A Day in the Life

I’m a real “people person,” and my job as a medical assistant allows me to interact with new and interesting people every day. Sometimes we’ll see patients in critical situations — with shortness of breath or chest pains — and identifying their symptoms to figure out what’s wrong with them really gets my blood pumping.

I particularly enjoy the hands-on nature of my work, which is why I’m going to nursing school. Being a medical assistant has been a great way to prepare myself for nursing and show nursing schools that I have a solid background in the field. Plus, I get good pay and benefits, and I don’t have to sit at a desk all day. I do have some typical office responsibilities, like making patient appointments and keeping the supply room stocked.

I started on this career path as a receptionist in a medical office. While I was there, I got a lot of on-the-job training that prepared me to be a medical assistant. I think a lot of people prepare for the job this way.

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing that I’m actually helping people. When patients return to the office after treatment and they’re feeling better, I immediately remember why I do what I do.

If you’re not sure about wanting to become a medical assistant, start out in reception or billing to get a feel for how medical offices work. It wasn’t difficult to get the medical assistant job. I had a pretty basic understanding of medicine and care, and I didn’t need to have any personal connections to get hired.

Here’s a warning though: If you don’t like the sight of blood, this is not the job for you. Personally, I think giving injections and assisting with minor surgeries is more fun than gross. But no matter where your career takes you, being a medical assistant is a great jumping off point for getting involved in health care.