Four Tips To Advance Beyond Medical Assisting And Receive Better Pay And Benefits

In the health care industry, medical assistants are important members of the medical team. Doctors need them to stay organized and sane at the same time. Some doctors even claimed that they cannot perform well without the help of their trusted medical assistants. Truly medical assistants have very important roles to play in hospitals, clinics and other specialized areas.

Although the medical assisting profession is a very lucrative and productive career, there is still a chance for career growth and receive better pay and benefits. To advance beyond the medical assisting careers, here are some tips to do so:

Discover Your Professional Goals
During your free time, try to find out your short-term and long-term goals. This is for the purpose of motivating and redirecting yourself to the path you want to take later on. If you are feeling a little bored of your everyday routine work, this is a great opportunity for you to assess and find out what you really want to do. Examine yourself what you are passionate about. Perhaps you like children and you are good with children even in dispensing of medicine. Know if you want to enroll in nursing school and take supplementary classes on Pediatrics. Or maybe, you are happy with your clerical and administrative duties. In that case, find out if you can have additional classes or seminars on accounting and bookkeeping to help further your career.

Familiarize Yourself With Medical Terminology and Medical Diseases
True enough, doctors and nurses need medical assistants to help in the managing and administrative aspects. However, there may be times when the tasks and duties of MAs become very habitual. If this happens to you, do not complain. Instead, be proactive and study the different cases and learn from the conversations of doctors and nurses. At home, if you have time to spare, you can browse on several medical books to help you understand what the medical team is discussing. If you have a friend or relative who is a doctor, you can ask about the usual medical procedures or anything about medicine from drugs to the usual treatments.

Talk To Your Boss
If you are fan of pep talks and long discussions then talk to someone about your concerns. If you want to know more how you can improve your career and the options you have the best person you can approach is your boss. Your boss can provide you with the right perspective, motivation and he or she is the best person to help you with your concerns. He can provide inside advise and the things you ought to know about career advancement.

Broaden Your Horizon
For you not to stay in your current position for the longest time, you can attend seminars even those not related to medical assisting. If doctors invite you to a medical pep talk or rally, you might as well attend. These seminars can help you to expand your knowledge and to learn new skills. Do not close your mind to any possibilities. If there are computer classes that you are invited to, attend and learn from that class. Who knows? You can be the next medical secretary or unit clerk.

Medical assisting is a smart career choice. Medical assistants have opportunity to grow and to advance in their careers. If you wish to go beyond medical assisting and receive better pay, consider the tips above. Do not be afraid to learn new things. People should be continually learning and growing. Do not be stagnant and find ways on how to improve yourself and your career.

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The Prenatal Nurse Career

A prenatal nurse is also referred to as a midwife. This is a person that takes care of a pregnant woman and ensures that everything is going perfectly during the entire pregnancy all through childbirth. These nurses are very important to society since every woman looks up to them at one time or another to ensure that a child is delivered without any complications.

The main responsibility of a prenatal nurse is to focus on the pregnancy and childbirth of a woman. This basically means that she has to take the expectant mother through basic guidelines on how to take care of the pregnancy, provide essential prenatal care, assist in the delivery of the child and also follow up on the progress of the mother and the baby and give the necessary care after a successful birth. These are basically the main duties of any prenatal nurse in any setting.

Putting in mind the fact that childbirth is one of the most important parts of any family, a prenatal nurse has the benefit of experiencing the joy of childbirth with a number of families. The nurse is therefore considered essential because she takes care of the pregnancy until the end whereby the child is successfully brought into the world.

In order for one to be a prenatal nurse and get a job, you have to acquire a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree in nursing. This usually takes anywhere between 2 to 5 years. Most employers prefer advanced degrees especially the registered nurse jobs. The individual is also expected to complete and maintain the national licensing depending on the state. Those who are interested in going for registered prenatal nurse jobs should therefore ensure that they have an advanced degree in addition to the bachelor's degree that is compulsory.

Most institutions do not require the prenatal nurse to have any job experience though with experience the opportunities are many. As long as you have the necessary educational qualifications, finding a job should not be a difficult task. With this in mind, it is important to note that the more the qualifications a prenatal nurse has, the more the salary she is expected to earn. This basically depends on the education, the location of the job and the experience that an individual has. If however the experience is higher, the salary is automatically higher than someone who is starting off in the career.

It is also a necessity to undergo an accredited midwifery program in order to be a prenatal nurse. Once done with the program, there is usually a certification program that you must pass which is issued by the midwifery board in your state. With this and the degree that you have, you qualify to work in any given hospital, any university or even in the government. The prenatal nurse job market is highly competitive and therefore it is important for nurses to do continuous studies once they are in the job market in order to ensure that they continue to climb the career ladder.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the links should be clickable.

Copywrite Kenneth Echie. Kenneth is a Writer, Expert Author, and Publisher. He currently writes for Medical Assistants Schools. Get free scholarship report and learn to Become a Prenatal Nurse by visiting.

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Truck Driver PSP Becoming Second DAC Report

In years past, trucking companies pushed drivers to run over the HOS rules and many other violations, showing complete disregard for their safety and health. Now, with the recent implementation of the CSA, this practice is coming back to bite them. Drivers, loyal to their motor carrier for years, are now being terminated due to a high severity weight score on their pre-employment screening program (PSP).

As drivers are now discovering, this is a big problem with the CSA. Even though the violations were due to the carrier's equipment (this falls under the 7 BASICS, specifically the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC), the driver will be found to be in violation, as well as the carrier, raising the motor carrier's "unsafe" safety score.

There are two measurement systems under the CSA:
DSMS - Driver Safety Measurement SystemsCSMS - Carrier Safety Measurement Systems

The two go hand in hand, meaning that points received by a driver, also will go against the carrier. This is the FMCSA's idea of making both parties, the driver and the motor carrier, equally responsible for safety. As we are seeing already, this is proving to be another injustice to the professional truck driver. Drivers are reporting in that due to their PSP points, their jobs are being lost and other carriers refuse to re-hire.

The truck driver PSP is now being correlated with the HireRight DAC report... a prediction I made several months before the implementation of this program. Every driver should be aware of the points that can accumulate from violations and effect their PSP scores.

The FMCSA website clearly states:

"The program helps motor carriers make more informed hiring decisions by providing electronic access to a driver's crash and inspection history from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System ( MCMIS)."

Sound a lot like DAC... doesn't it?

The severity weight system can be found on pages 78 through 118 of the CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) Methodology. Another driver recently advised us that he had stopped for the day and after setting the brakes, the truck began to roll. Marking this brake issue on his post-trip inspection, he was then fired by the carrier. The FMCSA has created another demon for the professional truck driver.

There is no set maximum points that a driver can reach before being deemed unsafe and terminated. This figure is at the sole discretion of the individual motor carrier. Points attained will not show up on the PSP report. The PSP will only show the violations and you must then cross-check them with the points shown on the SMS. There are 3rd party companies such as Vigillo, LLC which provide comprehensive data analytics, providing drivers with a CSA scorecard. Another example of a money-maker business created from the CSA.

Data collected for the two measurement systems basically come from four sources:
Roadside inspectionsViolations that have already been recordedState reported commercial vehicle crash dataMotor carrier census data

Violations that DOT and law enforcement have ignored in the past, such as driving with a flat tire or having a marker light out, are now being enforced and citations given out. As an example, operating a CMV on a flat tire will add eight points to your PSP... having a marker light out will give you two points. If you're caught texting while driving, you will be hit with ten points, the highest amount given, which by the way, is the same given for reckless driving.

Remember, it's not only points you'll receive, but you will still have the fine to pay as well. The CSA has given law enforcement the key to a huge money-making program to help bring in much needed revenue for states.

The number for a "maximum points" level that is being thrown around is sixty, but again, there is no set maximum points that a driver can reach before facing possible termination. The carrier can determine if it's sixty or six... it's at their discretion. Although motor carriers created the atmosphere which resulted in drivers obtaining violations in the past, they are ignoring this fact and now using the PSP as the reason for the termination of drivers.

As a California law firm establishes the first DAC Report Class Action Registry, attorneys should take notice of the truck driver PSP program. The truck driver PSP is quickly shaping up to be another DAC report to be used by the carriers against the professional truck driver.

Aubrey Allen Smith is the host of the popular internet talk radio show, Truth About Trucking "LIVE", educating drivers on how to receive a copy of their PSP report.

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How to Write an Effective Academic Cover Letter

Many of us wish to pursue a career in the education industry. We wish to work as a faculty, librarian, exam controller, etc. All these jobs come under the academic field. While applying for these jobs along with your resume, you also need an academic cover letter.

A cover letter is basically a document attached with your resume. This document is your first point of contact with the employer. You do not get to communicate directly, face-to-face with the employer, but you can communicate using this cover letter. The basic purpose of a cover letter is helping your resume get a preference over the others. It helps you to present yourself to the employer in a crisp and precise way. One must remember that your resume has all your professional and qualification details. Thus, do not mistake your cover letter for your resume.

Do not start mentioning all your qualifications and experiences in this letter. This letter is like an answer to the employer's job requirement put forth in the advertisement. Thus, try to convey to the employer how you satisfy his/her requirement via this letter. This helps him/her decide whether it is worthy to look at your resume.

To help you write an effective academic cover letter, the instructions given in the paragraphs below will prove quite helpful.

Tips for writing effective cover letter:

• Use a formal letter format. The cover letter should be precise and to the point. It is written for professional purposes. It must thus be as per the formal letter format. Since you are applying for the academic field, you cannot afford to mess up with the format of the letter. You are expected to know the basics. Also, typos or grammatical errors are not acceptable. If you are not very confident about it, get it written from someone, or get your letter checked from someone who is good at it.

• The first paragraph should be your introduction. It should not be more than 2-3 lines. The next paragraph should let the employer know your reason of interest in the organization. This needs some research about the organization. Let the employer know why you think, this particular organization suits you, and how you both benefit from it.

• In the next paragraph, speak about your relevant skills and experiences. Do not start mentioning all the organizations you have worked for. These details are in your resume. In turn, you can write, 'With a work experience of 5.2 years in managing the operations of various organizations, I will bring along with me my expertise and learning from this experience'. This statement will answer the employer, and convince him/her that you should be given a preference over others.

• In the last paragraph, request an action from the employer's side. Request him/her to call you for an interview. Also, remember that it is very important to thank the reader. A simple line 'Thanking you in anticipation', reflects your politeness and etiquettes.

These tips will help you write an effective academic cover letter. There are many samples of academic cover letters available over the internet. These samples can be used by you for writing your cover letter.

I am Felicia John and working as a job consultant.I am expert in Writing academic resume cover letters and provide guidance for the same.

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Top Four Factors That Drive Medical Assistant's Salary

Many are enticed to be part of the medical assisting team because this career offers a promising future and advancing career opportunities. As for others, they choose to become MAs because it provides personal and monetary satisfaction. Personal satisfaction since they are responsible for a wide range of hospital tasks and being able to accomplish those different roles is already very pleasing to one self. Monetary satisfaction as well since this profession is offering good salary benefits and a possible salary increase if the employer sees that the staff is dedicated, passionate and simply because the employee qualifies to the standards set by the organization concerning salary adjustments. Truly, this is a profitable career. But, what are the factors that drive the MA's salary? Curious? Following are aspects that can influence the salary and compensation benefits of medical assistants.

Employee's Skills
Just like in other profession, if a person is highly skilled in the craft and the employer sees potential for growth, without doubt that person will receive higher pay as compared to others whose skills are average. Although it is not compulsory for aspiring MAs to undergo formal training as the minimum requirement for a person to get the job is just a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. However skills are learned and those who wish to become proficient can enroll in qualified schools for proper training and grounding.

Moreover, since the demand for medical assistants is increasing and so are their roles and responsibilities, those who are found to be proficient can garner up to $40,000. Not only are they qualified for increase, they can also be promoted to managerial or supervisory roles.

Licensing
After completion of the training program, he or she can take the next step and that is certification. Being certified can provide a great edge not just in the hiring process but it can also provide excellent salary range.

Work Place Setting
MAs can choose to work in special areas, outpatient departments, schools and conventional hospitals. More of often than not, those who are employed in hospital receive higher compensation and benefits. On average, medical assistants receive $30,000 in these institutions. On the other hand, those working in special areas like private physician's clinic, outpatient departments, schools, colleges and universities can earn about $28,000.

State Of Practice
Another factor that drives the salary of MAs is the location or state the medical assistant is currently practicing. Apparently, the cost of living varies in different states. In large urbanized areas, expect to have a higher cost of living index. Thus the salary and benefits in these areas are competitive as well. Presently, the three top states that provide excellent payouts to medical assistants are District of Columbia, Alaska and Massachusetts. In these areas, medical assistants can earn from $34,490 to $38,000. On the other hand, rural areas can provide lower compensation benefits because the cost of living is lower in these areas.

Then again, areas that are offering lower payouts are Mississippi, West Virginia and South Dakota. Medical assistants who are employed in these areas can receive salaries from $22,510 to $25,310.

MA is truly a lucrative and very promising career. That is why many students are attracted to take up medical assisting courses to equip them and make them proficient in their chosen profession. However, when choosing a career to pursue, remember that salary is not the only thing that should be given consideration. Passion and enthusiasm must be regarded as well.

Medical assistant jobs and training. Learn the best schools for medical assistant training when you visit the links now.

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The Effects of Employee Satisfaction on Customer Satisfaction

It is obvious that there are significant benefits to be gained from trying to improve an organization's service quality, and that's why managers devote so much time and money to training programs that provide employees with guidelines on the specifics of dealing with customers. What managers don't fully understand is that such attempts are, to a certain extent, shallow! Real improvements in customer service start with providing superior service and support to the employees themselves.

Here are a number of helpful tips on how to make sure your employees are happy and satisfied and in return are giving their maximum in providing the best services to your customers.

Hire Better!

Because not everybody is capable of working on a computer while handling a phone conversation, HR managers must first define the company's future employee needs to deliver the right customer experience. Company culture, details of the job and specific competencies also need to be evaluated and understood in order to develop an effective hiring model. While finding exceptional client servicing employees who can do efficient post-call work is important, it is actually not as important as finding employees who can listen and respond with empathy to clients, and who have the ability to identify issues and deliver specific answers effectively and efficiently with emphasis on first call issue resolution. By systemizing the hiring process, using a more strategic approach and taking time to analyze the job and your employee competency needs, you will be able to identify and hire candidates that better meet the needs of your organization and who are more likely to stay in their positions for a longer period of time.

Trust and Respect

Trust and respect are the basis of pretty much all successful relationships, and it's certainly no different in employee relationships. One of the best ways to determine the level of trust in a company is to examine assumptions regarding intentions. Do policies and procedures seem to assume that employees act on their best intentions or their worst intentions? In other words, are the policies in place mostly to ensure employees don't do things they are not allowed to do, or to ensure employees have the right environment to do the things they should be doing? An excellent way to test respect is in how input is heard from the different members of a team. Are people's ideas that presented with detail and backed with supporting evidence taken seriously? This doesn't mean that all ideas must always be accepted and implemented. However, if the idea is ultimately rejected, it should be rejected with the same level of thought and supporting evidence.

Show Appreciation

Employee attitudes typically reflect the moral of the company as a whole. In areas of customer service and sales, happy employees are extremely important because they represent the company to the public. Satisfaction, however, is not linked solely to compensation. Sure, a raise or extra benefits will probably improve employee contentment, at least temporarily, but small, inexpensive changes can have a long-term impact such as showing 'Appreciation.' Appreciation means making your employees feel important and that they are a vital part of a common goal. The result of doing so will sure be manifested in better customer satisfaction.

Instill Confidence

With a solid framework for hierarchy, clear accountabilities and matching authority, employees can begin to make decisions about their daily work with confidence. As those decisions become more and more effective, employees become more self-confident. Self-confidence is definitely a vital element to success in all aspects of life. Confident employees find it much easier to do what's right for customers and for the company.

Create an Atmosphere of Growth

A Job is more than a source of income, it is actually a venue for employees to grow and learn. Companies that invest in their employees' growth will not only have happier employees; they will have more productive employees who generate better and better ideas for improving the company service level. This means mentoring employees, training them in areas even beyond their current scope of responsibilities, being more transparent about aspects of the business that are interesting to particular employees and more. Creating more skilled and more knowledgeable employees has an extremely high ROI.

Measurement is Key

Companies with a highly evolved sense of the impact employee satisfaction makes on customer profitability constantly measure everything: customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, process efficiencies and bottlenecks. This enables them to determine what's working and what's not so as to make adjustments accordingly. Periodic re-evaluation also enables your company to benefit from the fresh ideas of your current and new hires.

"People are our most valuable asset", "Our employees come first" and "We're only as strong as our people". These statements have been around in the workplace for decades, yet countless companies seem to be in denial of just how accurate those statements are. Many business owners think that they only need to pay attention to paying customers, providing them with exceptional service. Yet, it has been proven that keeping your employees satisfied with their work experience, providing them with challenges and allowing them to have a sense of ownership in the business can have a tremendous effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty. The correlations are clear: Satisfied employees generate satisfied customers, who in turn build long-term relationships and spend more money!

Mais Gousous is a full time Marketing Specialist / Career Consultant at Akhtaboot http://www.akhtaboot.com/, the leading career network for the Middle East and GCC Region. Mais currently works with the different departments of Akhtaboot on various projects in Marketing, e-Marketing and career training.

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