These two careers allow you to work closely with patients and make a difference in their lives. But MAs and PCTs have their own distinctive jobs in healthcare. We gathered the essential information about each position, so you can make an informed decision about which suits you best.
While a certain level of education and experience is necessary to work as a medical assistant, there are some personality traits you can translate onto the job for even more success. We spoke with medical experts to identify seven characteristics that successful medical assistants share.
For medical assistants, it’s all about job-specific tasks and great people skills. But that’s only the beginning. Keep reading to see what you need to master in order to launch your medical assisting career.
If anyone deserves a spectacular gift this holiday season, it’s these hardworking folks! But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to buy for. If you’re stumped on what to buy the soon-to-be healthcare professional in your life, you came to the right place. These practical present ideas will make this season as a student a bit easier and a lot more fun!
If you are considering a career change to the medical field and want a relatively quick way in, becoming a medical assistant may be the route for you. But what does the position entail? Join us as we answer all your questions about the career.
Whether the idea of working in the medical field has been a long-time dream placed on the back burner or a newly-sparked interest, a medical assistant career can be a great place to get your start in the healthcare industry. We know you don’t take this decision lightly, so we’ve compiled this list of reasons why there’s no better time than now to become a medical assistant.
You can learn a lot by scanning through a medical assistant job description. But that’s only scratching the surface of what these professionals really do. We'll reveal all the facts on what you’ll find in the job description, as well as some insider insight you won’t find.
Where do medical assistants work? Would your employment options be limited to just clinical settings? You’ll be happy to hear that the answer is no. Keep reading to learn about the various work environments you could find yourself in as a medical assistant.
Being a medical assistant is about more than job-specific skills that can be taught. You must also have the right combination of people skills if you want to succeed. We’ve compiled a list of medical assistant attributes you probably already have as a mama! Read on and prepare to turn those healthcare dreams into reality.
If you’re interested in getting on the fast track for a career in healthcare, but you don’t want to be in school for years and years, you probably already know that a job as a medical assistant would be ideal for you. Take a look at our 5-step guide to becoming a medical assistant and get ready for the career of your dreams!
Your medical assistant resume can make a big impression on employers—if you know which skills and experiences to highlight. We spoke with hiring and resume experts to find out how you can make your medical assistant resume stand out from the crowd.
A medical assistant (MA) and a licensed practical nurse (LPN) fall into the same category and perform several of the same duties; however, there are slight differences between the two jobs. Learn more to find out which is the right fit for you!
Becoming a medical assistant isn’t for everyone, but there are a handful of benefits for those who are willing to put in the work. We identified 12 of the top advantages with the help of Denise Stead, national coordinator for medical assisting at Rasmussen College.
The Mokena-Tinley Park campus chose to devote an entire day in October to celebrate the accomplishments of its current medical assistant students and graduates during Medical Assistant Recognition Week (MARWeek).
Thursday, Aug. 28 started off like any other day at Rasmussen College's Ocala campus, except it wasn't just any other day. Later that day, an armed robber would flee the scene at a gas station near the campus, causing a deadly car crash. The gunman would make his way into the campus-leading to a lockdown. The SWAT Team and dispatch center would be involved, and there would be casualties and a hostage situation. There would also be students learning more than they ever could've imagined. Luckily … this elaborate situation was only a staged scenario that took place on campus that day.
Medical Assisting is no longer just about the ability to effectively perform physical tasks associated with the job. It is now more than ever about customer service. It's the reason my family decided to leave our pediatrician of 14 years; one of the most difficult and distressing choices we've ever made.
An internship is like a new job - both are a little scary on the first day, when you have no idea what's going to happen. Knowing what to expect from your medical assistant internship can be helpful.
As a parent, you're a pro at making youngsters feel happy and at ease. Becoming a pediatric medical assistant is the perfect opportunity for you to extend that passion from your personal life into your professional life. But what does it take to be a successful PMA?
What skills do medical assistants and moms share? You might be surprised!
Tampa medical assisting graduate Emily Prior has found her calling in the healthcare field. But in all honesty, she never had much doubt about her chosen profession. Prior grew up with "a lot" of family in the medical field and always thought she wanted to be a nurse. Couple that with the satisfaction she found helping others and it was only a matter of time before she found her way to a direct patient care role.
Lauren Ramirez is the medical assisting program coordinator at Rasmussen's Tampa/Brandon campus, and she has always made an effort to provide multiple venues of learning for her students. She employs teaching practices that are not only educational, but also engaging and fun.
Whether you like it or not, your family shapes who you are and what you do. Fargo, North Dakota, medical administration student Tahirih Field is no different. Her parents were medical professionals and, although she isn't pursuing the hands-on roles her parents held, she knows the field can provide the stability she wants for her own children. This is how Field balanced the needs and influence of her family to find the perfect fit at Rasmussen College.
You've probably heard of the job title, but are still wondering, What does a medical assistant do? Well, to put it lightly, a medical assistant is a physician's right hand man.
Tampa, Fla., graduate Lynn Hummel never imagined she would earn a medical assisting degree. In fact, she didn't have her GED until she was 32 years old. Looking back at where she was before attending Rasmussen College, Hummel says she can barely believe she's come this far.
Sometimes a school is worth waiting for. Or at least it was for Rockford, Ill., nursing student Kerstein Bracken. She earned an associate degree in medical assisting from Rasmussen College in 2011 and planned to pursue another associate degree in nursing immediately after graduation. Waiting lists at other schools and the news of the nursing program eventually coming to the Rockford campus, however, made her decide to wait.
Luanne Paulson needed a change. As a 52-year-old certified nursing assistant (CNA) at a long-term care facility, she realized that the long, and often inconsistent, hours of hands-on work with patients was too physically demanding and wondered if there was another career path for her. Paulson is now a Lake Elmo medical assisting student at Rasmussen College with two quarters until her associate's degree is complete.
After you decide to become a medical assistant and learn the ins and outs of the field, you'll earn your medical assistant degree or diploma. But there's still another important step before you set off on your job search if you want to be marketable: passing the credentialing exam.
Annually, the American Association of Medical Assistants recognizes the contributions medical assistants make to overall health care delivery effectiveness. This year, the Rasmussen College Mokena/Tinley Park campus will honor Medical Assistants with a variety of activities during Medical Assistants Recognition Week between October 15th and the 19th.
In the several years I've been teaching students about the Medical Assistant profession, I have been asked numerous times by both healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals, "what does a Medical Assistant do?" Each time I've been taken aback by this. What do you mean what does a Medical Assistant do? The truth is; we do a lot!
In the medical field, there are many avenues for you to follow career wise. Once you've decided between working directly with or without patients, you will have a better idea of what career path is the best fit for you. If you would like to work with patients and become a medical assistant, you must decide whether you want to earn a medical assisting degree or diploma.
Have you ever thought about what exactly a medical assistant does? Or have you ever thought about how the profession itself began? Well, then keep reading.
This video from our "What Should I Do With My Life" series we speak with Lynn Skafte, the Medical Assisting Program Coordinator at Rasmussen College as she explores the variety of different medical assistant job opportunities within the healthcare industry.
Watch the latest "What Should I Do With My Life: video series which features information about medical assistant degree programs and career paths.
Looking to break into the healthcare industry but want to be shielded from what happens behind closed doors? Going back to school for your Medical Assistant degree means you'll be the first person a patient sees when they arrive for a scheduled appointment.
Earning a Medical Assisting degree could provide a great segue into a healthcare career. Learn more about career paths, education requirements, and job requirements of a medical assistant...
Job opportunities are on the rise in Certified Medical Assisting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this industry is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations between 2008 and 2018 - seeing a 34 percent increase within the decade.
The Medical Assistant profession is a very misunderstood profession in health care. People often ask: What exactly is a Medical Assistant? Do they serve as a nurse, a nursing assistant, or a physician's assistant? This is the question that I asked Certified Medical Assistant, Melissa Cole.
