Medical assistant... is it worth switching my major?

Question

Right now I am trying for a major as a Radiology Technician. However, I am thinking about switching to medical assisting because I think it would fare better for my mental health. After giving it some thought, I am not sure if I am comfortable working with terminally ill patients (especially children) every day.
I looked up medical assistant on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and it had a lot of positive things to say about the field. However, I would like some real world advice before I make the leap.
1.) Do medical assistants really make decent money? ($30,000 and up?)
2.) Is is easy to find a job in the field?
3.) On a scale of 1-10, how fulfilling is this career?
4.) What are some good things and some bad things about this career?

This is a major decision that I am going to have to make soon, so anyone one with experience in MA and who would like to share there experience would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

I recently toured a local hospital's radiology department as is required by my school. The student who gave me the tour told me that they work with a lot of cancer patients and children who are suffering from just UTIs to leukemia. There were a lot of older patients there who were there for their radiation therapy, and they all looked very sickly.
I guess I don't mean it will be an everyday thing, but I will still see it all the time.

Answer 1

Why would you think you would have to work with terminally ill patients every day as a radiologic technologist?

It depends on where you work. The hospital where I trained did not have radiation therapy, so I didn't have to deal with that. I now work at an outpatient medical center, and again, that is not something I have to deal with. I don't think that should be a determining factor. As an MA, you are going to see sick people too!

Answer 2

I suggest a bit more research in your field and find out what your options are--terminally ill are NOT the only ones that need xrays. You could work in a speciality office (Respiratory, Orthopaedics, Surgery, ENT) which require numerous xrays on a daily basis, alot of private/specialty office (opposed to hospital settings) allow you to ALSO do medical assisting. I am currently an MA and making a decent salary, not nearly as much as youd make as an RT. Consider reasearching and continuing your career as an RT and give yourself the opportunity to have the best of both (RT & MA) worlds but with the better pay. Feel free to contact me with anymore information. Good luck.
Ps...Jobs are VERY hard to find as an MA

Answer 3

I've been a medical assistant for 8 years and I LOVE my job there is always jobs available.... I learn something new everyday and meet all sorts of people. I work for a very well known HMO and yes I make good money over 21$ an hour. If you take a job as a MA for private clinic you could be doing an rn's job for way less money so you want to get in at a hospital or major clinic. my work is very fulfilling I give it a 9. I love the doctor I work for he has over 1700 pt's he takes care of and I know most of them very well. Good Luck hope you find whats right for you.

Answer 4

I love being a MA but you'd make more doing what ur doing. It's hard to get your foot in the door. I 'd say on a scale of 1-10 I'd give it about an 8. I really like everything abot it, just wish the pay was better in PA you get 12 dollars an hour starting out after about 5 yrs you could make up to 18. I cant wait to make that. But overall i love drawing blood, dealing with patients, giving injections, dont mind cleaning the rooms, or doing urinalysis and vitals signs.

Answer 5

I've heard on here and on other boards that there are not too many jobs for the medical assistant (or biller or coder). I don't know that MA's make the $30,000 a year that you're looking for, and it may be quite a fast-paced job with various tasks including administrative and clinical. Though if you feel that the RT program is too stressful, perhaps take a leave of absence until you figure out which path to take.

Answer 6

First, understand that you will be LUCKY to get a job as a medical assistant and IF you find one (which without experience, is unlikely), you may get $8-$10 an hour.

Keep in mind that Medical Assistant programs are the biggest SCAM in education right now....it is NOT a regulated profession by the state, and most doctors hire and train THEIR OWN, as they are permitted to, as physicians.

Stick with your current plan. You'll make almost as much as an RN, have a much better career outlook, have no trouble finding a job.

PS: Talk to your instructors if you think that the only patients you'll be working with is terminally ill, b/c that isn't true.

Answer 7

hear. A BA in English could be the commencing factor for many different careers: promoting and marketing and promoting or an editor (surprisingly in case you like the writing factor of English). there are a number of possibilities. this is not approximately doing what's going to make you the main money, as maximum persons will lead you to believe. I propose, of direction, you opt to considerable in some thing which will assist you help your self conveniently, besides the shown fact that it must additionally be what you opt to do. For me, I enjoyed literature and that i enjoyed grammar. So, majoring in some thing different than what i develop into drawn to did no longer allure to me. Why waste time and funds on some thing that my heart wasn't into? I unquestionably have an exceedingly good job, and that i do no longer coach. in case you opt to considerable in English, then do it.

Answer 8

I love those handbooks! NOT! LOL
I know this wont help much, but I had to throw it out there. I chose my degree with the help of those so called job outlook books several years ago. Forget them, focus on what you REALLY want to do. Keep in mind that usually, what is WORTH doing can take more time and effort. Don't let that dissuade you!