A Viable Experience/Job Option Before Med School?

[PowerButton]

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Hello all,

I've been lurking in these forums for over two years, and finally made an account. I had put it off for a long time because you people intimidate me. 😳

Anyway, I'm now in my third year of undergrad and am in good shape academically, preparing for the MCAT. However, I've been unable to get much extracurricular activity (apart from some volunteering). I've been very interested in working in a clinical setting ever since I got to college, but discovered that nearly everything requires some kind of certification and completion of a training program.

That being said, I'm also leaning heavily toward waiting a year after I graduate to enter medical school. As a result, I've been looking at medical assistant training programs from various "career colleges" around the area. I've found that the typical Medical Assistant or PCAT (Patient Care Assistant/Technician) programs last roughly 8 months, with 4 hours of instruction a day, four days a week.

Now, the question is (besides the fact that I would have to stack that on top of my undergraduate classes, and for the time being, let's assume money is not a problem), would all of that time and effort be worth it? I would basically be looking at spending 8 months getting trained, and then working in a hospital/clinic for about a year and a half before medical school. I'm not totally ******ed - if I do decide to do this, it would be after I'm done with the MCAT.

How much would something like this help my application? I'm figuring that if nothing else, it would give me some pretty good experience. Let me know what you think; any advice would be greatly appreciated. 🙂

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Why would you wait? You do realize a medical assistant is basically a CNA right?

 

[PowerButton]

Why would I wait for what? And I was told that PCATs do a lot more than CNA's, unless I've been misinformed.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Nope at least not in most hospitals.....either way, I wouldn't put off medical school to push beds, wipe butts, draw blood and pass pills. But that's just me......

That being said, I'm also leaning heavily toward waiting a year after I graduate to enter medical school.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Depends on lots of variables. If you've got a 3.2 and only manage a 26 MCAT and you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't get into Stanford then yeah it'd be worth it. If you've got a 3.8 with a 34 and are looking at a state school then it's a huge waste of time as far as medical school admission is concerned. Are you sure you've exhausted your clinical opportunities? I worked as an ER tech for awhile as well as an Admissions clerk (which isn't exactly clinical but I got to know some of the docs and sat in on some procedures), and neither required certification. My wife has worked as an ophthalmology assistant for 4 years, gets paid $15/hr and didn't require cert (when she started anyway).

 

[Chuckwalla]

Do what you really want to. If you want to travel to Europe, do it. If you want to climb Everest, you're an idiot but do it. Once you start medical school you will probably never have another chance to do the leisure activities and travel where you want to.

 

[mclain]

Nope at least not in most hospitals.....either way, I wouldn't put off medical school to push beds, wipe butts, draw blood and pass pills. But that's just me......

You mean you wouldn't want experience setting IV's, reading at least 21 EKG patterns, performing blood tests, aside from taking the specimen, assisting in minor surgeries, physical exams, kelation therapy... yeah, it's basic, but it's also an opportunity to gain valuable hands on experience, ultimately preparing you to become a BETTER doctor. A CNA has maximum 6 weeks of training in bedside care, and possibly a certification to pass meds. Enjoy your books; good luck.

 

[mclain]

Depends on lots of variables. If you've got a 3.2 and only manage a 26 MCAT and you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't get into Stanford then yeah it'd be worth it. If you've got a 3.8 with a 34 and are looking at a state school then it's a huge waste of time as far as medical school admission is concerned. Are you sure you've exhausted your clinical opportunities? I worked as an ER tech for awhile as well as an Admissions clerk (which isn't exactly clinical but I got to know some of the docs and sat in on some procedures), and neither required certification. My wife has worked as an ophthalmology assistant for 4 years, gets paid $15/hr and didn't require cert (when she started anyway).

What state are you in? Here, OR, the last I checked, a CMA/EMS was required to work as an ER tech, and you assist in surgical procedures, not observe. There are some clinics paying as much as $25 per hour here (Ore) for recent certified graduates.

 

[mclain]

Why would I wait for what? And I was told that PCATs do a lot more than CNA's, unless I've been misinformed.

No, the previous poster is misinformed. Depending on your state, training requirements vary, and with that the responsibilities. Some areas hire medical assistants primarily for administrative duties, whereas some have you drawing blood, but also performing lab tests that would otherwise go to an outside lab, taking EKG's and being able to identify at least 21 patterns, and with that, a crash course in cardiology, and the pathophysiology involved there. There's pharmacology, limited physical exams (pretty much everything but pelvic), setting of IV's (and preparing the meds), assistance with minor surgeries (some docs allow you to practice suturing)... in Ore, you're virtually an extension of the Dr(s) you work for, you just can't diagnose, obviously, or prescribe. A CNA is a NURSING assistant, with about 6 weeks of bedside training.

I decided to train as a medical assistant before med school because I believed it would make me a better Dr in the long run, and most med schools that I have talked to value clinical experience. (Building a working relationship with a handful of Dr's is NEVER a bad idea... unless they're jerks, choose wisely)

 

[BABSstudent]

You mean you wouldn't want experience setting IV's, reading at least 21 EKG patterns, performing blood tests, aside from taking the specimen, assisting in minor surgeries, physical exams, kelation therapy... yeah, it's basic, but it's also an opportunity to gain valuable hands on experience, ultimately preparing you to become a BETTER doctor. A CNA has maximum 6 weeks of training in bedside care, and possibly a certification to pass meds. Enjoy your books; good luck.

Holy necrobump, Batman.

What were you searching for that made you want to comment on this?

 

[JsPham]

Holy necrobump, Batman.

What were you searching for that made you want to comment on this?

I'm guessing Edward Cullen.

 

[KinS]

I know the original thread was posted long time ago but I am just curious if you actually went through the medical assistant program before you applied to med school because I am in the same kind of situation except for I am graduating from medical assistant program and undergraduate school at the same time