Medical Assistant Careers

For those looking to serve their country in the medical profession, the  military nursing programs available offer the opportunity for a career steeped in a proud tradition of compassion, highly refined skills, courage, and service.

History of Nurses in the Military

The history of nurses in the military begins with the birth of the United States when in 1775 General George Washington requested the Second Continental Congress establish a nursing corp. The congress granted the request authorizing one nurse per every ten soldiers supervised by one matron per one hundred soldiers. Prior to this time nurses had somewhat of a poor reputation; however, the service of army nurses during the Revolutionary War brought honor and respect to the nursing profession in both the military as well as the civilian sector.

Part of the proud tradition of the history of nurses in the military is that of being on the cutting edge not only in medicine but also in breaking down cultural and societal barriers in American society. During the Civil War, more than 180 African American women served in the Union Army nurse corps, starting the break down of the cultural and societal walls that existed among the races. The service of women in the military nursing programs available in each of the armed services demonstrated that women could serve along men in the combat theatres of the World Wars, the Korean War, and Vietnam Wars. The military nurses broke through barriers as they took on more responsibility as they took on more supervisory duties and eventually gained the ability to become commissioned officers. Read the rest of this entry »

Red Cross training for nursing assistants is a great way to enter the nursing profession, especially for those who are unsure if nursing is the right career choice for them. Additionally the Red Cross training program is perfect for those who want a career a nursing but have a limited amount of time and money to spend on training and education as well as those who have left another career and looking to retrain in the healthcare field and medical assisting. The nurse assistant training offered by the Red Cross lasts just a few weeks and costs between $1300 and $1900 depending on the city in which the training takes place and whether the cost of the program include the fee for the state Certified Nursing Assistant exam.

The Curriculum of the Red Cross Training for Nursing Assistants

The Red Cross training for nursing assistant includes classroom training as well as practical hands on training in a typical nursing assistant work environment. Both the didactic and the experiential training serve as a solid introduction to the nursing profession as well as the basic skills needed as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The textbook and other training materials use easily to understand language so the information is accessible to people from varied educational backgrounds.

The classroom Red Cross training involves coursework in the following areas:

• Anatomy and physiology (the study of the human body and how the body functions);
• Medical terminology and skills training to facilitate communication with healthcare professionals;
• The roles and responsibilities of nursing assistants;
• The techniques involved in caregiving in various community healthcare settings.

Additionally, those who take the Red Cross training for nursing assistants participate in activities in actual healthcare setting as part of their preparation to work as a nursing assistant. The majority of those who complete the program easily pass the Certified Nursing Assistant examination in their state.

Red Cross Training for Nursing Assistants Provides Job Placement Assistance

As an added benefit, the Red Cross program provides training to assist those who have completed the program find a position as a CNA. The topics covered include the following:

• Job search skills
• Training in how to write an effective resume
• Effective interview skills
• Time management skills with special attention to work/life balance issues
• Career and educational advancement opportunities.

The Red Cross training program for Nursing Assistants provides an affordable and time efficient gateway into a growing healthcare profession.

Becoming a Radiologic Technologist and Gaining Certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

In the allied health professions, the process of becoming a radiologic technician and gaining certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) is one of the most rigorous. Part of the reason for the strenuous academic and clinical requirements is that technicians deal with radiation and for the protection of both the radiological technologist and the patients. Admission in the radiology tech school can be quite competitive; partially due to the fact, the radiology tech salary is one of the highest in the allied health professions.

Completing the Radiologic Technologist Certification Offered by American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

The first step in becoming a radiological technologist certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists is to complete a program of study at a radiology tech school that covers the curriculum mandated by the ARRT. The program of study must have been completed within five years of applying for certification. Starting January 1, 2015, the candidate for certification must have earned at least an Associate’s Degree prior to applying for certification. Although the ARRT does not require the applicant have a degree in a certain major, the course requirements outlined in the curriculum must be met in addition to those specified by the degree program. Additionally, the candidate must complete the coursework at an educational institution approved by the ARRT.

In addition to fulfilling the academic requirements, the candidate must also demonstrate their competence in several different areas including the following:

• patient care (CPR, venipuncture, collecting vital signs, ect);
• successfully completing 31 imaging procedures mandated  by the ARRT;
• successfully completing one head image of the candidates choice from the ARRT list of accepted procedures;
• successfully completing two fluoroscopy images from the ARRT list of accepted procedures.

Once the candidate submits the documentation related to academic competence, clinical competence and ethical competence and it is accepted by the ARRT, the next step for the candidate is to take the certification exam.

Radiology Technician Job Openings

The Radiological Technologist Salary and Employment Prospects

According to the US Department of Labor, the number of job openings for a radiological technologist will increase by 17 percent through 2018. The chances of being hired in this field increase with knowledge of multiple procedures. Approximately 61 percent of these jobs will be hospital-based, with the others located in doctor’s offices, outpatient clinics, and mobile. The radiological tech salary ranges from $42,000 to $63,000 for those who have completed radiological teach school and are certified by the  American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

During these difficult economic times with high unemployment, the position of Health Information Technology Specialist offers exceptional opportunities in the number of job openings available, the anticipated growth in the field, and prospects for career advancement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2008 that they anticipated a 20 percent increase in positions for the occupation through 2018.  With the new Federal mandates requiring electronic medical records and more detailed health information, those qualified as a Health Information Technology Specialist are anticipated to be in even higher demand.

A Health Information Technology Specialist Does More than Medical Billing and Coding

This position involves assembling, organizing and maintaining medical records, which include the medical history of the patient, symptoms reported by the patient, examinations, the results of diagnostic tests, treatment plans and medical billing and coding records. The advent of electronic medical records, this position now entails have knowledge of the various software programs used in the management and transmittal of electronic medical records as well as electronic security, software development and data analysis.

Within this occupational field, there are those that specialize in medical and billing coding and in tumor registry for cancer patients. A Health Information Technology Specialist salary typically ranges from $29,000 to $40,000 and positions are usually fulltime and are located in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and health insurance company offices. A medical coder salary on average ranges from $35,000 to 50,000 per year.

Training and Certification Requirements for Health Information Technology Specialist

Entry-level positions in the field of Health Information Technology Specialist require an associate degree in health information technology and certification, while more advanced positions mandate applicants have either a Bachelor degree or a Master degree in heath information technology. The subjects covered in these degree programs include medical terminology; medical billing and coding; anatomy and physiology; data analysis, health care database management and security; and quality improvement.

The following organizations offer certifications in the various areas of Health Information Technology Specialists: The American Health Information Management Association offers credentialing as a Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT); American Academy of Professional Coders; Board of Medical Specialty Coding; and Professional Association of Health Care Coding Specialists. Additionally, the National Cancer Registrar’s Association offers the credential of Certified Tumor Registrar.

Given the relatively short length required for training, the competitive salary, and the job opportunities available, a career as Health Information Technology Specialist is perfect for both new graduates and those transitioning from other fields.

The Health Career Profession Opportunity Grants from HHS total $18M in 2011-2012.  The US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families has allocated funds for medical profession training to many state colleges, community colleges and state social education programs.  Jump on this excellent opportunity to train or retrain yourself in nursing, medical assisting, billing and coding, pharmacy tech and other in demand healthcare fields.

Health Career Profession Opportunity Grants by State and Available Funds

Alaska Read the rest of this entry »

The main differences between a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is the amount of training required and increased responsibilities. Typically a CNA training program consists of classes that last approximately 120 hours. The training program for an LPN is much more extensive and takes anywhere from 12-18 months to complete.

Scope of Practice between a CNA and an LPN

While a certified CNA is very valuable in assisting doctors and patients, their role is more limited than that of the LPN. An LPN can administer medicines and meds via IV’s that are specified by an RN or doctor’s orders. In addition, a CNA cannot start or begin an IV while the licensed practical nurse can.

LPN training includes anatomy and physiology courses that a CNA is not exposed to. A certified LPN has also been trained to recognize disease processes and received instruction in determining abnormalities in the human body. Lastly, the LPN will have been introduced to pharmacology classes, whereas the certified nursing assistant has not.

Training to become CNA vs LPN

The fastest and least expensive way to entering the health care field can be by becoming a CNA. You can also step up your healthcare career by advancing to LPN and then possibly become a registered nurse with continuing education. Irregardless if you become a CNA or an LPN you will want to get certified.

The biggest difference between CNA and LPN is the fact that CNAs are not required to be certified and LPNs do require certification. The certification process for a CNA is offered by the state board of nursing and your CNA training program should have practice tests and tips for you. If you complete the LPN training program you will need to sit for the NCLEX PN exam. This license allows you to practice for 2 years before the need to renew and complete continuing education requirements. The LPNs commitment to longer training programs and certification will usually translate to higher wages and career opportunities too.

The June 2011 US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the biggest gains in employment where logged in the medical arena, which includes medical assistant careers. Medical assisting offers one of the fastest tracks to entering the medical field.

A “perfect” storm – a good storm has been created for medical assistants including medical billing and coding specialists, radiology techs, pharmacy techs, and practical nursing and certified nursing assistant jobs.

This bright spot in the workforce has been created by three main factors. First, people are living much longer with new medical technologies, pharmaceuticals and unfortunately, the increasing needs of a population battling diabetes and obesity. Secondly, many experienced assistants and nurses are retiring at a very fast rate. Lastly, medical care is being delivered in a managed care system and oversight from the government, insurers and agencies is requiring additional help from assistants.

Medical Assistant Jobs Growth

According to bls.gov’s (Bureau of Labor Statistics) 2011 Career Guide – “Healthcare will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry, largely in response to rapid growth in the elderly population. Ten of the twenty fastest growing occupations are related to healthcare. Many job openings should arise in all healthcare employment settings as a result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who retire or leave their jobs for other reasons.”

• Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 decade.
• Job prospects should be excellent.
• About 62 percent of medical assistants work in offices of physicians.
• Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1-year or 2-year programs.

Medical Assisting Salaries