Should I complete my medical assistant program?

[sshall]

I have a degree in human physiology and years of experience in the medical field in the form of scribing and volunteer work. I chose to start a one year medical assistant program while I was applying to nursing school so I would not have a gap in my resume and I would also have backup if I did not get into nursing school. Fortunately, I got into OHSU and will be starting in Jan! I am a little conflicted right now because I am halfway through my medical assistant program and on the one hand I know that it would be helpful with my nursing degree. However, I am paying out of pocket for this program and it is going to cost me about another 4k to complete the program. I don't know if the experience that I am going to get from completing the MA program is really worth the money that I will have to spend. Any advice would be helpful!

[Triplepoint, ADN, RN]

First of all, congrats on getting in to OHSU! The nursing program is very competitive, so you should be very proud of yourself for getting a spot! 

I would say that if you have the interest and the time to complete the medical assisting class AND you plan as working as a medical assistant while going to nursing school, then finish the program. The people in my cohort at MHCC who are medical assistants generally seem more comfortable in the medical environment and more at ease with doing things like giving people injections than other students.  

However, if you don't want to work as a medical assistant, then save yourself some money and enjoy your time before nursing school starts! You will learn so much in your nursing program! 

[sshall]

5 hours ago, Triplepoint said:

I would say that if you have the interest and the time to complete the medical assisting class AND you plan as working as a medical assistant while going to nursing school, then finish the program. The people in my cohort at MHCC who are medical assistants generally seem more comfortable in the medical environment and more at ease with doing things like giving people injections than other students.  

Thank you! Yeah, I was not planning on working as an MA while going to school since I will be doing the ABSN program. They have warned that it would be difficult to work. Also, I will have to be commuting quite a bit already so I am not sure where I would fit in work outside of school. 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

The manipulative skills you are paying so dearly for will be part of what you'll learn in your first semester of the nursing program. Drop the MA program, save yourself some money, and focus on the big prize.

Good luck!