Should I take medical assistant position? Need advice!

[Bellabijou]

I am currently a college sophomore studying from home this sem and am interested in attending medical school, but not really sure what I’d like to ultimately do with my future. I’m also interested in genetic counseling, but want to be able to do what I love and be able to travel in some way. After college I really just want to get out into the real world but still pursue further education.

I recently applied for a medical assistant position through a local urgent care to gain clinical experience (with no previous clinical experience or MA certificate), and after two very successful interviews, I was hired. I’m super grateful for the opportunity, especially since I know most of these positions are hard to come by with no experience!

I thought MAing would be a good way to see if I really like patient care and hopefully allow me to weigh my future career options (aka…is medicine/being a physician for me). The only problem is…covid. So I would be directly testing people for covid, and my parents are a bit concerned, naturally. My dad has celiac disease and a heart condition, and both parents are very cautious health-wise.

It’s a part time position, so I’d only be at the clinic every other weekend for both days, but I am really torn as to whether or not I should accept this. It’s an incredible opportunity considering I got the job w/o experience and it would allow me to really see medicine. I don’t want to put my parents and sister in danger, but obviously covid contact is a part of the job.

Any advice on whether or not to take it? I am having such a hard time making a decision. Would it be best to wait to gain clinical exposure b/c of the pandemic? If I did shift more towards genetic counseling, being an MA would essentially not be worth the time for that. Thanks!

[WayOutWestMom]

The MA position is great opportunity to get some patient contact experience. Congratulations! Those type of jobs are often hard to get.

As to whether you should take it–that’s going to be very personal decision.

FWIW, celiac disease is not a known factor for increased risk of Covid-19 complications. Heart issues, OTOH, can be, depending on the exact problem.

If you were my daughter, I’d tell you to take it.

Yes, there is a chance you will be exposed to Covid-19 patients, but if your clinic provides the appropriate PPEs and you use them consistently and properly, there is a very good chance you won’t get infected and won’t bring the virus home to your family.

My older D is an EM physician and she has worked in EDs, intubating known Covid-19 patients in some of the worst hit areas of country, since the epidemic began. First in NE at a major hospital that at one time had over 450 Covid-19 patients in the ICU, then at an emergency overflow Covid hospital on the West Coast. She has interacted with/treated/diagnosed literally thousand of Covid-19 patients. By being absolutely scrupululous about her prophylaxis and PPE use, she has avoid being infected which is very important since she is pregnant and therefore at high risk for Covid-19 complications.

You can help to minimize the risk to your family by doing some simple things.

–Don’t wear the clothes or shoes you wore in clinic into the house when you get home. If there’s locker room at the clinic where you can change clothes, change there and place your shoes & clothing into a paper or cloth bag. Shower as soon as you get home. If there isn’t, change out of your clinic shoes as soon as you get to your car, put them a paper bag, then go straight home. Leave the bag with your shoes outside or in the garage. Once inside the house, do not interact with anyone, head straight to the bathroom, strip off your clothing and place it a specially designated bag (fabric or paper is best) that isn’t used for anything else or straight into the washer, then shower & wash your hair. Wash your clothing (and the bag if it’s fabric) in warm water & detergent. Dry your clothing on high heat if possible.

–At work, wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer, even if you are wearing gloves when you interact with patients. Wash/sanitize your hands before you put on fresh pair of gloves and again when you take them off. Remove gloves properly by stripped them from the wrist and turning theme inside out as you move them. Don’t touch your face (especially don’t touch your eyes!) or mask anytime during the day. This is hard to do, but it’s critical that you are vigilant about this! Put on, adjust or remove your mask by only touching the ear loops or ties. Never touch the front of the mask.