Will working at a Dr.'s office help you during Nursing school??

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

The typical daytime working hours of a medical receptionist might be a major hindrance during nursing school, since most nursing programs are conducted during the day. You might be exposed to certain medical terms during the course of your job, but that's about it.

I completed a medical assisting program about 7 years ago, and it did not help with any nursing program.

amyk_ncsu · Dec 22, 2007

I am currently working in a doctors office and currently in nursing school. Actually I'm at work right now, haha. Anyways, I think it depends on what kind of practice you are working in as to whether or not you will benefit from it for school. Personally, I work in the MRI dept of my office, and I have learned lots about anatomy, different joints, nerves, different orthopedic problems, as well as relevent medical terminology. You would probably gain much more experience working as a CNA or unit clerk at the hospital, but it isn't necessary experience. Lots of people go through nursing school and have jobs in restaurants or starbucks or whatnot. Personally, I like getting paid twice as much as the average CNA, having set hours, and being able to occasionally study at work (or post on allnurses!). Good luck in NS! :)

Edited to add: You will probably learn more if you act interested. I am an atypical "receptionist" as I like to help the mri techs out and ask questions and look at the images when I have time. If you just sit at your computer, you may not learn much. The experience is what you make of it. PM me if you have more questions!

nursngstudent05 · Dec 22, 2007

Edited to add: You will probably learn more if you act interested. I am an atypical "receptionist" as I like to help the mri techs out and ask questions and look at the images when I have time. If you just sit at your computer, you may not learn much. The experience is what you make of it. PM me if you have more questions!

You know, that's going to be very easy for me. My last job was working at Title and Escrow company and because I'm always eager to learn, I ended up learning alot about real estate. I was always asking questions, and always offered to help other co-workers. All they had to do is train me for 2 min. and I learned quickly and made it part of my duties at work. I was always being nosy and asked them if I could help out. I felt bad seeing everyone stressed out so I offerd to help with their work. So not onlywas I doing my work but other people's work as well, but it didn't bother me at all -as long as I was learning =)

amyk_ncsu · Dec 22, 2007

Awesome, you'll probably learn more than most people doing the same job. You sound just like me... learn quick and learn lots. For example, I have learned how to set up patients on the table, how to recognize certain aspects of the mris (tears, fluid, etc), how to talk to radiologists, etc. There is always something to learn, you just have to want to. I'm sure you'll do great in nursing school, and hopefully your new job will be beneficial!

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

You may learn some basics of internal medicine and perhaps some of the medical terminology, but I don't think that much of that will help will nursing school.

I was a medical office assistant for 12 years and the one thing from that experience that has helped me during nursing school is a good knowledge of all medical terminology as well as knowing the "system" of my province's medical care.

I also worked at one job that I removed simple sutures and assisted a doctor with biopsies and such.

meandragonbrett · Dec 22, 2007

I think that once you are able to work in a nursing assistant and a Nurse Intern/Extern role that you should move over into those roles in the local hospital systems. You'll gain invaluable experience that will help you excel in clinical and you'll be more prepared when you begin orientation after boards.

Larry in Florida · Dec 22, 2007

I'm currently a pre-nursing student working on my pre-reqs. I applied for a position as a Medical receptionist at an internist office and I got the job!! I have no experience working as a medical receptionist, and was wondering if this was actually going to help me during nursing school. Like, will I be learning alot of things while working there that could help me out in school? Or will I be just taking calls the whole time? If any one has gone through this, working at a Dr.'s office and doing nursing school...I wanna read your comments. I start next week, really excited but don't know what to expect. Thanks in advance!!!

Yeah,

will help pay the high tuition LOL.

Larry in Fla

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2007

ok... let me put in my 2 cents worth...

yes...

in the long run... it will help.... you are just doing your pre-reqs...?

don't listen to these ppl.... most of them are wrong...

you will learn more than if you were working @ the gap!!!

lol...

soak up all you can...and ask a lot of questions... but not too many!

it will help......

i promise!!!

:cool:

stillpressingon · Dec 23, 2007

I completed a medical assisting program about 7 years ago, and it did not help with any nursing program.

Whole-heartedly agree. I currently AM a certified medical assistant, and I'm convinced my experience will be essentially worthless when/if I go to nursing school. Just a completely different thing. What I'm doing, and what the vast majority of medical assistants do, is much more like administrative assistant work with some general pt "care" on the side. The "pt care" aspect of what I do is limited to rooming pt's (taking their vitals) and occasional injections. Not real thought-provoking work.

No, I don't think working in a Dr.'s office is worth it. If it pays well, is convenient, etc., then yeah, it's worth it, but not because you'll get "real world" nursing experience. You simply won't - it's not the nature of that kind of job.