Oncology Nursing, or any specialized nursing will not probably begin by paying you additional money, but in the long-run, specializing in a field of nursiong requiring specialized knowledge will pay off for you eventually.  Home health nursing can also be very lucrative though you must have a certain number of years experience as well as a certain level of knowledge and experience with different types of equipment. \nI have a friend who recently became an LPN and works regular 8 hr shifts 5-6 days per week and he made 66,000 US dollars last year.  It really depends on your level of education, the position you take and if you are administration in the nursing field, a Patient care manager, a Director of Nursing, assistant director of nursing or even in a recruiting or teaching position.  There is a significant difference in salary depending upon if you are an LPN- Licensed Practical Nurse, RN Registered nurse, BSN Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, or if you become a nurse practitioner.  LPN can be achieved in 2 or less years depending on if your program is excellerated, it allows you to nurse, but it limits the meds you can provide and in the field depending on where you nurse, it can limit you to doing treatments and giving meds only.  RN is historically achieved in 4 years and comes as a BSN but in previous years RN has been accelerated and given in 2-4 years without the bachelors degree.  Becoming a nurse practitioner is usually a step that some nurses who hold a Masters of Science in NUrsing take which will put them at about an equivelent level with a physician's assistant (PA) able to follow and treat patients but unable to prescribe narcotics and followed up by a physician who signs off on his/her treatments or prescribed course of action.  They work under the licensure or an approved physician.  I would suggest getting on a web site that does national or even international comparison for careers with varying levels of education.  Sorry I don't have additional time to find any for you at this time, but I hope this helped you out a bit anyway.  If I find time I will post some sites for you a bit later.  GOOD LUCK with your future endeavors and don't get discouraged!
340315
A 91W(that's me) is a glorified Army version of a paramedic. The 91WM6(I was in school for this one time) has an additional year of schooling and they become the LPN's of the Army with the same liscence that a real LPN has on the outside. They have to take the NCLEX and the whole deal. I love being a line medic and wasn't about to give up being with troops for the world, so I dropped out of M6 school and stayed a 91W Combat Medic - Hooaah!
541967
are you talking about the nclex exam for lpn? if so, you gotta review and review because the test is really tough.i enrolled with kaplan and i had some books too. goodluck
259978
Call Stratford. It may only be a diploma program and not able to give you your CNA "license." It is not really a license, but it is a certificate. Only professional nurses, LPN, LVN, RN, etc are licensed.
686953
Both are in high demand.  I know that all the hospitals I'm at for rotation (I'm a physician assistant student) are needed both positions filled.  So no matter which you decide on you'll have a job.  Just as a side note - remember nurses may make a little more, but their jobs (in a hospital) are generally more demanding.  Also, a nurse is more flexible in where they work - ie hospital, clinic, nursing home, home care, etc.  A radiology tech is pretty much stuck at either a hospital or urgent care/multicenter specialty office.  So just keep that in mind too.  Either way, you (like most healthcare students) won't have a hard time finding a job.  Good luck!
242064
From a practical standpoint, the difference is a legal one.  Both are required to practice under the oversight of a physician (at least in most states, if not all) but the nurse practitioner is required to execute pre-provided protocols, created by a physician or group thereof; the physician's assistant has somewhat greater autonomy.\n\nFrom a practical standpoint, as a physician that has had to work as a supervisor both to advance practice nurses (which includes nurse practitioners) and physicians assistants, the difference is nearly nil: both end up doing whatever the supervising physician trusts them to do, with as much (or as little) autonomy as the physician is comfortable extending to them.  I've known some in both groups that functioned almost on a par with a physician.  I've known a few that thought they were on a par with a physician, and that weren't, by a very long ways.\n\nIn the long haul, the real difference isn't the label, it's the experience, wisdom and integrity of the person behind the label that counts.