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Medical assistant vs licensed practical nurse

The differences between medical assistants and licensed practical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a medical assistant, becoming a licensed practical nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $52,912, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.

The top three skills for a medical assistant include patients, vital signs and patient care. The most important skills for a licensed practical nurse are patients, CPR, and home health.

Medical assistant vs licensed practical nurse overview

Medical AssistantLicensed Practical Nurse
Yearly salary$34,900$52,912
Hourly rate$16.78$25.44
Growth rate16%6%
Number of jobs189,915614,369
Job satisfaction-3.33
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 24%Associate Degree, 33%
Average age3746
Years of experience122

What does a medical assistant do?

Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.

What does a licensed practical nurse do?

Licensed practical nurses are considered leading front liners in the clinic or hospital setting. They assist nurses and doctors in conducting various activities related to sick or injured patients. Licensed practical nurses are primarily expected to provide routine care for patients and assist registered nurses in creating care plans. They maintain and update medical records, prepare patients for medical examinations, help patients dress, bath, or eat, take vital signs, administer and monitor medicine intake, monitor patients and update nurses and doctors on patient status, and assist during medical examinations.

Medical assistant vs licensed practical nurse salary

Medical assistants and licensed practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical AssistantLicensed Practical Nurse
Average salary$34,900$52,912
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $37,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CityVancouver, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateAlaskaHawaii
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkThe Citadel
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between medical assistant and licensed practical nurse education

There are a few differences between a medical assistant and a licensed practical nurse in terms of educational background:

Medical AssistantLicensed Practical Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 24%Associate Degree, 33%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesNursing
Most common college-Emory University

Medical assistant vs licensed practical nurse demographics

Here are the differences between medical assistants' and licensed practical nurses' demographics:

Medical AssistantLicensed Practical Nurse
Average age3746
Gender ratioMale, 10.4% Female, 89.6%Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.5% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between medical assistant and licensed practical nurse duties and responsibilities

Medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Participate in emergency surgical intervention in obstetrics and gynecology patients.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in taking patient history and vitals, venipuncture, injections, urinalysis and preparing examination trays.
  • Attend to new out patients in gynecology clinic, make clinical diagnosis and follow up.
  • Provide RMA support to physician, and patients, including but not limit to vitals and patient history.
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Licensed practical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage all operational aspects of the organizations open heart program while also serving in the role of APN.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide nursing care for med/surg patients in the transitional phase of recovery.
  • Work up patients for the Dr, administer allergy testing, mix allergens.
  • Perform emergency medical procedures, such as BLS, ACLS, and other condition stabilizing interventions.
  • Drug screens, phlebotomy wind care education of safety practices communications with treatment facilities as indicated/.
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Medical assistant vs licensed practical nurse skills

Common medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
  • EKG, 4%
Common licensed practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Medication Administration, 4%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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