Healthcare industry has always had a count among
top employing industries around the world. Apart from doctors, physicians and
dentists, the section of medicalassisting career profiles has gained importance in different medical
premises. Licensedpractical nurse, pharmacy technician and physical therapist assistant
are some among the many rewarding career choices. Here is a discussion about
the top career choices in the field of medical assistance and important things
one needs to know to pursue a medical assisting career.
Which Rewarding Medical Assisting
Career Choices Are Available?
One of the rewarding career choices in the field of
medical assistance is that of a registered nurse. A professional working on this profile is allowed to take
independent decision regarding patients’ care and treatment required for the
patient. Medication management is another important duty performed by these
nurses.
A licensed
practical nurse is one who performs duties under the supervision of a
doctor or physician. These nurses may also be supervised by registered nurses.
The duties include providing medical care to patients, maintain patients’
histories and collect lab samples.
Medical assistants are other professionals in the
field that are in great demand these days. Apart from performing the clinical
tasks, these assistants are also required to perform administrative tasks.
Taking vital signs, administering medications, scheduling appointments,
preparing correspondence and maintaining medical records are among the tasks
included in the job descriptions
of these assistants.
Physician assistants
are different from medical assistants. A physician assistant works under the
supervision of a physician and helps in tasks like conducting physical exams,
diagnosing illnesses, assisting in surgery and writing prescriptions among
others. A pharmacy technician is the one who assists pharmacist in routine work
responsibilities. Apart from taking and verifying prescriptions, the technician
is required to count and label medications and answer the queries of customers and
patients.
Likewise, there are other medical assistance
profiles including dental office assistant, physical therapist assistant and
occupational therapist. Learn about job scope and other important things
related to these profiles from the next section.
Before the American Association of Medical Assistants came
into being in 1956, a medical assistant
was trained on the job and they didn’t have specific group identity.
What You Must Know about Medical
Assisting Career Profiles?
If you are interested in choosing one of the medical
assistant profiles as your
career option, you must learn about some important things in advance. To begin
with, you must learn about the qualifications and eligibility criterions to
pursue one of these career profiles.
There are many universities in
the United States that offer degree programs in these fields. Besides, you must
learn about the training and certification requirements of these medical
assistants. Another important thing is to learn about job opportunities for
each of these career options. For instance, registered nurses can work in
hospitals and private clinics, while pharmacy technicians can find job at
pharmacies and drug stores.
You must also learn about detailed job descriptions
of each of the medical assistance career profiles. This includes the duties
performed by each and number of working hours. Salary and growth opportunities
related to these profiles must also be learnt before choosing any of these
career options.
While licensed practical nurses have their median
salary of $33,970 per year, the salary for registered nurses is around $55,000.
Physician assistants are rewarding career options with salaries around $69,000.
Compare the job prospects of each of these career options to choose the one
that inspires you.
Choosing a medical assistance career is an
economically as well as socially satisfactory decision. Gather required
information about these profiles and begin your expedition for an excellent
career field.
Want to learn about educational qualifications
for various medical assistant career profiles? Learn about top universities
offering certification and degree programs to choose the best one.
