The healthcare industry is always looking for people to join their field, so if you are interested in working with patients, look into the programs at Prism Career Institute. Located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Prism Career Institute offers a medical assistant program and a practical nursing program. They also have day and evening programs that make it convenient for anyone to pursue their passions. Here, Prism Career Institute discusses the difference between medical assisting vs. practical nursing.
How Is Medical Assisting Different From Practical Nursing?
If you are interested in medical assisting and practical nursing, you may be wondering how the two differ.
Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant is to assist doctors and nurses with patients in a healthcare setting. A medical assistant is cross-trained to perform both administrative and clinical duties. Some of the responsibilities of a medical assistant are:
- Assisting physicians during patient exams
- Cleaning and preparing examination rooms
- Coding and filling out forms
- Collecting and preparing specimens for analysis by the laboratory
- Handling billing and bookkeeping
- Helping with prescription refills
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Performing laboratory tests
- Preparing patients for their exams
- Taking medical histories
- Taking vital signs
- Updating medical records
Most medical assistants work in clinic settings or family practice offices and work more traditional eight- to 10-hour shifts. Many medical assistants don’t work weekends or holidays.
Practical Nurses
Practical nurses (PNs) are versatile healthcare professionals capable of various clinical, administrative, and personal care duties. PNs may serve in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, government agencies, and similar settings. They work under the direction of physicians or registered nurses (RNs), performing the following tasks and more:
- Administering medications and vaccinations
- Taking vital signs
- Helping patients with personal care (eating, bathing, dressing, etc.)
- Changing dressings and bandages, ensuring patients are healing properly
- Evaluating the patient’s wellbeing, and reporting any specific needs to medical staff
- Collecting medical histories
- Updating health records
PNs can work a rotating shift that includes weekends, nights, and holidays. They may also work 12-hour shifts, depending on the type of healthcare environment.
Medical Assisting and Nursing Programs Offered at Prism Career Institute
If you can’t decide between medical assisting vs. nursing, Prism Career Institute offers both programs and can help students make the best choice. Both programs offer convenient day and evening classes, allowing you to choose which works best for you.
Medical Assisting Program
The medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute is 40 weeks long and consists of 420 lecture hours, 150 lab hours, and 150 externship hours. Students will take courses in clinical and administrative tasks that include training in the following areas:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Clinical procedures
- Electrocardiography (EKG)
- Medical law and ethics
- Patient history/vital signs/CPR
- Patient hygiene/infection control
- Pharmacology
- Phlebotomy
- Professional communication
- Records management
Practical Nursing Program
The practical nursing program at Prism Career Institute can be completed in about 15 months and includes over 1,500 hours of coursework, including hands-on experience in our training laboratories, and an externship. Some of the courses in the practical nursing program include:
- Body structure and function
- Medical math
- Medical terminology
- Mental health
- Nursing I, II, and III
- Pharmacology
- Test-taking strategies
After students complete the practical nursing program, they will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
Begin Your Career in Healthcare Today
The medical assistant and practical nursing programs are offered at all three of Prism Career Institute’s campuses, including Philadelphia, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ. Daytime and evening options are available for these programs of study, allowing students to choose the path that is right for them.
Students at Prism Career Institute gain knowledge through classroom learning, laboratory sessions, and hands-on training in a school environment. We also offer externships and clinical training that provide practical work experience in local healthcare settings. This helps students maintain a competitive edge when it comes time to enter the work world.
Obtain the skills you need to begin your journey toward a career as a medical assistant or nurse. Consider the training programs at Prism Career Institute. Contact us to learn more or apply today.