As a medical assistant student, you’ve learned an array of important skills that will serve you well as you enter the health care field. As you complete your classroom training, it’s time to think about your medical assistant externship placement. The best externship opportunities are those that immerse you in real-world experiences similar to what you can expect as you progress in your career.
To inspire you to think about opportunities that best suit your future goals, we’ve created this list of unique places to do your medical assistant externship.
1. Pediatric Clinic
If you’re placed in a pediatric clinic for your medical assistant externship, you’ll find yourself working with children and teens of all ages. You’ll practice vital skills that can be transferred to a variety of settings, including vaccine administration, recording vital signs, and assisting with examinations or minor procedures. Some of the unique experiences you can expect to gain while working in a pediatric clinic include weighing and measuring children to monitor developmental progress and providing education for parents on child nutrition and milestones.
2. Drug And Alcohol Rehab Facility
If you’re looking for a challenging yet rewarding medical assistant externship, placement in a drug and alcohol rehab facility might be the right opportunity for you. In this type of externship, you can expect to work with patients as they enter addiction treatment programs. You may provide direct care during detox, gaining real-world practice with tasks, such as monitoring withdrawal symptoms, administering medications, and checking vital signs. You can also expect to gain experience in medical reception, charting, and new patient intake.
3. Sexual Health Clinic
In a sexual health clinic, a medical assistant extern can expect to provide a range of services to teens and young adults. In this setting, you’ll practice important medical assistant skills, including charting and medical reception. You’ll also have the opportunity to administer basic STD tests, assist with patient examinations, and provide patient counseling for sexual health matters.
4. Urgent Care Center
Urgent care centers are among the busiest parts of the healthcare system. An urgent care extern can expect to be on the go all day, gaining experience with direct patient care, charting, and patient triage. While completing your externship in an urgent care center, you’re likely to work with ill and injured patients who are exhibiting a broad range of symptoms. When handling direct patient care, you may be asked to draw blood, administer intravenous fluids or medications, monitor symptoms, or assist with patient examinations.
Becoming A Medical Assistant
Medical assistants provide vital services in healthcare facilities across the country, helping doctors and nurses perform clinical and administrative tasks. A medical assistant externship is an important part of completing Prism Career Institute’s Medical Assistant program.
To learn more about becoming a medical assistant, call (888) 854-1102 to speak to an admissions representative at Prism Career Institute. Programs are available in Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ.