The healthcare industry is like a complex machine with many interlinking and collaborating parts. Like any functioning machine, each part has a purpose, and while some may have more responsibilities than others, each piece is vital to the process.
In this article, we’ll explore and compare two crucial players in the healthcare delivery system: the certified nurse assistant (CNA) vs. the certified medication aide (CMA).
What Does CNA Stand For?
The acronym CNA stands for certified nursing assistant, although some states use the title certified nurse aide. It’s worth noting that a few states (notably Arizona and Vermont) use the title licensed nursing assistant; therefore, the acronym in those cases is LNA.
What Does CMA Stand For?
CMA generally stands for certified medication aide. However, as with CNAs, it’s important to note that the name (and therefore the acronym) for CMAs is not uniform nationwide. The CMA acronym can also mean certified medical assistant or certified medication assistant.
In some states, this role may be identified as medication aide-certified (MA-C), certified residential medication aide (CRMA), certified medication technician (CMT or MedTech), qualified medication administration personnel (QMAP), or other variations. Also, not all states have this type of healthcare support role.
What Is a CNA?
A CNA is a healthcare worker responsible for providing direct supportive care to patients in a clinical setting. The responsibilities of CNAs place them in prolonged direct contact with their patients, and thus, they often have opportunities to build important rapport with patients and their loved ones.
The types of supportive care that CNAs provide patients include assistance with activities of daily living, routine measurements of vital signs, cleaning, basic wound care, and relaying patient concerns to the nurses in charge of care plans. Registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs)/licensed vocational nurses (LVN ) can supervise CNAs.
What Are Activities of Daily Living?
As mentioned above, CNAs are primarily responsible for assisting their patients with activities of daily living (ADLs). Unless you have experience working in a long-term care facility or have already completed CNA training, you’re probably wondering what ADLs are. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services defines activities of daily living as “...activities related to personal care.” As such, you can expect routine ADL responsibilities as a CNA to include the following:
- Assistance with bathing
- Assistance with toileting
- Assistance with personal hygiene (i.e., combing hair, brushing teeth, trimming nails)
- Assistance with getting dressed
- Assistance with eating
- Assistance with walking
- Assistance with transferring from the bed to a chair
For a more in-depth look at CNAs and how much they earn, check out our article, “What Does a CNA Do & How Much Do They Earn?”
What Is a CMA?
A CMA is a healthcare support worker responsible for administering medications to patients—intravenous and injection-type medications excluded—or assisting patients in administering medications themselves. Depending on the setting, CMAs may also assist with ADLs. Under the supervision of RNs, CMA responsibilities typically include the following:
- Confirming the identity of the patient before administering any medications
- Providing patient education about their prescribed medications
- Documenting the administration of medications, including the times and dosages
- Observing and reporting any patient reaction to the medication
- Restocking the medication dispensary
What Characteristics Make a Good CMA?
Successful medication aides rely on their training, skills, and experience. Here are some of the characteristics and skills that you will need to develop to thrive in this role:
- Attention to detail: Ensuring you have the correct patient for the correct medication, dosage, and time aren’t the only details requiring your attention. As a CMA, you must also accurately document your actions and observe your patient for any changes or reactions.
- Organization skills: Your responsibilities are specific and detailed, and you must document your actions accurately. Medication carts are routinely audited.
- Understanding of technology: You must be able to use the facility’s software to carry out your tasks.
- Effective communication: Part of this role is building rapport with your patients and determining how much assistance they need with medication administration. Additionally, you must report any observations you have about your patients to the appropriate nurse, and often, you must communicate with the nurse manager or pharmacist when medication supplies are low.
- Willingness to collaborate: Depending on the facility’s rules and procedures, you may need to assist CNAs with responding to call lights and helping residents with ADLs. An attitude of willingness will go a long way to creating positive relationships with your coworkers and patients.
CMA vs. CNA: What’s the Difference?
The key difference between the two roles is the additional training and subsequent increased responsibility of certified medication aides. CNAs are not authorized to take on any medication responsibilities. The CNA’s role remains restricted to providing assistive and supportive care to residents and patients.
However, these two roles have a close relationship; they both play fundamental support roles to their patients and the supervising nurses, and a CMA’s training and education build upon that of a CNA.
Difference in Pay
As you might expect, the pay for a CMA vs. a CNA differs. CMAs generally earn higher hourly pay rates than CNAs, which makes sense because they have additional training, and medication administration is a strictly regulated responsibility.
- The average CNA salary for traditional employment is around $16 hourly.
- The average CMA salary for traditional employment is around $18 hourly.
It’s worth noting that the above figures are for traditional employment jobs, either full-time or part-time. Hourly pay rates for CMA and CNA per diem or PRN shifts with Nursa are usually much higher.
Where Do CNAs and CMAs Work?
As the baby boomer generation ages, the demand for healthcare services is on the rise. CNA jobs and CMA jobs are available in various settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and home healthcare.
People are increasingly interested in remaining in their homes as long as possible and retaining as much of their independence as long as they can. This interest is evidenced by the demand for home healthcare services, which results in a high volume of CMA and CNA agency jobs, and the popularity of independent and assisted living complexes. CNAs and CMAs are indispensable to making it possible for people to stay in their homes longer or live as independently as possible.
How to Become a CNA
A college degree is not required to be a CNA, but you should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. With one of those credentials under your wing, you must complete a CNA training program or class accredited and approved by your state. CNA programs generally range from 105 to 120 hours long, which means anywhere from one to four months, depending on the program schedule. Following the completion of a CNA program, aspiring CNAs need to pass their state’s competency exam.
Unlike for LPNs and RNs, there is no national licensure exam or overall agreed-upon standard for CNA training and certification. Each state determines the training and regulations for nursing assistant certification. Some states regulate and certify CNAs through their boards of nursing. In contrast, others do it through different government agencies, such as the state health department divisions or professional regulatory divisions.
How to Become a CMA
A college degree is not necessary to become a CMA. While the prerequisites vary among states, general requirements typically include the following:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have a high school diploma or a general education equivalent.
- You must complete a state-approved training program.
Usually, a prerequisite to becoming a CMA is being trained and certified as a CNA. Many states also impose a set amount of CNA work experience before you can be eligible for a CMA training program.
For state-specific information about how long it takes to become a medication aide and whether, in your case, it is a med tech certification, medical assistant certification, MA-C, or another CMA variant, check out our “Medication Aide Requirements by State Resource Guide.”
CMA vs. CNA: Which Should You Choose?
Either profession has a level of stability and job security that many other occupations envy because of the high demand and variety of opportunities. What are some reasons for deciding on a CNA or CMA career?
Why Choose a CNA Career?
It is not an exaggeration to say that CNAs are vital to the healthcare industry. In particular, residential care facilities, such as long-term care and skilled nursing, cannot function without CNAs. Reasons for choosing a career as a CNA include the following:
- It is a career that does not require a college degree.
- It is a profession that facilitates connections to your patients due to extended periods together.
- It is a career that is in demand in every town, city, and state, making your skills transferable to jobs no matter where you go.
- It is a profession that has opportunities in different settings.
- It can be a stepping stone on the path to becoming a nurse.
For more reasons to choose a CNA career, read our article, “15 Reasons CNA Jobs Can Be Perfect for Healthcare Workers.”
Why Choose a CMA Career?
The scope of practice of a nurse is broad and covers a range of responsibilities in the healthcare setting. CMAs provide essential support to nurses in performing their work duties. Reasons for choosing a career as a CMA include the following:
- It is a skilled profession that does not require a college degree.
- It is a logical progression from a CNA career.
- It is a career that provides training and knowledge about medications, which is a logical foundation for nursing education in the future.
Whether you should or should not pursue a career as a CMA is entirely up to you. If you’re interested in nursing, becoming a CNA or a CMA is an excellent place to start.
Why Use CNA and CMA as Steps on the Path to Nursing?
If you are a CNA or CMA, you are not obligated to pursue a nursing degree and license. Many CNAs and CMAs remain in the profession because they deeply understand the fundamental value of their respective roles and are committed to providing care to those who need it most.
However, many nurses entered the healthcare field by first working as CNAs. Often, nursing students work CNA or CMA jobs simultaneously while studying to become licensed nurses.
These professions are excellent opportunities to engage with and experience nursing care at its primary level. Learn more about transitioning from a CNA to an RN by reading our article, “How to Transition from CNA to RN.”
How to Find CNA and CMA Jobs near You
Don’t know where to look? Because of the high demand for these professions, there are likely high-paying CNA and CMA jobs near you. Nursa has opportunities for per diem or PRN shifts in multiple settings in more than 1,300 healthcare facilities nationwide. There are several advantages to working PRN with Nursa, such as the higher hourly pay rates and the flexibility to choose when and where you work, which are top favorites among Nursa clinicians.
Sign Up with Nursa and Start Earning More
Find per diem shifts near you with Nursa, the open healthcare marketplace that connects nursing professionals to where they are needed most, shift by shift. Sign up with Nursa today and start browsing CMA or CNA jobs at healthcare facilities near you.
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