Medical assistants
perform administrative and clinical duties.
Coming up with a list of pros and cons is difficult for any occupation, because what's a positive thing for one person is a drawback for someone else. For example, some people enjoy work where they interact with others, while others would rather do independent research and analysis. If you're deciding whether to become a medical assistant, view the pros and cons through the lens of your own preferences. Analyze whether each item is a pro or a con for you, and consider the relative importance of each.
Pro: Recession-Proof Work
Almost any career in the medical field carries job security, and medical assistants are no exception. People need health care, regardless of the state of the economy, and doctors need assistants to provide quality patient service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this occupation will be one of the fastest-growing fields through 2018. Aspiring medical assistants will have no problems finding or keeping a job.
Pro: Short Educational Programs
Medical assistants complete their education in a vocational school or college in one or two years. Most other professions in the medical field require far more formal education. Nurses can expect to be in school for four to five years, for example, and doctors complete seven years of training or more, plus internships. Medical assistants sample a variety of courses in anatomy, medical terminology, keyboarding, record keeping and patient relations. You even learn some lab techniques and clinical procedures. You may even find that you don't need postsecondary education to get started--a few clinics provide on-the-job training.
Many medical assistants pursue further education in nursing and other medical fields. If you're considering a medical position that takes more school to get started but you're unsure, starting out as a medical assistant allows you to get paid while scoping out other options.
Pro: Clean Work Environment and Work Variety
Medical assistants work in clean, comfortable clinics and hospitals. Some get to do much more than administrative work. While scheduling appointments, filing insurance forms, talking to patients, answering phones and handling billing are all parts of the job, clinical medical assistants also help with medical procedures. You might sterilize equipment, record vital signs, draw blood and change dressings. Assistants who work with optometrists help to administer diagnostic vision tests, instruct in contact lens care and administer eye medicine under supervision.
Con: Working Hours
Although most medical assistants have 40-hour work weeks, many have to work evenings and weekends. This schedule can interfere with personal and family plans.
Con: Limited Responsibility
Although medical assistants see a lot of variety in their daily tasks, major treatment decisions and most medical procedures are left to doctors, nurses and other specialists. An assistant looking to make a difference in the lives of patients might feel disappointed.
Con: Relatively Low Salary
In May 2008, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $28,300, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although this figure is nothing to sneeze at, medical assistant salaries are considerably lower than salaries of most other medical professionals.
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