Question for medical assistants

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For those who are a medical assistant or patient care assistant and work in a hospital setting. What is your typical patient volume?? Do you like the hospital setting?? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

I have been a medical assistant for 3 years (almost 4 now) . But I work in a medical clinic. They don't utilize us very much in the hospital setting. But I get a TON of patient contact everyday between 30-60 patients a day. What you do as an MA is completely up to your employer. I was trained on getting vital signs, EKGs, phlebotomy, collecting lab specimen, administering injections,insurance coding and billing etc. My employer only allows me too do only a few of those things. I do really enjoy my job! But I am definitely excited about furthering my career to become an RN.

Hope this helps!

Good luck!

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How long have you been a medical assistant?? Thanks for your feedback and best wishes !!

Your welcome :(.. I have been an MA for 13 years. I attempted to go back to get my RN finished all my pre-reqs but life (my kids) were young and I focused on them. They kept me busy with football, cheer, dance and basketball. Now that they are older, more independent I'm going back to finish. Your still young don't stop at MA keep reaching for the stars and beyond! I'm in my early 30's and I don't regret putting my career on hold for my kids. I'm glad that I'm able to go back now (start RN program fall 2016) and accomplish my goals and dreams.

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That's awesome!! That is really great that your going to for your RN :) stories like yours inspire me and remind me that it's never too late no matter where your at in life or what happens in life that puts things "on hold"

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OP, I was a medical assistant for about ten years before I graduated nursing school and got my first RN job 😊 as an MA, I worked in primary care clinics and it was this experience that lit a fire under my butt and made me want to pursue nursing. I thoroughly loved the relationships I developed with my providers and patients and I became a very valued person as the in-between. All of the things I came to know as a medical assistant (medications and their indications, common doses, side effects, interactions), medical conditions, hands on skills like blood draws, EKGs, collecting specimens and running lab tests, and the list goes on - all proved soo useful in nursing school and now as a nurse. Not to mention the abundance of interaction with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

Depending on what type of clinic (specialty, urgent care, large chain, private owned, etc), MA roles vary a ton. Some places might have you doing secretary stuff like front office, and other places you never touch a phone or do any clerical duties. Some places have their own lab that collect all specimens and run tests, or you as an MA might do that in addition or instead of rooming patients. Lots of variety and it's different everywhere. Good interview questions or even just things to consider.

People will say MA's are nothing close to nurses, which is true because they are different professions, but I'm so so grateful and fortunate for my MA background!!

It's also a good "in" with healthcare organizations and places of employment if you desire to stay within the chain when you become a nurse :) I'm not sure if any of this helps but good luck!!

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I completely agree and sounds like you had the same experience as me! I was a medical assistant for ten years at a private practice, LOVE IT, and I learned so much that has given me a great foundation in nursing school and for my first nursing job!

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