Career Change

[momto3boys]

New to site - great info so far. Considering a healthcare career. Currently stay-at-home mom. Very little college experience right after I graduated from high school. Never was too crazy about school. Not sure what career path to take. RN interests me but the schooling side of it does not. Considered Medical Assistant as it is a quick certificate program. But if I am going to work and have to be away from my family, I want it to be worth it financially. Need some advice. Not sure what path to take. Would love to talk to someone about my options but wouldn't know where to begin or who to speak with. Tried to speak with HR at one local hospital but they were annoyed with my questions. Any ideas/suggestions?

[arciedee]

Where are you thinking you would like to work? Hospital? Doctor's office? If you're interested in working in a doctor's office then the medical assistant certification would be a good way to go. If you think you'd rather work in a hospital setting, what about getting your CNA? It's usually a pretty quick certification, a semester or less depending on how often the class meets. This would give you some exposure to the field and would help you decide if you wanted to go on to become a nurse.

[momto3boys]

Thanks for the helpful information! Not sure where I would like to work. Somewhere that is flexible with my children's school schedule. Hospital might be best at first - weekends only or something - then as they get older, drs. office possibly. They are not in school full time yet. Do you happen to know what a CNA does in a hospital setting?

[arciedee]

The nursing assistants on the floor where I'm doing my clinical check vital signs, assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, feeding, toileting, changing bed linens, repositioning, etc., they do glucose monitoring, answer call bells, probably lots more things that I don't see. They are really a great resource. Another possibility, depending on where you are, is medication nursing assistants. Some states are beginning to allow CNAs with additional education to pass certain medications.