Can a Medical Assistant be a Second Career

A second career is a common phenomenon, especially among millennials looking for an additional source of income or an alternative set of skills. A second job provides you with an opportunity to exercise your talents, pursue your passions or a chance to try out a new field without leaving your current job.

Medical assistant or MA positions in health care facilities offer regular hours, with plenty of part time opportunities for anyone looking for a second job. Choosing to work as an MA for your second job exposes you to the medical field, giving you valuable experience if you are looking to work in health care.

Income

The money you make as an MA depends on the hourly rate in your state, the number of hours you work a day and the required duties. Without previous experience, you will start out with minimum pay and enjoy a better pay as your grow your skills and responsibilities. Your pay will increase as you start working more closely with patients.  

Work Day

A typical workday for an MA begins once patients start walking in for their appointments and end after the last patient leaves the clinic. While working as an MA part time, you can choose either the morning or afternoon shift. If you work the morning shift, you might have to come in early to prepare the clinic, prepare patient files, organize the waiting room and the doctor’s room and make sure the cleaning team prepares the waiting room. On the other hand, the afternoon shift might involve working until late to ensure you serve all patients, file all the paperwork and close the cash register and appointment books for the day.

Either way, you will have to work a lot with patients and other health care providers, which requires communication skills, patience and empathy. You must be able to handle different personalities and keep the clinic in control, so the physician has an easy time taking care of patients.

Part-time MA Work

Compared to other jobs in the medical industry, you will enjoy a flexible schedule while working as a medical assistant. However, professionalism on the job is compulsory. Physicians and other caregivers rely on your efficiency, organizational skills, and support to serve patients. While looking for a job, make sure you can actually commit time to make it to work on time. Tardiness on the part of an MA is unacceptable. Consider positions close to your current job or home to reduce the amount of time you spend on your commute. Lastly, make sure you have your priorities right. For example, are you looking for an entry-level position in the medical field or are you looking for an extra source of income? Having your priorities right will help choose the job best suited to your needs.

If you are looking for a second job, consider working as a medical assistant. Working as an MA helps you develop your communication and organizational skills, which you can use in any field. If you are looking to work in the medical field, the program at Athena Careers Academy will help you with your certification and open you up to more opportunities in the medical field.