Courtney Staba                      

February 9^th, 2014      

Literacy project

1)      Medical Assistant Job in Rochester, New York : NY. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://medical-assistant.jobs.net/j/medical-assistant-to-16-hr-_JHQ18B6620FQPLCDQQJ.aspx

2)      Medical Assistant Salaries in Rochester, NY | Salary.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://www1.salary.com/NY/Rochester/Medical-Assistant-salary.html

3)      Medical assistant. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_assistant

4)      What is a Medical Assistant? (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://www.aama-ntl.org/medical-assisting/what-is-a-medical-assistant#.VNoNmy4YGFU

5)      Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2015, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm

6)      Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Medical Assistants,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm (visited February 10, 2015).

7)      Janeczko, D. (2012). The future of medical assisting. AMT Events, 29(3), 164-166.

8)      Hourly, Annual Wages for Medical Assistants Reported. (2012). Report on Salary Surveys, 19(3), 11-12

9)      Healthcare Support Occupations: Medical Assistants. (2010). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 455-457.

10)  Elder, N. C., Jacobson, C. J., Bolon, S. K., Fixler, J., Pallerla, H., Busick, C., & ... Pugnale, M. (2014). Patterns of Relating Between Physicians and Medical Assistants in Small Family Medicine Offices. Annals Of Family Medicine, 12(2), 150-157. doi:10.1370/afm.1581

11)  Gabl, N. (2014). Meaningful Use and Medical Assistants: What Does this Mean for their Career?. AMT Events, 31(2), 86-89.

12)  (2009). MEDICAL ASSISTANT DUTIES DEFINED: Flu shots OK, but no Botox: Concerns over vaccinations spurred special board meeting. Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV).

On 1/18/15, I got into a car accident, and it was one of the scariest things in my life. It opened my eyes to what career I'm getting into. Sitting into that hospital bed, I realized a hospital setting is not where I'd like to work. Hearing the puking, the stroke patients, patients with the flu. I sat there and questioned, am I sure I want to go into the medical field?

Puking is a fear that has always been apart of my life. When I was graduating high school my dream was to become an Ultra sound technician, or a PA (Physicians Assistant) in sports medicine. But when people told me that they see puking quite frequently my career choice changed drastically. Medical, to accounting and business. How does that even make sense? I went to opposite ends of the job spectrum.

When I got told about Bryant & Stratton, I decided I would push everything people told me to the side and do what I have always wanted to do. I guess I have to get past my fear one day, right? While I was in the doctors office waiting to get my cast put on, I talked to a few of the nurses that came in to see what their background was before they worked for Strong Orthopedics.

When I found out that you don't even need a degree to work for Strong as an assistant I was shocked. If you get the position, you go through a 6 week training program, and then you're there. Although a degree is better than not having a degree, it is not necessary.

I guess I should keep going to school and get my degree, than maybe one day I will be able to get started in my dream career, at Strong Orthopedics, and be able to go back to school, and get my college tuition payed for.