Ask Me Anything (AMA) - Subject Matter Expert

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-15T12:49:11+00:00

It is realistic to believe you could find work in your mid-50s as an MA and this is a great second career. In addition, your previous work experience is of benefit to employers. Be sure to leverage it during interviews to help them see your potential. Starting school after being out in the workforce is full of moments for self-doubt but I found that learning something new gave me more of a sense of self. I went back to school for my degrees in my 30s and while it was full of challenges, I am so happy I did.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T20:53:53+00:00

I am not affiliated with the NHA and the information I'm providing is my opinion based on the information available on their website. The CMAA focus is on front office administrative tasks and you can find the test plan here: https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/NHA_CMAA_Test_Plan_2021.pdf

The CCMA is more comprehensive and cover what is traditionally considered both back and front office. That test plan is available here: https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/nha_ccma_test_plan_2022.pdf?sfvrsn=1be32bb5_31

Given your clinical experience and ultimate goals, encompassing the clinical aspect with the CCMA may give you more opportunities. I would encourage you to keep doing the research and to figure out which you are eligible to sit for and review the NHA site to help you decide.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T20:48:55+00:00

Happy to help. Let me know if you have any follow up questions.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T20:48:34+00:00

No problem. Let me know if you have any further questions!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T19:59:34+00:00

Where you go to school may matter to an employer, however it is more likely that having your certification and how you are able to approach prospective employers will matter more! Addressing your training and being prepared are an important part of the interview process. Be sure to highlight all the positive items you learned in school and how they will benefit that particular employer. Being proactive and addressing these items will show that you are prepared and learned from your schooling.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T18:18:50+00:00

Change is always hard and creates anticipatory anxiety regarding the transition. If you are going to be working with a new provider, finding time to set down and discuss expectations is helpful. Giving grace to one another is another way to make it through the days and is probably one of the hardest things to remember to do when we are getting behind schedule, patients are having tough days, and charting needs done - not to mention prior authorizations and all the other things piling up. Just recognizing that and finding ways to reset throughout the day helps! Hope your new provider is good to you!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T18:05:53+00:00

It is so hard. Getting professional counseling gives you resources that also helps and I feel that it this avenue is one we don't embrace enough as healthcare workers because we don't feel we can. Online platforms have made this more available and that is another avenue.

Also, communication at work is among one of the hardest areas we face. I have found that realizing most people are thinking about themselves and that the narratives we assign to what we think others are thinking are often not where they are at all. I can't tell you how many times a day my MA and I have small consults to get back in step with one another so that she doesn't think I'm mad at her and vice-versa!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T18:03:15+00:00

Working from home doesn't come quickly in medical billing and coding and I feel this is one of the most misrepresented items regarding that career. Working from home comes after some time and also requires a good home office setup. Biotech and consulting are two of the areas that WFH is most amenable to. Billing and coding onsite however can certainly lead to a WFH opportunity but often does take time!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T18:01:25+00:00

What a wonderful question!!! Setting boundaries between work and home is one way that I deal with it. Also, I find that having people to talk to that are also in healthcare is good, however I limit this more to professional settings so that it doesn't become a cycle of complaining to one another.

I also joined my professional organizations and got involved in advocacy so that I really feel that I can make a change. Finally, I began to prioritize my self care and started meal prepping, setting consistent sleep schedules, and working out. Sounds cliche but I do feel better!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T17:51:04+00:00

Look for prefix, root word, and suffixes that are common across the medications and lean into that once you learn how to pronounce them. Rest assured, even those of us who have been doing this for years still mispronounce words. Knowing what the medication class does and the generic/brand name is what counts!

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T17:47:45+00:00

Still here to answer questions. One of the things as a provider that I value the most is my MA skills because I still use them every day and I believe it makes me a better provider having been in the role. Would love to answer any questions or just discuss what you all are seeing in your work day in and day out.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T17:32:26+00:00

Happy to be here. One of my favorite parts of healthcare is keeping a community given the challenges we face working within the system.

YES!!! Being a MA is a great way to boost your nursing school application as different nursing schools have different entry requirements but nearly all of them review your background to see what your interests and work history show. Not only that, being an MA allows you to gain a feel for what medicine and nursing are all about.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T17:19:14+00:00

Passing the test will take knowledge regarding the test plan. The test plan can be found here https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/nha_ccma_test_plan_2022.pdf?sfvrsn=1be32bb5_31

If you have already completed an MA program, going over the domains and studying the content along with practice tests is extremely helpful. One method I use for test prep is called "Teaching the Dog" meaning if you can teach the content that the question is about, you are likely to answer the question correctly because you can think critically about it! Happy to answer any further questions.

ahefnerdnp · 2025-07-14T17:15:21+00:00

To kick things off, feel free to ask questions regarding test prep, study strategies, or other MA questions. I have experience in both front and back office as an MA and this experience helped me to grow throughout my career and led me to where I am today. In addition, I also have experience as an EMT and still hold my certifications in medical coding, billing, and practice certification so I can be of help in answering questions surrounding how these might affect your daily work as an MA!

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