With the growing healthcare industry, there have been employment opportunities for both the popular careers – medical assistant and nurses. Although these roles are very similar, yet there are many differences in their roles, responsibilities and education.
Medical assistants
Medical assistants, also known as clinical assistants are the health care professionals who assist the physician’s work and other medical professionals. They are cross trained to provide both clinical and administrative duties.
Their responsibilities are:
· Noting the medical histories of the patients.
· Explain the medical treatment procedure
· Prepare the patients for medical exams
· Carry out laboratory tests
· Update medical records
Nurses
The critical health care is provided to the public by the nurses. They conduct various physical exams, offer health counselling, administer medications and coordinate with other health care professionals.
Their responsibilities are:
· They record symptoms of the patients and their medical history.
· Perform catheterization.
· Monitor and record patients blood pressure.
· Administer vaccination.
· Conduct diagnostic tests.
Medical assistants perform the duties of taking care of the patients and administrative responsibilities.
Whereas nurses too have some administrative responsibilities and focus on the patients care.
Medical assistants must follow the patient care as instructed by the physicians and nurses follow the orders of the doctors with respect to the patient’s care plan.
The difference is that medical assistants carry out the task of answering phone calls and schedule the patients, while nurses document the condition of the patients and write down their care plans.
Medical assistants have to complete a two year degree program whereas nurses have to pursue advanced training to be a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse.
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