Medical Assistant vs. Nurse: Key Differences and Career Paths

Medical assistants and nurses are valuable health care professionals who can make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. Either career is a good option for those seeking a health care role in high demand and with strong prospects. Students can learn about the similarities and differences between nurses and medical assistants to determine the role that's right for them.
 

Overview of Medical Assistant and Nursing Roles

Medical assistants and nurses provide direct patient care. These health care professionals maintain patient safety and confidentiality while pursuing the best outcome for each individual. The primary difference is in the scope of practice and education. Medical assistants have clerical tasks in addition to their clinical duties, while nurses focus on patient care and perform a wider range of procedures.

What Is a Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant performs a combination of both clinical and clerical tasks. These are typically performed in an outpatient setting. The responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Scheduling appointments
• Answering questions by phone
• Recording medical histories
• Taking vital signs
• Preparing patients for procedures
• Providing patient education
• Assisting physicians
• Collecting and preparing specimens for analysis
• Conducting laboratory tests
• Administering vaccines or medications
• Providing wound care and removing sutures
• Assisting with prescription refills
• Cleaning and preparing examination rooms
• Maintaining medical records
• Coordinating office referrals
• Managing insurance coding
• Bookkeeping and billing

What Is a Nurse?

Nurses focus on patient care, working in various settings, such as hospitals and physicians' offices. These professionals have far more hands-on contact with their patients, and they don't spend as much time on clerical duties. A nurse's typical responsibilities include:

• Assessing patients
• Recording symptoms and medical histories
• Taking vital signs
• Administering medications and vaccinations
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Providing wound care
• Inserting intravenous, catheter, and feeding tubes
• Providing patient education
• Maintaining patient records
• Advocating for patients

Education and Training Requirements

The education and training requirements are greater for a registered nurse than for a medical assistant. While you'll need to invest more time in a nursing career, you'll also enjoy a wider range of opportunities. Nurses who pursue specialized training can choose to work in specific areas like pediatrics or geriatric nursing. This may provide the opportunity to focus on a niche area of interest. Both careers require continuing education to maintain licensure, but licensure is optional for medical assistants.

How To Train To Become a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants typically have a high school diploma and some postsecondary education. They can pursue a career as a medical assistant with a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. These programs usually take one or two years to complete and include modules on anatomy, pharmacology, and medical terminology. Concorde Career College's Medical Assistant program gives students the opportunity to complete a diploma in as few as nine months or an applied science degree in 18 months via the Memphis campus.

Most states don't require certification, but employers may prefer this credential. Medical assistant certification demonstrates competency and commitment to the career. Popular certification options include:

• American Association of Medical Assistants- Certified Medical Assistant
• American Medical Certification Association- Clinical Medical Assistant Certification
• National Center for Competency Testing- Medical Assistant
• National Healthcareer Association- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
• American Medical Technologists- Registered Medical Assistant

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Train to Become a Medical Assistant?

How To Train To Become a Nurse

Those seeking a career as a registered nurse must complete a more extensive training program. Concorde's pre-licensure nursing program offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Practice that students may complete in as few as 21 months. Students may then apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination to work as a licensed RN.

Read more: Navigating the Path To Becoming an RN: Educational Pathways and Licensure Requirements
 

Job Responsibilities and Scope of Practice

A medical assistant's responsibilities are more diverse but less complex than those of a nurse. Medical assistants work under the supervision of a physician and don't manage patients alone. They can't make independent assessments, triage patients, or offer medical advice.

Nurses have more autonomy in their role. For most hospital patients, nurses are their primary point of contact. Nurses get to know their patients well and advocate for their needs in collaboration with physicians and other health care providers.

Nursing is a diverse career path with many specializations. A nurse can choose to develop a unique career by specializing in areas such as:

• Specific demographics (pediatrics, gerontology)
• Parts of the anatomy (cardiac care, neuroscience)
• Health conditions (diabetes, burn care)
• Types of procedures (medical-surgical, perioperative)

Work Environment and Schedule

Medical assistants and nurses find employment in various health care settings. Some 57% of medical assistants work in physicians' offices, while just 17% work in hospitals and 10% in outpatient care centers. As a medical assistant, you're more likely to work in a smaller office setting with routine hours. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59% of nurses work in hospitals, with 19% employed in ambulatory care services, and 5% for the government.

Since most nurses work in hospitals, their hours tend to be longer. They may work nights, weekends, and holidays in hospitals, while a medical assistant in a physician's office is less likely to do so. Nurses may also find themselves on call for last-minute shifts if an emergency comes in or the hospital finds itself understaffed. 

Medical assistants often work a standard eight-hour day and spend some of that time performing clerical tasks. Many RNs work 10- or 12-hour shifts and spend most of that time on their feet.
 

Career Outlook and Advancement Opportunities

The job outlook is favorable for both nurses and medical assistants, as a growing number of professionals will be needed to meet the needs of an aging population. Retirements will also leave openings in the health care industry. 

There's a strong demand for RNs, with growth projections of 5% between 2024 and 2034, compared with an average of 3% for all occupations.

The job outlook for medical assistants shows a projected increase of 12% over the same period.

Medical assistants can advance to supervisory roles in a physician's office or may choose to further their knowledge and pursue a nursing career. Some RNs want to advance their education and access further job opportunities and may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Concorde's RN to BSN program provides applicants with the opportunity to complete a bachelor's degree in 17 to 24 months.
 

Skills and Qualities Needed for Success

The required skills and qualities for both professions include:

• Communication: Accurate, detailed communication is essential to manage patient records.
• Attention to detail: All health care professionals must pay close attention to details such as dosages, medication names, and patient symptoms.
• Teamwork: The health care environment necessitates a collaborative team effort.
• Compassion and empathy: Health care professionals must demonstrate compassion, patience, attentiveness, empathy, and a commitment to patient care.

In addition to these skills, nurses must have:

• Stamina: Nurses frequently work long hours and undergo physical and emotional demands.
• Critical thinking: Nursing requires critical thinking, as nurses may work independently when providing patient care.
• Leadership: Nurses have a leadership role in a health care team, setting the tone for administrative professionals and medical assistants.

Choosing Between Medical Assisting and Nursing

Candidates may be suited to a career in nursing if they:

• Want to spend most of their time in direct patient care
• Prefer to work independently
• Comfortably manage long hours
• Enjoy performing clinical tasks

Nursing can be a rewarding and challenging career, while those looking for a less demanding role might enjoy medical assisting. A suitable medical assistant candidate would have the following attributes:

• Enjoys performing clerical tasks
• Is meticulous with data entry and time management
• Prefers taking instruction to giving it
• Wants to perform routine clinical duties

Students interested in either role might explore shadowing opportunities in the health care field or arrange interviews with experienced nurses and medical assistants to learn about their experiences. Volunteering in a hospital or other health care facility can provide insights to guide their decision-making. When you're ready to start your career journey, contact Concorde to learn more about the next steps.