Medical assisting can offer an exciting career path full of opportunities. You can explore the full breadth of the medical industry in just months. If you want to help others and make money doing it, you don’t have to go to medical or even nursing school. Medical assistants command a strong wage with less training. They help with everything from billing and other administrative tasks to patient care. Medical assistants can take vitals and test samples as needed. They’re trained in areas like phlebotomy and CPR. The only question is what your goals are.
People from all walks of life choose medical assistant school. Sometimes, they’re looking for an alternative to medical school. Other times, they’re just looking for a steady career that will give them some stability. In today’s market, it’s more likely than ever before that you know at least one medical assistant. Not all medical assistants have been through school. If you want to get into the market now and play a diverse role, you have to seek out accredited programs.
Before you get into this industry, you should always have a rough idea of what to expect. This includes dispelling common myths. What do you need to know going in?
Get the Facts about Medical Assistant School
What do you need to know going into a new career? Why is it so important to have all the facts? It could help you avoid unnecessary mix-ups. You can sort out all the details before you get started. It can be easier than you think to get common myths out of the way.
- A Medical Assistant and Nurse Are the SameThis misconception is more common than you might think. A medical assistant can work alongside nurses. Their jobs are not the same. Medical assistants play a critical supporting role as do nurses. An efficient medical facility needs both to function properly. Medical assistants act as the physician’s right hand and a patient advocate. They schedule appointments, call insurance companies, and take vitals. Medical assistants get the exam started and can even assist during the exam itself. A medical assistant can get many of the early questions out of the way allowing doctors to get to the diagnosis and care faster. More and more often, nurses are taking a primary role in medical care. Nurse practitioners can even take their own appointments.
- Anyone Can Become a Medical Assistant with On-the-Job TrainingOn-the-job training used to be the primary method of preparing new medical assistants. For those who work primarily in administrative capacities, on-the-job training could be sufficient. If you want to play a more active role in medical care, you need more. Accredited schools can help you learn the key medical roles modern professionals fill. Students go through months of intensive training. If you attend full-time, you can learn everything you need through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training. Medical assistants learn from other professionals in programs designed with a set curriculum. This prepares them to take on sometimes an increasingly complex role.
- CNAs Are Qualified to Be Medical AssistantsWith the right training, a CNA can become a medical assistant. Some of the training and skills overlap. A CNA isn’t the same as a medical assistant. Medical assistant programs take six to twelve months on a full-time schedule. Associate degree programs take 18 to 24 months on average.
- A Medical Assistant Has to Work Under a NurseMedical assistants don’t provide full medical care or diagnosis. They support doctors and nurses as needed in many medical clinics. Some employers create a corporate structure that has nurses supervising medical assistants. This can vary between employers. It’s increasingly common for senior medical assistants to supervise other medical assistants.
- Medical Assistants Can Only Work in Primary CareMedical assistants can take on roles in primary care clinics after medical assistant school. This isn’t the only role available. Medical assistants work in hospitals and long-term care facilities. They also work with specialists like dermatologists, gastroenterologists, and more. When you’re a certified medical assistant, you have no lack of options.
Find an Accredited Medical Assistant School to Push You Forward
An accredited medical assistant school can give you endless opportunities. When you get your training at FVI School of Nursing and Technology, you can move forward confidently. We train medical assistants to take roles in states and facilities across the country. Our medical assistants take on more than just administrative duties.
Medical assisting can give many people a way into the medical industry. You don’t have to worry about over a decade of training or residencies. Many potential doctors and nurses don’t make it through school let alone further training. A medical assistant can graduate in months. Then they can get straight into the job market. For more information on your options with FVI School of Nursing and Technology, click here.
