What is the difference between a certified nursing assistant and a medical assistant (back office)?

A CNA, is one whom attends a course, and is certified to work in Nursing Homes, most require this, they teach you how to transfer patients, perform ADL's which are activities of daily living, including feeding them, and personal care. Most make about 9-10.00 an hour. Medical asst's usually go through a private program and do various things depending on training, go for the CNA in great demand, and many places will pay for you LVN, or LPN school Good Luck...

CNAs do the dirty work and have completed a 4 week program. They do a lot of cleaning, hygine and running around the nurses don't want to do. A Medical Assistant is very similar to an LPN. They get vital signs, can give shots, start IVs and take blood. The assist the doctors and nurses without getting into the dirty work. MAs make about $14-15 starting out and don't have the physical demands a CNA does and MAs get much more respect. Most MAs (and now they are getting stricter) have Assocaties Degrees. I have my Associates in Applied Science - Medical Assisting and don't necessarly use it (I work in Respiratory Therapy) as an MA, but hey, I've got a college degree, make good money, love my job and never have I had to clean a floor or wipe a bottom. Good luck!

CNA's do all the dirty work and get paid less while MA's get respect and have higher pay. Although CNA's are more in demand than MA's