While each job offers exciting and challenging moments, when you find a career that you love, you’ll find each day rewarding. That’s why the life of a medical assistant for children is one more and more people are signing up for. However, pediatric medical assistants also face unique challenges in their day-to-day work. Are you prepared to join their ranks after graduating from Prism Career Institute? Here’s a closer look at common challenges in this field.
Age-Appropriate Communication
Pediatric medical assistants help gain vital information from patients, allowing doctors to work quickly and effectively. Yet while adults can usually communicate their symptoms, children aren’t always able to do the same. Whether they are embarrassed, confused, or just plain shy, you’ll need to be patient, friendly, and calming to help them express themselves.
Additionally, you will find it more difficult to explain medical processes and procedures to children because they may not have the vocabulary to grasp medical terms. This means you’ll need to use age-appropriate alternatives to help them understand what is happening and how the doctor can help.
Fear or Nervousness
Most adult patients enter the exam room calm and collected – even if they are nervous. Unfortunately, children can react differently, letting fear or nervousness get the better of them. Children don’t have much experience with doctors, and oftentimes it revolves around getting shots that they won’t have fond memories of.
Pediatric medical assistants will have to help children relax and remain calm. Young patients may even lash out or cry, so having the ability to sympathize and show sensitivity is a must. You’ll also need greater patience to get through your pre-exam tasks to help them feel at ease when the doctor arrives.
Additionally, when children get sick or injured, there’s a good chance their parents will be worried, frightened, or even angry. Emotions often run high when a little one is unwell, and parents may struggle to get their feelings under control. Be sure to show compassion as you explain the situation and collect information, so parents feel confident that you’re there to help.
Stress and Other Emotions
When you work with children, it’s not just kids and their families who experience stress, worry, and other strong emotions. Pediatric medical assistants work hard and often in extremely busy environments. For those who seek employment in emergency rooms or urgent care facilities, the level of stress can be even higher. At the same time, medical assistants for children often work with seriously injured, chronically unwell, and even terminally ill patients, which can create a host of powerful emotions that are hard to deal with.
Keep in mind however that your work will be incredibly important. Medical assistants provide essential support not just for patients and their families, but also for the other professionals who deliver care, such as doctors, nurses, and specialists. At the end of the day, you can feel proud that you’ve given your all to help a child feel better, and your teammates serve patients.
Get the Training You Need at Prism Career Institute
It takes a special person to work as a medical assistant for children, but you’re sure to find many reasons to love your job. To learn more about all the places medical assistants can work and the specializations they can pursue, contact Prism Career Institute or apply online today. Our Medical Assistant Program in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, will prepare you for a rewarding career in as little as six months.