Changing careers

[MAMAYBE]

Hi everyone, new here. I am debating going into a Medical Assisting program. I am now in the legal field as an administrative assistant, have been for a very long time but I have always been intrigued by the medical field.

I enjoy helping people, which I do get to do in my job now, however, it is all attorneys and just find the entire atmosphere unrewarding. When they get upset, I get really mad because come on, really, it is not life or death. I guess I have just been needing a change for a really long time and am now really burnt out by it. So, to get to the point, I have always thought about going to school to become a Medical Assistant.

I have also gone back and forth between Nursing, Surgical Tech and even Coding. Coding looks very boring and just "another desk job", so I cancelled that out. Nursing, I would love but honestly do not think I could handle all that goes with it. Surgical Tech looked interesting, but cannot see myself standing in an OR confined in all of that gear on my face. So, I go back to Medical Assisting. However, I have always known that they do not pay well. But is it worth it to get into something I would enjoy even though it doesn't pay well?

I make pretty good money doing what I am doing now so it would be hard to give up, but I am NOT happy at all. Currently I make almost $25 an hour, hard to give up!! But everything that goes with it is not worth it and very unrewarding. Any advice would be appreciated, or if anyone has gone through the same thing. I hope I did not babble too much :) Thanks!!

[MA_Davis]

Hello MAMAYBE,

I am a Certified Medical Assistant. With MAs it really depends where you live. In different areas the pay is different because of limitations. For me I live in California where we do Blood Draws, Injections, Vitals, EKGs, Room patients, Prep Patients for exams,Call in prescriptions, and much more. Because we work underneath the Doctor's license, we can do whatever the Doctor's feels comfortable with us doing. Out here I have heard of MAs even performing X-Rays. So you see it depends where you live, which has a lot to do with how much you would be paid as well. In California as MAs we can also work in hospitals not just Doctor's offices...If you do not want to have all the responsibilities as a nurse I would highly recommend it as long as you feel in your heart it's what you want. Because CLEARLY you make a lot of money. I want to be a nurse so MA is not enough for me. But I feel what you are sayin you want to be happy! And if it makes you happy than that is worth more than money at the end of the day. But are you willing to give up that pay is the question? Go with your gut, sit down calm and quiet and think about it and ask yourself is it good for you? If you feel good about it. GO FOR IT! Best of luck to you!

[lovedijah]

You need to find a way out of your job. If money is not a concern.. pursue MA. If money is an issue and you don't want to make 12-14 an hour, I'd purse something else. I don't think you should choose a career for money... but I wouldn't choose a career that I know wouldn't support the way I wanted to live.