Nursing provides a new career path for interested CMA's.
Certified medical assistants, known as CMAs, work to assist health practitioners with administrative, clerical and clinical duties. Licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs, work more closely with patients to provide care for sick and injured individuals. CMAs go to school for one to two years after high school to receive a certification degree in medical assisting or an associate's degree. LVNs also attend a vocational school for one to two years after high school to receive an associate's degree in nursing, after which they take an exam and begin working as a nurse. The transition from CMA to LVN requires that the student take most of the required LVN courses, since many of the CMA courses will not transfer.
On-Campus Schools
LVN schools are located all over the United States in junior colleges and vocational schools. Many of these institutions offer on-campus options for studying, which may be preferable if the student enjoys a more hands-on approach to learning. Junior colleges are slightly less available than vocational schools, but can also be less expensive options. It is necessary to find out whether there is a junior college or vocational school in the geographical area the student is interested in, and whether on-campus options are offered. Examples of schools that offer on-campus LVN study options include Riverside Community College in Riverside, California, Concorde Career Institute in Arlington, Texas, and American Career College in Los Angeles, California.
Online Schools
The LVN degree may also be completed online through many institutions. The online nursing degree includes online classes and weekend clinical training sessions at local hospitals. Courses are the same as on-campus curricula and include basic science courses such as anatomy and physiology, introduction to nursing, and the use of evidence-based practices. North Central Texas College offers an accredited program in nursing that is offered online as of fall 2009.
Other Requirements to Become a LVN
LVNs are required to complete a degree at an accredited school before they can take the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN, which is required for licensure. It is recommended that those going into nursing are caring, compassionate and stable individuals. Working in the medical field can be stressful and good coping skills are necessary for such times. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average salary for LVNs as of May 2008 was $39,030. Many LVNs decide to go further into nursing to become registered nurses, or RNs, which increases responsibility and salary further.
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