Medical Assisting vs. Nursing: Which Path Is Right for You?

Are you interested in a healthcare career but unsure if medical assisting or nursing is right for you? Both careers offer many opportunities to affect patient outcomes positively, but each requires different roles and responsibilities and various training. Knowing their differences will be vital to you in deciding which best fits your skills, goals, and lifestyle. Let’s see what medical assistants and nurses do, their educational requirements, career opportunities, and which might be the best fit for you.

What is the Role of a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants are multi-skilled practitioners who perform administrative and clinical duties in health care. They work primarily in physicians’ offices, clinics, and outpatient facilities.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Greet patients and schedule appointments.
• Recording of vital signs and medical history.
• Performing roles such as assisting the doctor during examinations or minor procedures.
• Handling billing, coding, and insurance claims.

Medical assistants are crucial in keeping a healthcare facility running smoothly and ensuring patients have a positive experience. This job is versatile, combining hands-on patient care with behind-the-scenes administrative work.

Role and Responsibility of a Nurse

Nurses spend more time in patient care and may have more responsibilities than medical assistants. Nurses work in hospitals, long-term care, schools, and community health.

Some everyday daily nursing responsibilities include :

• Administration of medications and treatments.
• Monitoring the health of patients and recording their progress.
• Educating patients and families about managing health conditions.
• Coordinating patient care with doctors and other medical professionals.

Nursing is a practical job that highly requires critical thinking. Quite frequently, nurses have to make decisions about patient care in a busy environment.

Training and Education

One of the most significant differences between medical assisting and nursing involves the time required for education.

Medical Assisting:

• Most medical assisting programs take about 9 to 12 months to complete.
• Programs often combine both classroom and internship training.
• Upon completion, you will be awarded a certification, such as the Certified Medical Assistant.
  

Nursing:

• Nursing requires more extended education. It takes about 1 year to become an LPN while becoming an RN takes 2 to 4 years.
• Most RNs hold an associate degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Nurses must also take licensing exams; LPNs will take the NCLEX-PN, and RNs will take the NCLEX-RN.

If you want to enter the workforce fast, medical assisting might be your better option. Nursing could be your calling if you’re ready to invest more time in education for a broader scope of practice.

Job Outlook and Salary

While both careers are in demand, the opportunities and earning potential vary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistance employment is projected to grow much faster than average, at 15% from 2023 to 2033, while the annual median pay is around $33,000.

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, with the median annual salary for RNs at about $86,825. Both provide job stability, as well as the opportunity for professional growth. However, nursing tends to yield a higher remuneration given the added years of education and subsequent responsibilities.

Which Path Is Right for You?

Becoming a medical assistant or a nurse depends on your career goals, area of interest, and the time you are willing to devote to training. Consider a career as a medical assistant if:

• You want to start working in health as soon as possible.
• You enjoy both administrative and clinical work in equal measure.
• You prefer predictability in your schedule at an outpatient facility.
• Consider a career as a nurse if:
• You care about patient care and are ready for more responsibility.
• You’re willing to invest more time in education.
• You want more career options, including management positions.
  

Ready to Take Your First Step?

Whichever path you choose, both careers have the potential to impact healthcare in a very positive way. Here at Northwest Career College, our Medical Assisting Program is designed to prepare you for a successful and fulfilling career.
Enroll now and start your journey in healthcare today! Please visit our website or contact us for more detailed information about our programs and how we can further assist you.