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Medical Assistant (MA) to Registered Nurse (RN) Bridge Programs

Are you a Medical Assistant looking at your advancement options? The MA to RN bridge program can be a quick and efficient pathway if you have your sights set on registered nursing. Medical Assistants (MAs) are an integral part of the healthcare team. They are the front-line staff in multiple care areas, including medical offices and sometimes inpatient units.

Differences Between MA and RN Roles

It is a misconception to believe that MAs "do the same things as nurses." While there is overlap with specific tasks, RNs are trained in the nursing process; they assess patients, determine a nursing diagnosis, create a care plan, implement actions, and evaluate the patient’s response. This process is one that needs to be practiced as RNs perform it continuously, and sometimes under pressure. Essentially, it involves developing a whole new way of thinking critically. Additionally, RNs are considered leaders of the care team. They are responsible for nurse assistants, LPNs, and other ancillary staff. They direct and oversee the care team to ensure patient care needs are met. As leaders, they hold more responsibility and have a great deal more independence. They can offer care advice and perform extensive patient education without physician involvement.

MA Duties:

  • Taking vital signs
  • Collecting pertinent medical data from patients
  • Simple wound care
  • Administering injections
  • Applying orthopedic appliances
  • Skilled administrative tasks such as coding and billing, making appointments, and maintaining medical records.

RN Responsibilities:

  • Assess patients
  • Determine a nursing diagnosis
  • Create a care plan
  • Implement actions
  • Evaluate the patient’s response
  • Direct and oversee the care team
  • Offer care advice and perform extensive patient education without physician involvement

Why Should an MA Pursue an RN Degree?

Many medical assistants strive to pursue a clinical role with more responsibility and autonomy and wish to pursue work as a registered nurse. Discover a step-by-step Medical Assistant to RN path designed to put your RN career into focus. A clear, supportive path from Medical Assistant to Registered Nurse. Nurses are in high demand. RN jobs are projected to grow 6% over the next decade, faster than the national average.

MA vs. RN Employment & Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), both registered nurses and medical assistants, as well as most healthcare occupations, are in high demand and will continue to experience above-average career growth over other occupations for the years to come.

Role Median Annual Salary (2019 BLS Data)
Registered Nurse $73,300
Medical Assistant $34,800

Generally, registered nurses with a BSN make a higher salary.

How Long Is an RN Program If MA Courses Can Be Transferred?

Testing out of your college general ed courses to earn transferable credit before enrolling in nursing school can accelerate the progress and move you to your core nursing courses sooner. Our Medical Assistant to RN program is designed to fit your busy life so you can make faster progress toward your ASN/ADN or BSN degree.

What’s included in an Achieve Medical Assistant to RN Bridge Program?

Our Medical Assistant to RN bridge program offers a clear, step-by-step path toward your ADN/ASN or BSN degree, outlining everything you need to finish faster and with less stress. Our online test prep courses will allow you to pass exams and work toward earning your ADN/ASN or BSN degree sooner, and pass your NCLEX-RN exam the first time with confidence.

Key Components of the Program:

  • General Ed Prep: We offer online test prep courses for more than 22 general education subjects that you can test out of via a CLEP or DSST exam. Your advisor will help you determine which courses you can test out of based on your past experience and choice of nursing school.
  • Entrance Exam Prep: Our online, interactive entrance exam prep courses will get you ready in no time for exams like TEAS, HESI, Pax, or Kaplan.
  • On-Demand Tutoring: We’re ready to provide one-on-one, on-demand tutoring services for your core nursing courses. Get 1:1 tutoring for both your online test prep courses and nursing school courses, and additional mentoring during your journey to stay on track toward your goals.
  • NCLEX-RN Prep: Our online nursing licensing exam preparation course focuses on the most important and frequently tested content to help you pass your NCLEX-RN the first time.

How it works:

  1. PLAN: Meet with your Education Advisor who will help you map out all the steps for your education path.
  2. PREP: Attend our live, online test prep sessions that will help you test out of college courses and earn credits in less time.
  3. PASS: Take your exam at one of 1,900 testing centers and receive a passing score.
  4. TRANSFER: Transfer your credits to your accredited school of choice.

No expensive textbooks required. Study guide is provided at start of course. Fully synchronous online learning experience with live instructors who can answer questions in real time. Recordings of every bridge program session are made available to revisit at your convenience. We pay 100% of your exam fees when you complete at least 85% of the online test prep course requirements.