The medical support assistant career can enable you to get into job roles like certified nursing assistant, registered nurse, and registered nurse supervisor.
This post provides detailed information on the medical support assistant career, including how to become one, the various career opportunities available, and the benefits of being a medical support assistant.
How to Become a Medical Support Assistant
Here steps you can take to become a medical support assistant:
Investigate Medical Support Assistant Training
One of the first things to consider if you want to become a medical support assistant is how much education you’ll need.
We discovered that 38.6% of medical support assistants hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher.
In terms of higher education, 8.3% of medical support assistants have a Master’s degree.
Despite the fact that some medical care assistants have a college degree, it is feasible to become one with only a High School Diploma or GED.
2. Gain Medical Support Assistant Experience
Before applying for a job, it’s a good idea to learn medical support assisting abilities.
Here are some talents that are frequently included in job descriptions for medical support assistants: advanced life support, patient care, and customer service abilities.
3. Finish Relevant Training/Internship
Medical support assistants typically receive 1-3 months on-the-job training after being hired.
New medical support assistants gain the skills and procedures required for their unique position and company during this period.
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, statistic and data from genuine medical support assistant resumes, the figure above demonstrates how long it takes to obtain proficiency as a medical support assistant.
4. Obtain Certification as a Medical Support Assistant
By having relevant certifications, you will be telling employers that you have the expertise required to excel in the medical support assisting role.
This will help you stand out as a candidate for the medical support assistant job.
Responsibilities of a Medical Support Assistant
When deciding to become a medical support assistant, it is critical to understand the tasks and responsibilities of this profession.
This is an entry-level registered nurse who provides direct patient care and performs basic nursing procedures.
They may assist the RN with patient care, but are not authorized to make independent decisions about patient outcomes, treatment plans or medications.
2. Registered Nurse
A registered nurse (RN) is a health care professional that has earned a degree in nursing, and is licensed by the state to work as an advanced practice nurse or certification.
They provide patient care when working under the direction of physicians or other advanced practice nurses.
3. Registered Nurse Supervisor
A registered nurse supervisor assists in the development, implementation and evaluation of nursing care plans.
They may provide direct patient care within the scope of their license, but are not responsible for outcomes or independent decision-making for patients.
4. Nursing Director
A nursing director oversees the nursing staff and works to improve their efficiency and quality of care.
They may provide direct patient care within their scope of practice, but are not responsible for outcomes or independent decision-making for patients.
5. Team Leader
A team leader is responsible for integrating one health system’s role in delivering services to hospital customers and providing leadership that can improve the system’s delivery of care, expand its mission, and increase revenue or decrease costs.
Team Leaders are typically accountable for a team of nurse managers, nurses and/or health care professionals.
More Medical Support Assistant Career Opportunities
6. Practice Manager
A practice manager is responsible for coordinating the financial and personnel resources used by an organization in delivering quality health services to its customers.
They are typically the highest level of leadership within a health system.
7. Office Manager
An office manager is a person engaged in providing support services to one or more people in the work place (such as clerical support, bookkeeping, or secretarial work).
8. Business Office Manager
A business office manager is a person engaged in providing support services to one or more people at work.
They typically coordinate the flow of information and work, such as planning meetings and dealing with clerical matters.
9. Executive Assistant
The executive assistant provides administrative support to the CEO and other executives within their organization.
They typically act as a liaison between the executive and employees, and support the executives in carrying out their roles.
10. Assistant Manager
The assistant manager is an administrative level position that oversees a department of a company where they report to the supervisor or manager, as well as manage department finances, staffing, staffing efficiency, and day-to-day operations.
Challenges faced by Medical Support Assistant on the Job
Some of the most common challenges being faced by medical support assistants include:
Not Enough Training
Medical support assistants often don’t receive the training needed to perform their job responsibilities effectively.
According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical support assistants are less likely than other health care professionals to be certified in the field of nursing.
If a medical support assistant is not certified in the field of nursing, they will not be able to effectively relieve an RN from providing direct patient care, performing basic nursing procedures and troubleshooting others’ work.
2. Troubles with Co-workers
Many employees will experience difficulties with co-workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical support assistants have the most likely chance of experiencing conflict with a co-worker than any other health care professional.
A medical support assistant that witnesses a co-worker’s poor attitude or negligence during patient care may not be able to control their own anger, and may report these issues to their supervisor or employer.
3. Stressful Work Environment
Medical support assistants are often responsible for treating patients who are in state of mental or emotional distress, especially those experiencing a loss in their families, goals or relationships.
If a medical support assistant treats an employee with poor mental health, this could cause stress for the employee and the medical support assistant.
This could also cause issues between the employee and his co-workers.
Major Benefits of a Medical Support Assistant Career
There are many benefits to choosing the medical support assistant career, these include:
Competitive Wages
Medical support assistants earn a competitive wage because of the educational requirements, work schedule, and certifications necessary for this position.
They earn between $40,000 and $55,000 per year.
2. Generous Benefits
Medical support assistants have generous benefits package, including health insurance and paid time off. They also enjoy a range of extras and bonuses.
3. Make a Difference
Medical support assistants make a difference in patient’s lives. As such, they can enjoy job satisfaction, sense of accomplishment and pride in their work.
4. Career Advancement
Medical support assistants advance their careers through continued education and training opportunities that help them increase their competencies, acquire new skills, and stay current with the latest developments in the field of chemotherapy administration.
5. Job Security and Stability
Medical support assistants have several job security and stability features. In order to maintain job security, medical support assistants must receive job training and work experience in this field throughout their entire career.
Also, employers can assign medical support assistants to one particular company or department with promise of stability.
6. Flexible Working Hours
Medical support assistants are able to work set schedules which can be home based, a combination of the two, or a mix of both depending on how much flexibility their employers desire.
7. Work for a Variety of Employers
All medical support assistants work for a variety of employers, but this profession is most commonly found in health care facilities.
Conclusion
After reviewing the pros and cons of the medical support assistant career, we believe that they have a promising future.
It is important to note that the medical support assisting industry is expected to grow substantially over the next twenty five years.
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