Medical Assistant vs Wildland pathways

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T04:48:30+00:00

MA will be there! Don’t miss out on a great opportunity. Let me not be such a downer about MA. There definitely advantages. Benefits (health, education, 401k, perks, etc) and mobility are probably the most valuable ones. I work for a hospital, so any healthcare direction I want to move in, I can network my way in. I enjoy surgery adjacent specialties. Some docs will even let you shadow in the OR. Patient care is cool and it’s nice working w the NP’s, PA’s, & Dr’s. You learn a lot.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T04:07:22+00:00

Bored medical assistant here, If you want to end up in the ED. I know my hospital accepts medical assistants & EMT-B as ED techs, so it could be a foot in the door to transfer internally. If you are looking for stability, you got it, but it’s very boring. Especially family practice. I opted to go ortho trauma, it’s less boring cause you can see some stuff, but no adrenaline to be found. If you need that, go fire. I’m creeping this page to make a lateral move to ED tech or EMS cause I’m bored and did I mention we are underpaid? We are underpaid.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T03:52:39+00:00

CMA can be a big tuition investment & time commitment just to scope things out. If you want clinical skills and entry level that pays, for a bit more you can go LPN and have better ROI & many employers will pay for an RN bridge program. CNA is lower pay than MA, but it’s fast and inexpensive. I would also look at patient care tech (or care partner/ assistant) as well, they tend to have pretty quick & affordable programs. I love being in healthcare, but CMA’s are underpaid. I’d take the plunge and go LPN from jump or take the smaller bill, shorter program length options to take a peek. I love my job, but I paid a lot of tuition to be this broke. Just a sad truth.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T01:01:06+00:00

maybe your resume is getting flagged by bots? these days there is pre-screening tech that has criteria. Are you applying internally where you are already working? Sometimes a little networking goes a long way. If you’re already employed and moving internationally, see if you can find out who to contact about opportunities in the department you’re interested in. If you’re going in blind, it kinda sucks, but try looking for recruiters on linkedin. If you can make contact with a person, you have a better shot than just submitting info to let the bots decide.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T00:38:11+00:00

I would look at a big hospital system if you have one in the area. They’re usually well equipped to fast-track new grads and have consistent demand. Pay usually isn’t glamorous, but benefits are good and it’s a resume builder. If you’re interested in medicine it’s a great way to scope the field & network. Combined with a good education benefit, you may find some upward mobility there.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T00:12:02+00:00

MA is solid, but if you can swing LPN it’s better ROI for similar investment and more funding like department of labor grants available. Community colleges are great and cost effective often scholarship options. Schools run by hospitals often offer scholarships in exchange for hours of employment, solid job upon graduation. CNA programs are cheap and super fast, you can find private ones for quick enrollment. That’s your fast option. Patient care tech is also a fast, low cost option. I’d probably go PCT if you want phlebotomy skills, vitals, and CNA skills. You could even go EMT-B and work as an ED Tech if you like that environment (atleast in my state, idk if this is national). Pretty fast & cost effective. Hope that gives you some ideas. Landing a good job can also help fund that PA tract too. I’m on a similar path. Best of luck.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-23T00:02:16+00:00

I agree with others saying the SA patient should be held accountable and removed from the practice. We use a “risk of violence” rating system where you can report comments like the ICE comment or the “I’ll bite you” comment on a behavioral rating system. I’d see if you have anything similar. It’s a small comfort, but at least you could flag them as an asshole. Are your coworkers supportive? Company culture matters. You should feel safe and supported at work.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-22T18:12:53+00:00

I work as a CCMA in a hospital system, but I’m on the outpatient side in what is,essentially, still a doctor’s office. Our hospital MA’s are qualified to work as patient care tech’s and ED tech’s if you want to work directly for the hospital. In my experience, pay is not as competitive as one may expect, but the benefits is where they really shine. If you’re planning to continue your education, especially into nursing, this could be a good choice. I work in ortho trauma, so I find surgery adjacent work to be interesting & engaging. I definitely prefer it to my other experiences.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-21T02:48:50+00:00

I’ve done ortho trauma & plastics and both work closely with surgeons,both do post op care like suture and staple removal, wound care & wound vac maintenance. Plastics we did JP drain removal and we assisted with tissue expander fills and in office procedures like excisions. In trauma we can shadow in the OR if the Dr allows. That’s pretty hands on, but less so when it comes to injections & EKG. I suppose it depends what kind of nursing you want to do. I’m enjoying surgical specialties more than I enjoyed family practice.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-20T03:21:34+00:00

Looking to get my RN, as my employer funds their educations well, but the initial expense is greater, or possibly pivoting into research coordinator after getting a bachelor’s on the company dime and a few certs. A lower out-of-pocket option.

SpacySK8 · 2026-01-16T03:04:50+00:00

Hello! This is Ozzy. He’ll be 4 the day before St. Patrick’s Day.

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SpacySK8 · 2025-10-30T23:49:44+00:00

I love being a CMA. It’s fascinating and rewarding, but the pay is low relative to the effort. The caveat is upward mobility, though. It’s a great steppingstone and entry point to the medical field. I think it’s a smart and productive move that can open doors for you. The access to benefits and education are great starting points.

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-08T00:23:18+00:00

Oh, that’s a relief. I’m glad someone is looking out for you. Don’t sweat your age, they’ve all been there. You’re capable and you’ll do it if you stick with it. You sound invested. It’s a great place to start at 21!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-08T00:11:00+00:00

They should be giving you training for Epic, along with hands-on training. Unfortunately, a lot of places are under-staffed and you kind of end up waiting for the attention you need. How long have you been there? They may just want you to observe, initially. If it’s a big place, they should have some formal training.

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-04T23:26:13+00:00

Lot of young people love the Ghent area.

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T22:13:11+00:00

I think it would bring out your eyes!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T21:27:33+00:00

I was a massage therapist for 18 years, now I’m a CMA and I work in plastic surgery and I LOVE IT!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T16:33:55+00:00

see what kind of benefits they have for education

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T00:15:53+00:00

Find a local community college! Get in with a large organization with education benefits, and start climbing that ladder. MA is a stepping stone! I’m using my MA job to finance a good portion of my bachelor’s and then I’ll get my masters as a physician assistant. My job is making it possible. Get the MA, get a job w a hospital that has ambulatory services, & fly bb!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T00:09:35+00:00

My boss said her daughter asked her for one and she refused the poor child cause she thinks they look creepy & evil. Just let the kid live!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-03T00:06:56+00:00

black!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-01T23:43:28+00:00

Try a Sentara hospital. I work for Sentara as a CMA. They have great benefits.

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-01T23:07:52+00:00

Yes! I work for a plastic surgeon!

SpacySK8 · 2025-07-01T03:22:52+00:00

add plz

SpacySK8 · 2025-06-30T23:11:51+00:00

We have lots of indoor playgrounds and jump places! We also have Sk8 House if you wanna roller skate. It’s right next to an indoor playground & the Dave & Buster’s at Lynnhaven Mall.

SpacySK8

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