What is the difference between a Certified Nursing Assistant and a Medical Assistant?
A Certified Nursing Assistant basically performs all of the duties that a licensed nurse doesnt have time to do. You have to take classes to become a CNA, but they aren’t college level courses. Most CNAs work in long term care facilities and they actively work with patients. A Medical Assistant primarily performs administrative type duties. However, in some cases they may draw blood and other patient related duties. The scope of what a CNA or medical assistant does depends on the laws within the inhabitants state. More than likely a medical assistant gets paid more. However, when I worked at one of the local nursing homes here, they had two different levels for CNAs and if you were a CNA 2, you made around 9 dollars (in AL). I think that CNA is probably the best bet if you are looking forward to becoming a nurse. It will let you know if you would actually like to go forward on that path. It is much more realistic what being a nurse is like.
