Medical Assistant / CNA Career

Find an Ultrasound Tech Degree

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What You Do in This Career

Medical Assistants and Certified Nursing Assistants may sound like the same thing, but while the jobs are similar, the options for advancement are different. If you want to become a nurse go for the CNA. Medical assistants do not provide bedside care, which is the main difference between the two jobs since the other responsibilities mostly the same. Medical assistants interact with the public, but Nursing assistants interact primarily with patients and RNs or LPNs. CNAs also care for patients’ hygiene, helping them bathe and cleaning bedpans among other responsibilities. Medical assistants cannot work in nursing homes or in home health care, however, certified nursing assistants can. Certified nursing assistants generally answer patients’ call signals, record patients’ food and liquid intake and output, monitor vital signs, clean rooms and change linens.

Salary and Career Path

The median annual salary for a Certified Nursing Assistant is $26,630, although the top paid CNAs earn $35,377. Job security is good since there will be an increased demand for home health aides as the baby-boomer generation ages. While certification regulations vary by state, the National Association for Home Care offers national certification for home health aides. Opportunities for advancement are limited unless the Certified Nursing Assistant wants to pursue an Registered Nursing degree.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

State approved training programs require 50 hours of theory and 100 hours of supervised clinical training, and aides who complete the programs qualify to be put on the State registry of nursing aides. Nurse aides must participate in 48 hours of continuing education classes every two years to maintain certification. Since the nurse aide’s job is to primarily help patients, the coursework is necessarily more hands-on. No book can teach how to help a 98 year old walk to the bathroom. Becoming a Certified Nursing Aid is not required to become a registered nurse, but the experience may be beneficial for those who wish to become nurses.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that students can take to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs that are closely related. You can request information by clicking on any of the links below.

AS in Health IT	DeVry University — For over 80 years, DeVry University has focused on relevant areas of study, offering associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs and specializations that cover 34 different career fields. Earn your associate degree in Health Information Technology from DeVry University, and prepare to be an HIT leader in contemporary hospitals, physicians' offices, medical clinics, and more. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University — With a 45 year history, Herzing University is an accredited university that offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees as well as diplomas in over 45 different programs. The AS in Medical Assisting program builds on the online diploma program by incorporating the general education requirements required for this level of degree. Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
AS in Medical Assisting	Keiser University — Keiser University, founded in 1977, is a private, regionally accredited career university offering certificates, associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The AS in Medical Assisting program prepares students to perform medical assisting duties under the direction of a physician or practitioner. Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
AS in Health Info Mgmt AS in Health Admin	Hodges University — Founded in 1990, Hodges University is one the premier private universities in the State of Florida. The AS in Health Information Management and AS in Health Administration programs, while not ultrasound training programs, do teach students how to use information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
AAS in Health IT	Rasmussen College — Founded in 1900, Rasmussen College has grown to now include 22 campuses and more than 40 diverse online degree programs where students can choose from many bachelor's and associate's degrees. The AAS in Health Information Technology program prepares students to become health information technicians. Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College — Founded in 1983, Virginia College is a private institution of higher education committed to offering associate degrees, diploma courses, and baccalaureate degrees at over 20 different campuses. The BS in Health Services Management program prepares you for mid-level management positions in health care organizations including hospitals, physician practices, and home health agencies. Virginia is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.