Is Becoming a Medical Assistant a Stressful Career Path?

The medical field offers many entry level career opportunities you can qualify for without advanced degrees. One such option is becoming a medical assistant. Medical assistants work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to perform various clinical and clerical duties. 

If you choose this career path, you will perform clinical duties like taking patient histories, measuring, and recording vital signs, and performing basic lab tests. You will also perform administrative duties such as medical billing and coding, answering phones, and scheduling patients for tests or their next appointment. Of course, these are just a few of the duties you will perform daily. Medical assistants are essentially the support staff who keep the daily operations of a healthcare facility running smoothly. 

Understanding the pros and cons of this career can help you make an informed decision about whether becoming a medical assistant is the right career path for you.  

What are the Challenges of Becoming a Medical Assistant? 

When discussing the potential cons of becoming a medical assistant, it’s worth mentioning that there are pros and cons to every career path. While working as an MA may be challenging at times, it is also a highly rewarding and satisfying career. 

Fast Paced Environment 

Medical assistants work in a busy, fast paced environment with a steady workload. With appointments normally scheduled back-to-back, a medical assistant must remain focused and efficient as they work. As you gain experience working in a fast-paced environment, this challenge can work to your advantage as it strengthens your skill set in multitasking. Staying organized and completing your tasks efficiently can help you stay on track at work. 

Difficult Patients 

Within the healthcare industry there are patients who require more attention than others. As a medical assistant, it is your responsibility to deal with their concerns and perform quality patient care. While you might encounter a challenging patient on occasion, you have the power to calm their nerves and help put them at ease, making them much easier to manage. 

What are the Pros of Becoming a Medical Assistant? 

With short training programs, competitive salaries, dependable job growth, and more, becoming a medical assistant is an excellent career path. 

Short Training Program 

Unlike other healthcare careers which can take several years of college, most medical assisting programs take one year or less to complete. Becoming a medical assistant is also affordable compared to many other healthcare careers as the education requirements are shorter. For students who lack the time or financial resources to commit to several years of college, becoming a medical assistant is a smart investment in your future. 

Positive Job Outlook 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career as a medical assistant is expected to grow 19% between 2019-2029. This growth is much faster than other careers, making a positive job outlook one of the top benefits of becoming a medical assistant. The idea of having such growth and stability should help you feel secure and confident in your career choice. 

Rewarding Career 

Becoming a medical assistant is a highly rewarding career. You are considered a critical member of the healthcare team. If you are someone who wishes to build a career around helping others, becoming a medical assistant is a great profession to pursue. Not only will you work with patients daily but a career in medical assisting will inspire your community and family around you. 

If you’re ready to get started on your personal journey towards becoming a medical assistant, Athena Career Academy offers training as a Clinical Medical Assistant. Contact us to learn more about how to enroll, or to schedule a campus tour.