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When you think about your future, you should look for the one that will make you feel fulfilled and excited, but at the same time that is in high demand and has positive job prospects.
The medical industry offers numerous stable job opportunities as a continual need for new employees increases.
Becoming a medical assistant is a career that is among the most convenient ones since it does not demand too much studying and it is not expensive.
Job stability and competitive pay are the reasons good enough to begin your journey as a medical assistant.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description
Medical assistants are people who are responsible, able to use a wide range of tools and technology, capable of successful interacting with all types of people, detail-oriented and skillful problem solvers.
They do a combination of administrative and clinical duties in all types of medical facilities and are an important part of a healthcare team.
Their typical working day might provide challenges and excitement since they constantly work under pressure and both their colleagues and patients depend on them.
When patients arrive, the day is spent interacting with them, greeting them, entering information into their medical records, preparing them for their examination.
Becoming a Medical Assistant in Nebraska
The job of a medical assistant is to interact with everyone, patients to doctors and even pharmacists.
The organization is the first activity and, surely, they do not need additional education for this task.
However, all the other services that they provide demand for further education and training.
Medical assistants in Nebraska do not have to possess a certification, but their tasks are limited.
The two most widely accepted accrediting bodies for medical assistant programs are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and there are 6 CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant programs and 1 ABHES-accredited medical assistant program in Nebraska.
Requirements
A medical assistant in Nebraska can be an unlicensed professional.
Still, it is always beneficial to complete an education especially if you are eager to pursue more advanced degrees in the healthcare field.
The certificate and diploma are quicker ways to employment while associate degree levels best prepare students to complete more advanced degrees in the healthcare field in the future.
No matter which program you choose, each of these programs is focused on:
- Legal concepts
- Operational tasks
- Roles, functions, and responsibilities of a medical assistant
- Patient care tasks
- Diagnostic procedures
- Administrative procedures
- Examination techniques
- Surgical procedures, etc.
After finishing formal education, the many candidates choose to pursue national certification via certifying bodies such.
It is very important since employers and physicians seek medical assistants who hold one or more national credentials as proof of education and experience.
The accredited associations who offer these kinds of programs are:
- National Center for Competency Testing: The National Certified Medical Assistant
- National Healthcare Association: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
- The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants: Podiatric Medical Assistant, Certified
- The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel In Ophthalmology: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Getting a Job
Nebraska medical assistants can work in healthcare facilities, physician’s offices, ambulatory centers, and hospitals.
Employment opportunities are great as healthcare staff is always needed and this sector is growing, but you will need training, a variety of important skills, and potentially a certification to get the job of a medical assistant.
The medical facilities experience the increasing number of patients and more educated staff is lacking, so the job outlook for this career is promising.
That kind of demand has enabled medical assistants to choose where they would like to work.
Medical assistants may look for job opportunities in:
- Alegent Creighton Immanuel Medical Center, Omaha
- Alegent Creighton Lakeside Hospital, Omaha
- Alegent Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha
- Bryan LGH Medical Center, Lincoln
- Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney
- Methodist Hospital, Omaha
- Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
- Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital, Omaha
- Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Lincoln
Salary
The Nebraska Department of Labor reported that the number of graduates is increasing and the earned annual average salary is approximately $30,000.
Medical assistants enjoy higher annual salaries than other related occupations, and how high it will be employers determine according to the amount of accumulated work experience and responsibilities.
Many social factors affect how much a medical assistant can make, like geographic location, city’s development, citizens’ income, and work environment.
Every healthcare facility is a little different, so the type of place you are working at will also affect the salary and the responsibilities as well.
Medical assistants in some cities earn more due to the higher cost of living, so the annual salary in Bellevue is $ 32 646 while in Norfolk it reaches only $ 28 418.
The table below shows average salaries for medical assistants in major cities of Nebraska, presenting the difference from one place to another:
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Bellevue,NE | $32,646 |
| Fremont,NE | $32,144 |
| Grand Island,NE | $31,978 |
| Hastings,NE | $31,978 |
| Kearney,NE | $31,978 |
| Lincoln,NE | $32,427 |
| Norfolk,NE | $28,418 |
| North Platte,NE | $31,017 |
| Omaha,NE | $32,646 |
Regional Salary in Nebraska
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Island, NE | 90 | $39,810 | $19.14 | $49,580 | $29,580 |
| Lincoln, NE | 510 | $43,500 | $20.92 | $57,770 | $32,660 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 1,240 | $42,590 | $20.48 | $54,780 | $29,240 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
So as to be a successful medical assistant, the personal characteristics that he/she should possess are to lead an effective communication, have good judgment, to be organized, detail-oriented, fast and effective with the workload, to remember and understand that he/she is part of a team and act accordingly as other staff depend on them.
The list of the main duties they are supposed to complete are:
- Using computer applications related to the medical field
- Answering telephone calls and questions
- Greeting patients.
- Updating medical records.
- Filling out insurance forms.
- Scheduling appointments.
- Performing laboratory services.
- Bookkeeping, etc.
Before patients arrive, they deal with administrative needs and upon the arrival of patients, they start explaining test results or preparing them for appointments.
At the end of the day, they will need to clean the exam rooms.
Summary
If helping people has always been your interest, medicine is not strange and frightening to you and you consider that you are capable of standing all the negative sides of this profession and ready to learn as much as you can about this demanding and responsible job, then you should look for a career in the medical field and become one of these wonderful and caring people.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State