13 Simple Steps to Being a Better Medical Assistant
Okay, we exaggerated
again!
There are No SIMPLE Steps to become a better medical assistant, but there ARE Steps! To say there
are 13 simple steps that lead to success is a complete exaggeration! There hardly ever are simple steps toward any
form success. But wouldn't it be great if there were?
The Road to Success Is not That Simple
The road to success is paved with hard work, a positive attitude, sincere interest, dependability, credibility,
skillfulness and adherence to applicable standards, laws, ethics, morals, and fulfillment of all continuing
education requirements (and a few more!).
Where Does The Road Begin?
Many students falsely believe that rolling up their sleeves and showing some muscle won't start until they get
to their first "real" job. Nothing could be further from the truth. Success as a medical assistant actually begins in the
classroom! From there all
subsequent efforts to succeed continue throughout a person's entire career.
Remember! The first day in class is probably the most important! This is not the time to
say things that you will regret later. Your perspective is going to change as you understand the dynamics formal
training and student-teacher relations.
13 Steps To
Take!
The best way to lay a strong foundation for job security and rewarding future is
to do everything possible to graduate with excellent scores, excel during the externship, and then once hired meet
the employer's needs. This means to always remain professional, keep up with current trends, and expected
continuing education requirements.
- Find a mentor! Mentors are individuals with advanced job experience, knowledge. They
usually have been with an organization for a while. A mentor can help you with new situations, give you advice
on how situations should be handled and guide you as you work through certain tasks! Often, you can find a
wonderful mentor in one of your new coworkers.
- Set attainable goals! By gradually increasing your own expectations those higher
goals can be obtained.
- Leave work at work! A strong work ethic is key to your success but you must realize
that if you aren't getting time to rest and take care of yourself, you will become exhausted and possibly sick.
Allow yourself time to relax and recoup.
- Communicate! Express your needs efficiently.
- Be flexible! Just as a businesses needs change, so do the employees in a medical
office. Flexibility goes hand in hand with communication. It’s needed to make changes and to explore options.
Flexibility is another way to show your willingness to keep your employer and patients satisfied.
Be responsible! Be accountable for all your actions!
Know your limits! Do only tasks that are within the your scope of practice.
- Find a volunteer position! Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills. It's
easy, it's fun and it will boost your spirit and confidence in ways you never thought possible and it may be
the "foot in the door" for an even greater future position.
- Continue the learning process! Learning never stops so that later on you can share
with those who are still learning (like where you was once!).
- Stay in touch! Keep in touch with your instructors, network with your peers, keep up
with the latest trends in healthcare and medicine.
- Opt for more education! Nobody says you must become a doctor. Even one small evening class in an area such
as typing or computer applications will get you ahead.
- Engage! Treat the patients, clients, and visitors in a way that they will always feel
comfortable to return.
- Make a list! List the skills and knowledge you need to have to achieve your goal and
write down an action plan for each.
- Seriously consider certification! Even where certification is not required by law,
because in almost all cases employers prefer to hire certified applicants.
- Be determined! Find out how much you need to do each day to reach your goal in short
steps, and be determined to take them.
Soon you will achieve your goals!
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