Is Medical Assistant a good choice of medical career?

Is becoming a nurse assistant a good career choice?

• I will like to enter the medical field.

• Answer:

  Where I live, it is difficult for some students to go directly into a regular nursing program at the local community college because approximately 250+ students apply for 30 open spots in the Fall and 30 open spots in the Spring. There is still a tremendous need for nurses, however, and since quite a few students drop out in the first year the school has worked out a program that will allow nursing assistants and LPN's to come in later on in the program to fill up any now vacant spaces. Many students that don't make it into the direct program now go to the technical school to become a nursing assistant or LPN and begin working until they can get into the transfer program. The community college is finding that those students often do better and are more dedicated than the ones that came in directly because they have more direct experience and know that it is what they want to do. If it is something you want to do and it is a good jumping off point in your area then do it. Don't expect a lot of praise or money as a nursing assistant, though.