What Personality Traits Do Medical Assistants Have

I have chosen to pursue a career in medical assisting. So far in this class I have learned a variety of information about this profession. I have learned exactly what a medical assistant does, what credentials and certificates I need to attain, current issues surrounding medical assisting, personality traits that will ensure success, different job opportunities available, and a copious amount of other things. I have also learned interesting things about other career paths and mapped out a career plan of my own.

Overview of Medical Assisting Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative tasks in a diversity of office settings. There are a variety of things an individual can do after becoming a medical assistant. In general, medical assistants take patient history, record vital signs, prepare patients for any medical testing they might need, prepare and administer medications ordered by the physician, and much more. Some medical assistants work with medical coding and billing. Most medical assistants work 40 hour weeks, Monday through Friday after receiving their degree.

Santiago, n. d. ) Educational Requirements There are two types of educational programs that can lead to becoming a medical assistant. Some schools offer a 1 year course while other schools require a 2 year course to receive an Associate’s Degree. Some health care professionals will provide on-the-job training, but most jobs are given to individuals who have received formal training. After completing an Associate’s Degree in medical assisting, an individual may choose to sit for a certification exam which will make him or her a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant).

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Some employers do not require a certification; however, CMA’s will typically have more job options than MA’s. (Santiago, n. d. ) Current Issues There are some current issues surrounding a medical assistant. Some confusion exists around state laws and whether a medical assistant can administer medications under the directive of someone other than a licensed physician, like a nurse practitioner. Along with the confusion around administering medication, there is also a concern about becoming an actual Certified Medical Assistant.Just because an individual graduates with a degree in medical assisting, it does not mean that he or she is certified. He or she must sit through and pass a certification exam after they graduate to become certified. (Balasa, 2013) Traits A medical assistant must be compassionate, a good listener, have strong communication skills, be empathetic, dependable, detail oriented, and have integrity. I learned from the personality profile in unit 3 that I am realistic, investigative, artistic, and social. Being realistic will help when I am faced with a difficult challenge and must come up with a solution.The fact that I am investigative will make it simple when I am taking a patients history. The artistic trait that I have will not assist me in my future career path unless I am working with children. I do not believe that I have all of the personality traits that are needed to be a medical assistant. There are a variety of traits I will personally need to work on before receiving my degree. I am not as detail oriented as I could be, nor do I currently have strong communication skills. I am, however, a very good listener and extremely dependable. Murphy, n. d. ) Career Goals I have very specific career goals that I want to achieve in the future. I want to get an Associate’s Degree through Kaplan first and foremost. The next step I plan to take is to sit through and pass the certification exam to become a CMA so that I have a better chance of getting a job in my chosen profession. My ultimate goal is to become a Sonographer or to be a medical assistant in an OB/GYN’s office. I am positive with the help of Kaplan that I will achieve these goals and become exactly what I want to be. The next 5 yearsIn the next 5 years I see myself working in a physician’s office or a hospital setting. I also hope to be on the path of continuing my education to receive a Bachelor’s Degree through Kaplan. I plan to use the Kaplan Career Services to perfect my resume, perform mock interviews, and to generally prepare me for starting my career. I am highly motivated to complete my degree and I truly believe that the Career Services at Kaplan will prepare me for using my degree in a real life setting. Conclusion It is obvious that I have learned a variety of information about becoming a medical assistant.I have expanded my horizons and thought deeply about the path that I have chosen for my life. I have also explored different career options that I can use with my degree. I am excited about the path I have chosen and look forward to continuing my education. References Balasa, D. (2013). Retrieved from http://aamalegaleye. wordpress. com/ Murphy, C. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. careerealism. com/medical-assistant-traits/ Santiago, A. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://healthcareers. about. com/od/healthcareerprofiles/p/MedAssist. htm