What Is the Difference Between a Certified Medical Assistant and an LPN?
Certified medical assistants (CMAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are both medical professionals who interact with patients and work under physicians. Although the job duties and training for both careers are similar, medical assistants and licensed practical nurses are very different.
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Function
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Certified medical assistants and licensed practical nurses both care for patients, but LPNs provide basic bedside care while CMAs generally perform clerical tasks.
Duties
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Certified medical assistants perform duties such as filing records, greeting patients, performing lab tests, drawing blood and setting up patient rooms, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Licensed practical nurses generally take vital signs, dress wounds, give injections and assist with personal hygiene, among other things, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
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Education
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Certified medical assistants spend one to two years in technical school or community college. Courses taken involve medical office routines and clinical practices.
Licensed practical nurses usually spend a year in technical school or community college. LPN courses are classroom- and clinical-based, and students must pass the NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse) to become certified.
Potential
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The career growth of certified medical assistants is expected to be 34 percent from 2008 to 2018, while the career growth of LPNs is expected to be 21 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wage
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Certified medical assistants earn a yearly median wage of $28,300, while LPNs earn a yearly median wage of $39,030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual salary will vary by experience, education, job location and hours worked.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Steven Depolo
