What is the difference between a Medical Assistant and a Registered Nurse?

I want to go into the medical field but i want to be more than just a nurse. I wanted to be a doctor but that's too much school and too much money. So i thought a Physicians Assistant would be close enough but that is still a lot of both. And so i heard about medical assisting and i wanted to know what they are responsible for as in their duties and their yearly and or hourly salary and same for the registered nurse, their duties and salaries. Thanks.

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