Med. Assistant Ques.To Nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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I recently graduated from a local tech school and received a diploma for Medical Assistant. I don't think I'll have much luck finding employment in a physicians office due to my age. Im a male, 55 years old. I am hoping to work in a hospital setting but I'm unsure of 2 things. 1: Are there positions in a hospital for a medical assistant, other than changing bed pans? 2. If not a hospital, where would be my best bet to find employment in this field? Thank you in advance for you response.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I can only answer from my experience, in my part of the country. I have never seen an MA employed in a hospital situation, only CNA's. It is my understanding and experience that MA's are usually only employed by MD's and work directly under the MD's license.If you do find a position in a hospital, emptying bedpans will likely be a part of your duties.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

Agreed with the above, I have never seen a medical assistant work in a hospital setting, but it's not impossible. Check in to the federally-qualified health centers (FQHC) about employment options, they often rely heavily on their MAs. Good luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I work at a small rehab hospital that is part of a larger, national chain of hospitals. This workplace hires MAs and trains them as unit secretaries. A unit secretary (a.k.a. ward clerk) makes appointments, transcribes new orders, arranges patient transports, answers the phone, greets visitors, maintains paperwork, puts charts together, helps with admissions and discharges, files old paperwork, generates new paperwork, obtains signatures for consents, and performs a bunch of clerical duties.

Since the unit secretaries at my workplace are also MAs, they occasionally perform EKGs and blood draws.

By the way, I earned a diploma in medical assisting (MA) 10 years ago and was never able to find a job anywhere with that training.

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Thank You!

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Just saw an ad in my paper where the local hospital is looking for MA for the outpatient clinic. But, they are only hiring experienced MA's.

Experience and being a new grad is the catch here.

Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

MA's are hired almost everywhere that I've seen. I've seen them in LTC passing meds and in docs offices drawing blood and doing intake. It appears it depends on what part of the country you're from.

Why so negative about your age concerning hiring in a docs office? 55 is a good solid age that represents maturity and reliability in most cases. Go everywhere and apply; you might just be super surprised. Go in to an interview with the attitude of ageism and you reap what you sew.

They can't ask you how old you are and can't make you put it anywhere on the application process (it's against the law) so..........splash some cold water on your face and get going; it's all about attitude.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

" I've seen them in LTC passing meds"

That would be a step above MA, one who has taken a medications course.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I would love to see a 55 year old male working in my doctor's office! If I were hiring I would pick you fir-- oops better not say that . . .

Assuming for a moment that the economy wasn't as it is, you could work in doctor's offices, many outpatient clinics and ambulatory care centers associated with hospitals, and with a bit more training a med tech.

As most MA courses teach venipuncture and how to do EKGs you could apply in some states for those positions as well. Best of luck! :)

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