Published Feb 20, 2013
mairyn90
5 Posts
hey, anyone from Florida in the medical assistant field? if so is it worth it? meaning hours, pay, what you have to put up with? etc.
MoopleRN
240 Posts
It's telling that you're not wondering if it's rewarding/what you want to do with your life.
The answer to your questions are probably a resounding NO since you voice no interest in the field other than the hours/pay/what you have to put up with.....
first off I AM interested in the field...I already work in a hospital in administration and would like to experience more in the medical field but not sure where to start. I'm living in NY now and I'm looking to get away from the cold. that's why I was asking what I asked. If you didn't have anything nice to say and judge right of the back that I was more interested in pay and what not then you were wrong!
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
If you're a hospital administrator already, you will take an ungodly pay cut in becoming a medical assistant.
JustBeachyNurse, LPN
13,957 Posts
thread moved to nursing/medical assistant forum.
Generally medical assistant pay rates are $10-$15/hr with Florida being approx 5-10% less than the national average. According to the BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics) mean medical assistant salary in FL is $13.80/hr (that amount includes new and experienced MA's)
So you want to go from an administration position to a medical assistant position? Huh? If you want to demote yourself then more power to you. Your OP and reply makes me wonder though, just what kind of "administration" position you're in..... But according to you, I was wrong so I'll just wish you well on your way down the ladder!
downsouthlaff, LPN
1 Article; 319 Posts
From what I hear medical assistant is not worth it. Don't mean to bash medical assistants but all the people I know that took that one year course truly regrets and thinks its a waist of time. As an EMT and a CNA I could work as a medical assistant. Lucy Lou off the street could walk in, get trained by the Nurse or Doctor for a few days and be a MA. It's not really a real position per say, it is and it isn't. The people I know that took that class were too candidates for Receptionist positions at Dr Offices but really that's it. You are much better off becoming an LPN and working in a Doctors office, than becoming an MA that way you have options. And poor you, you must be stressed as a hospital administrator to be willing to take a cut in pay like that!
I guess my advice to you is if you really want to be an MA, see if there are any doctors offices,or clinics in your area or the area you want to move too is hiring receptionists. If you can get hired, ask the nurse or the MA to teach you things like how to do vitals, and get weights and things like that, some offices require that the Receptionist do these things anyway, and learn that way, instead of paying 25,000 dollars to a Vo Tech or one of those scammy private colleges on TV that makes every career look peachy,that way instead if making x salary an hour trying to pay off loans you will be making X salary without paying back loans
mz_tonep
8 Posts
In my opinion it is not worth it. I am over 10k in debt with no job. These trade schools are schemes and they really rob you. They promise you the world when in all actuality they pray on the weak and hope you get hired through your externship soo they do not have to work to find you employment. I am considering going for my bsn. Obtaining a 4 year degree that will land me alot of career options and flexibility is far more greater than obtaining a worthless piece of paper(certificate) that employers dont really care about. Again not bashing but ppl need to hear the truth before they spend out thousands of dollars and then possibly maxing out their Aid Award making it hard for them to obtain a degree.