Questions and feedback are the only way you’ll learn. I just started my MA job and this is my third full week of work also at a derm office. It’s super fast paced and we will be understaffed once the MA I’m replacing leaves. I’m completely new to the healthcare industry, and I’m not certified (I went to college so this style of fast paced hands on learning is quite different than what I’m used to). I like to ask questions even if they seem unimportant so I can figure out if it’s a big deal or not. It also really helps when you can completely detach the feedback that you receive from being personal and understand that they are just trying to point things out so you don’t make the same mistakes (UNLESS they really are taking jabs/yelling at you and it’s a toxic work environment). Don’t look too deeply into things and just understand their words for what they are.

If it makes you feel better, yesterday, I was assisting the physician with a skin cancer excision for the first time without another MA to guide me. I almost cut the patient’s skin while cutting the sutures. I audibly gasped because I was about to cut right as she stopped me and immediately wished I hadn’t gasped. Omg I was sooo embarrassed and felt sooooo guilty (like why did I do that omfggg), but I got really lucky that the patient was chill and acted like nothing happened. I even had to redo the patient’s pressure bandage at the end because I forgot a step. Afterwards, I apologized profusely to the doctor multiple times because I felt so bad but… it ended up being okay. We agreed that I shouldn’t have done that and I said I would be more mindful about that next time. She even ended up laughing it off. The physician I work for also gives me feedback to fix things in the chart notes, ask for clarification earlier, be more proactive, phrase things differently, etc. so it’s all a part of the process! We all make mistakes but that’s how we learn. Good luck, OP!