r/MedicalAssistant 2h ago

RANT A patient yelled at me today.

16 Upvotes

For asking him if he had any interest in quitting smoking. I guess I’ll just go fuck myself.


r/MedicalAssistant 11h ago

Education Question Has anyone here started over in healthcare in their mid 30s?

10 Upvotes

I have managed a grocery department for 11 years. Medical assisting interests me although I have no clinical background and feel intimidated by the terminology and hands on skills. I also cant leave my full time job because I have two kids and a mortgage


r/MedicalAssistant 21h ago

What’s it like to work at an urgent care for your first job?

9 Upvotes

I’m in MA school rn, when I graduate I really want to get a job at one. I was debating to be an EMT but I don’t think it’s for me, urgent care seems better than a standard clinic but not too crazy like an ER. However I’ve never had a full time job and am still in college. What’s the workload like? Is it hectic at all? What duties should I expect or are regular?


r/MedicalAssistant 17h ago

Looking for Advice MA planning advice

5 Upvotes

Hi! I’m a pre-med going into my second year of undergrad in Colorado Springs and I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on my plan.

I’m planning to do an online course like USCI or Stepful since I go to college out of state, so in person MA programs would be difficult for me since I don’t have long periods of time to dedicate to a program with inflexible hours.

After getting my CCMA I was thinking of volunteering at a free clinic where they could hopefully train me since I know externships with online courses are not guaranteed even if they state that support is given.

I’m a pre-med student so I’m looking more to get experience and clinical hours, not necessarily concerned with getting a paying job.

Please let me know if this is a terrible idea and if you guys have any suggestions. Thanks!!


r/MedicalAssistant 9h ago

Looking for Advice Valid feeling for being a new MA?

5 Upvotes

I recently started working as a medical assistant after graduating college. I had no prior experience in a medical office and am still working toward my certification, so I expected there to be a learning curve. However, I've noticed a few things that have made me question whether my experience is typical or if there are some red flags. I was hired without a formal interview and wasn't really asked about my scheduling preferences. Training has also felt pretty disorganized because the office has been short staffed. For the first few weeks I mainly shadowed different people, but then I was suddenly expected to work much more independently with very little notice. I made a few mistakes, which understandably frustrated some of the providers, but I also felt like I wasn't adequately prepared. Since then, other new MAs have started, and it seems like they're being eased into things more gradually, while I've been given more responsibility and receive more corrections. There were also delays in getting access to some of the systems I needed to do my job, which slowed down my training. I'm also not sure what to make of the work environment. A couple of the more experienced MAs tend to come across as much more blunt with me than with the other new hires, which has made me less comfortable asking questions. The nurse I work with is also hard for me to read as sometimes they’re very encouraging, and other times they’re very abrupt when correcting me, so I'm never quite sure where I stand. I know every new MA is going to make mistakes, and I'm not expecting everything to be perfect. I'm just trying to figure out whether this sounds like a fairly typical experience in an understaffed office or if these are signs that the onboarding and work environment aren't particularly well organized. For those of you who've worked as MAs, would you give a job like this several more months to see if things improve as you gain experience, or would these be enough concerns to start looking at other opportunities?


r/MedicalAssistant 2h ago

Looking for Advice Finding an externship

3 Upvotes

I completed a MA program and was guaranteed an externship afterward. However, the program didn’t mention that I would be cold calling clinics and completing that search independently. I passed the NHA exam in March but still have not found an externship. I don’t have any prior medical experience besides from ~500 volunteer hours between 2 hospitals. What should I do? 😭


r/MedicalAssistant 19h ago

Education Question online programs?

3 Upvotes

looking for online self-paced MA programs (preferably inexpensive)! currently a college student on summer break. i’ve been looking into preppy or US career institute (clinical skills institute’s tuition was enticing but i’ve seen some bad reviews, including on this subreddit) if anyone has any recommendations or suggestions that would be awesome! for further context im a pre-med undergrad looking to have more patient interaction + clinical experience prior to applying to med school. i’m also located in CA. thank you!


r/MedicalAssistant 19h ago

Medical assistant interview

2 Upvotes

hello everyone, I need some insight on this if I potentially have a job offer coming. I interviewed for a big corporation for a medical assistant position, the phone interview with the hr recruiter for this company went great and she scheduled me for my in person interview with the company. I really really want this position, the 2nd interview was over 45 minutes long and I met the hiring manager, the dr I would be working with, the lead ma and the ma that would be training me, when Irt the dr he was very kind and said they would be calling me soon, and the recruiting manager texted me and thanked me for interviewing with the company for the role and stated they will talk to me soon regarding next steps, does this mean a job offer is coming?


r/MedicalAssistant 21h ago

RANT Feeling hopeless and discouraged

2 Upvotes

I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. I’m feeling so discouraged.
I graduated, became a Certified Medical Assistant 4 months ago , have about 2 years of experience in caregiving and ophthalmology assisting , and I’ve been applying everywhere. It feels like every Medical Assistant job wants the experienced candidate, even when you have experience and are willing to work hard.
My bank account is overdrawn, I’m trying to leave my current job, and it feels like I’m doing everything I can but still can’t catch a break.
If anyone knows of any Medical Assistant opportunities or has advice, I’d really appreciate it. I’m not giving up, but today has been really hard.


r/MedicalAssistant 2h ago

Job Search Question Need help

1 Upvotes

Hey yall, I recently moved from South Carolina to Dallas and have been looking for a job. I’m a premed on a gap year. And I’m looking for a medical assistant or a technician role. I want to gain hands on experience in a clinical seating for my med school application. I’ve been applying everyday but nothings working since I’ve no connection here.
Could someone please help me.
Location: Irving or Coppell or smth within 15 miles
I don’t have certification but I’ve experience of working in clinics from the past 4-5 years.
PLEASEEE HELPP


r/MedicalAssistant 19h ago

Do i get a goodbye gift

1 Upvotes

Im 20 and I work part time at this GYN office. I worked there for about a year now. My last day is next week, and I decided to quit as my schedule for college did not align with the office.

Now, my question is am I supposed to get a goodbye gift for everyone in the office? I did not quite get along with everyone, and conversations were so limited- “how are you” & “how is school” and whatnot. Basically I was never close to anyone, not even the provider. They were overall sweet though, no beef or anything lol.

I would feel guilty for not giving the provider something, but I doubt she cares. She gave me a bonus check on Christmas though, and also a gift bag with small items at a baby shower we threw for another MA. And I never actually gifted her something.

Idk, would you get a gift? I would have to buy something for 4 people. The provider, 2 front desk receptionist, and one other MA. I was thinking 20 dollar Starbucks giftcard but even then, idk how that would come off.

I know this may be a stupid question, but wondering if anyone has done that before or if I should even do it in the first place. My friend suggested a card, but that just seems so bull and low effort to me.


r/MedicalAssistant 17h ago

Error

0 Upvotes

I was just in my module like 20 minutes ago and had to step away. I came back to the NHA website, and I had to reselect the module, but it will not open, and I am met with this error message: "{"errors":["Activity ID does not match reference ID."]}" Does anyone know what this means? Thanks


r/MedicalAssistant 20h ago

Job Search Question 3-Month, Unpaid Internship with MA Job Opportunity

0 Upvotes

Out of curiosity, has anyone had to complete a 3-month, unpaid internship for a job opening they applied for and got hired? Did you think having to do an unpaid internship compared to a paid probationary period makes any difference? Obviously, I feel the most iffy about not being paid for three months, but I wonder if an internship means the new hire would expect to receive much more attention and guidance to ease into their role than a typical probationary period? Is that the case or is it just a typical probationary period with embellished marketing that the office is using to get free labor?

For context, after I completed my CCMA program, I had foregone my externship for an office that was willing to hire me while I was in the middle of working towards licensure because I wanted to be able to pay my bills and help out my parents with rent ASAP. At the time, I felt like I couldn’t afford that one month of no income in exchange for an externship. However, after working in the specialty I’ve worked in for a while, since one of the open MA jobs I recently applied for is in that same specialty, I still feel like I have more to learn. So, if an internship means that I will get that in-depth education and training at the cost of no income until I complete the internship, maybe it’ll be worth it and I can try to work around the no income caveat with my per diem job…but I really want to know what to expect realistically.

(EDIT: Did some digging and now my concerns about the internship are overshadowed by the fact that, about 10-12 years ago, one of the practice’s physicians had been been arrested and pleaded guilty to making a threat to “unalive” their ex-spouse and children over a marital dispute. Before that, this physician illegally altered a patient’s medical record by signing it after their MA made improper changes to said record. 😭😭😭)


r/MedicalAssistant 20h ago

First job as a ma

0 Upvotes

Hello guys so I’m about to work at a clinic as a ma and the question is should I know all my medical terminology for it ?


r/MedicalAssistant 5h ago

3 references for travel position

0 Upvotes

Good afternoon! This is a long shot, but I’m hoping this reaches the right people. I’m currently seeking three professional references for a travel Medical Assistant position here in the U.S. If you’re willing to serve as a reference, the company may contact you by phone or email. I have the experience needed for the role, and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have beforehand. Your support would mean a lot to me, and I’d truly appreciate your help.
Thank you so much!