Fairly new RN with Medical Assistant interview

BeckyRn,13 · Apr 28, 2011

Wow girl!! those are a ton of "what ifs" what if this, or what if that?? I know I can't live my life that way. God has presented an opportunity for you here for an interview. Who know's what may come of that, or who you may meet. Nursing is all about networking. It's who you know, or how well you shmooze someone to make them think you know them. Go on the interview, and TAKE IT FROM THERE. Don't worry about the what ifs...yet. After the interview, pray that God uses you how He sees fit, and VOILA! Things will come together nicely. IF you are offered the job that's 11 hours away, you could always ask the people that interview, and then hire you, their oppinions...they obviously like you

Trauma Columnist · Apr 28, 2011

I think moving for a payrate of $27k is risky - can you live in this new area on that pay?

I live in a fairly low cost of living area and that would be below the poverty limit for me.

Have you considered an MA position in the area where you live now?

Other option?

Leave your kids with your husband and then you won't have the expenses associated and you can also check out the area to see if its feasible to even move there?

FrogKissingNurse · Apr 28, 2011

i say go for the interview. if you don't get the job then at least you got to practice the interview process and you can use that to your advantange for the next one. if you do get the job, you are not stuck. number 1, you're getting experience in the medical field. it may not be rn experience, but it is some. plus employers are much more willing to hire someone who is already employed versus an unemployed worker.

like the other poster said, use this as a networking experience. you'll be exposed to lots of people in the medical field and that can open up a lot of new doors for you. plus, you can always keep applying other places and take an rn job when it comes along. also being with the dept. of army will look amazing on a resume so will working in the emergency department.

i know the pay doesn't sound that wonderful, but i do believe you will get great benifits. the rest of your questions like pay and relocation time is something they can answer for you when you're offered the job.

good luck!

sourapril · Apr 28, 2011

If you already knew that non-nursing experience would not help you find a RN job, then what would you apply for the MA position in the first place? Stop wondering "what if", be a little more patient, and keep applying. You will get a job! Good luck!

cieloarge · Apr 28, 2011

I personLly wouldn't do it. 27k is not enough to move my whole family to a place that they have no idea what is like. I say keep applying in places that are affordable to you in case you have an interview. Having a family changes everything.

Good luck!

Ps: have you tried to work as anything in a hospital in your area? How about nursing homes? Agencies? There must be something for you to do.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

You may also want to look into the nurse practice act in the area. If you are an RN, you may be held to RN standard of care even if you are employed as a medical assistant-- this could be a problem in many ways. I would find out whether the employer knows that you are an RN and if so if they have a definite plan to employ you to your licensure. They can't hire you as an MA and then give you RN work to do, either.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

I believe in making lists:

Cons:

*2-3 days and $$$$ out of pocket to interview, plus childcare, while you're gone.

*No guarantee of a job

*Potential move into an area where your potential earnings could be less than poverty level (as per TraumaRus's guess)

*Potential job working below your license while potentially being held

to your RN license

*No guarantee of RN position

*Uprooting children, presumably from father

Pros:

*Potential MA job

Whispera, MSN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

I feel the need to add this to the comments others wrote: can you do everything a medical assistant is expected to do?

I think it's risky to take the job, and personally wouldn't do it, for all the reasons roser wrote, above. I also wouldn't drive 11 hours for an interview for a job I wasn't gung-ho about. That's expensive and stressful for little payback.

maikranz · Apr 28, 2011

I am curious how you described your education in the application that got you the interview in the first place. :confused: From what you wrote, it doesn't appear that you have been completely honest: "... Who's to say I'll be offered more just because they see I'm also an RN? ..." Are you in fact a medical assistant? - CMA or RMA?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2011

I would save the money this interview will cost you and continue to look locally. If you are desperate enough to move 11 hours away for an MA job, look locally for retail or food service jobs that you can work around a job hunt schedule. Make use of your school's career center to look over your resume and cover letter and interview technique. Apply to your state's department of health: I "scored" super low on my state's application score because I had no experience and they use degree and experience instead of a civil service exam for nurses and I've still gotten two calls for interviews for part time positions. Contact your clinical professors and ask if they have any leads. Volunteer as a nurse with the Red Cross to network and put some kind of nursing experience on your resume. Keep applying everywhere and following up on your applications.

4 months is a long time to job hunt when you have expenses you're not meeting, but in this economy it's really not THAT long. If things are truly grim, if your kids are going to be hungry, march yourself down to the local welfare office and apply for everything you qualify for.

missmun52 · Apr 29, 2011

you could work retail for that amount of pay and continue looking where you are...it take ppl on average 6 months to one year to get a job in this economy where i live so be patient and dont uproot your family for such low pay, I would no waist money going on the interview either.