Difference Between Medical Assistant And CNA
The medical profession has many different jobs and roles for those interested in entering the field. The many different career titles are very confusing to some people. Medical Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants are two of those careers. Many people think that these two medical professionals are the same, but they are not. CNAs and Medical Assistants are actually quite different. Medical assistants (MA) and certified nursing assistants (CNA) both are health-care careers that involve working with patients of all ages and physical conditions, providing them with good quality patient care. They both work with or report to doctors, nurses and other health-care providers and assist with treatments, procedures and tests. Both careers require certification and a state license. That however, is where the similarities end. Working as a medical assistant is quite different from working as a nursing assistant, also known as a nursing aide. Responsibilities of a medical assistant focus more on patient assessment, evaluation and helping doctors with patient care and treatment. A nursing assistant’s job responsibilities involve more direct patient care. Direct patient care refers to hands-on care such as performing a bed-bath, assisting with mobility or cleaning a patient.