Is LPN a Good Career Choice?

Posted on

Nursing has always been a noble career choice, but it hasn’t always been easy to join the medical field. However, today the healthcare system is expanding, and there’s an unprecedented opportunity and growth potential for licensed practical nurses. If you’re passionate about helping others, seize the day.

What Does an LPN Do?

An LPN is a fully credentialed, entry-level nurse. Under the supervision of a doctor or registered nurse, they provide direct patient care in a wide range of health settings from hospitals and long-term care facilities to homes and private practices. Their responsibilities vary by setting but may include:

  • Assisting patient with activities of daily living; dressing, bathing, toileting and eating
  • Reporting changes in physical condition
  • Taking vital signs
  • Administering medications
  • Monitoring intake and output
  • Wound care
  • Performing tube feedings
  • Ventilator management
  • Inserting urinary catheters
  • Measuring blood glucose
  • Giving insulin injections
  • Assisting with therapeutic exercises
  • Collecting laboratory specimens
  • Nursing documentation
  • Supervising paraprofessional staff, such as nurse’s aides
  • Patient and family education

As full members of the healthcare team, LPNs collaborate with physicians, therapists and other medical professionals to bring the best in care to their patients.

Is Becoming an LPN a Good Career Choice?

Jobs in healthcare offer far-reaching advantages, but what makes practical nursing a better choice than other medical careers?

Job Security

Pouring your heart into a job that may be obsolete in ten years isn’t a good investment. Yet that’s what many people are facing as technology displaces humans in the workplace. However, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nursing field will continue to grow through the next decade and beyond. It’s a field that relies on the human touch.

Never a Dull Moment

Counting down to quitting time, from the moment you walk into work, is emotionally exhausting. As an LPN, you won’t have time to be bored. You’ll be on the front lines of medicine where fearless people get difficult jobs done.

Camaraderie

Collaboration is rare in some industries, but healthcare is a team sport. As an LPN, you’ll work in a supportive environment in which colleagues work together toward a common goal.

Professional Autonomy

Few entry-level workers have as much professional freedom as LPNs. Nurses are licensed and autonomous, managing their own practice within the limits of their job description.

Personal Challenges

A dead-end career is like emotional quicksand. It’s impossible to grow as a person. However, nurses face daily challenges that enhance their personal potential, paving the road to maturity and success.

Favorable Work-Life Balance

More workers than ever are looking for careers that won’t overwhelm their lives. Nursing is intense when you’re on the clock, but jobs are flexible.

You’ll work some weekends and holidays if you’re employed in a nursing home or an acute care facility, but demand for nurses has resulted in employers adapting schedules to make them more lifestyle friendly. For Monday through Friday hours, consider working in a doctor’s office or clinic.

Upward Mobility

Practical nursing can be a forever career or just the first step toward becoming an RN or more. LPNs are encouraged by healthcare administrators to build on their training and experience through higher education. It’s an easy climb up the career ladder.

Professional Respect

Practical nursing is vital to the healthcare field. As an LPN, you hold a position of trust. Patients, peers, and clinical professionals appreciate what you do, recognizing your training, skills, and dedication.

Fulfillment

“Making a difference”is more than a cliché for nurses, it’s their mission. The goal is to improve the odds that patients get well or live their best lives by optimizing their care. The lifelong connections you make with patients and peers are personally fulfilling and irreplaceable. Every day brings a sense of accomplishment. Few careers that require less than a year of training are as empowering as nursing.

How Do You Become an LPN?

An easy way to become an LPN is to enroll in a vocational school program. Training is intense, but you’ll graduate with a diploma in under a year, ready to work in your choice of settings.

It’s an ideal way for adults who want a career change to make a move without spending years in school. You can do it without putting your life on hold. The only prerequisites to starting an LPN program are a high school diploma or general equivalency certificate and the willingness to work hard.

Training is a blend of classroom instruction and off-site clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll learn as a student and how it will help shape your career.

What Do You Learn During an LPN Program?

Practical nursing programs are geared toward beginners. They’re popular among nurse’s aides, but little experience in healthcare is necessary. Gwinnett College will take it from the top. Topics you’ll explore include:

Body Structure and Function

Anatomy and physiology are the foundation of nursing education. This course investigates how the body is made and how its complex systems work together synergistically. You’ll review the cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive, and genitourinary systems including associated disorders and treatments.

Human Growth and Development

This course delves into human growth and development theory. Nurses work with people of all ages, so you learn how to recognize the distinct physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of all demographic groups from newborns to senior citizens. You’ll learn about major developmental milestones and how we change through the years, preparing you to work in pediatric clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals.

Nursing Fundamentals

The Nursing Fundamentals class dives into the art of nursing, examining its storied history and rapid evolution. An introductory course upon which others expand, you learn about the nursing process. From preventive healthcare and community wellness to end-of-life nursing, you learn how to approach health holistically and compassionately.

Subjects include health assessment, disease states, nutrition, communication techniques, ergonomics, body mechanics, human sexuality and social development, and patient privacy.

Infection Control

Infection control is the science of preventing the spread of disease. In healthcare settings, dangerous pathogens can proliferate, so it’s up to nurses to keep their peers and patients safe. You’ll learn how bacteria, viruses and parasites grow and spread and how to stop them by breaking the chain of infection through sanitation and immunization.

Personal and Family Care

LPNs provide personal care, assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and eating. You will learn helpful hygiene techniques and how to manage mobility restrictions.

You will be well-equipped with the practical skills necessary to care for any age group in any setting with an emphasis on supporting the family unit. Topics also include community health and public health policy.

Mental Health Concepts

Mental health training offers insight into emotional challenges from anxiety and depression to addiction and psychosis. You will explore psychology, group dynamics, chemical dependency and treatment models, learning how they affect individuals and communities.

You’ll learn how to recognize cognitive impairments, substance abuse disorders, behavioral issues, and emotional crises, so you can help patients stay safe and stick to their treatment plans.

Certification Preparation

LPNs are state-licensed to practice after passing the NCLEX, the National Council Licensure Examination. The letters “PN”mean it’s the practical nursing exam. The NCLEX-RN is the comparable test for registered nurses.

Exams are developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Updated annually to reflect the best nursing practices, questions evaluate the candidate’s competency. Vocational school programs “teach to the test,”so you have great odds of passing on the first try.

What’s the Difference Between an RN and an LPN?

All nurses are licensed, professional caregivers who’ve met minimum education requirements and passed a test demonstrating proven skills. The level of education they receive, however, determines their job responsibilities and advancement potential. RNs have at least two years of training, and more than half hold a bachelor’s degree. As frontline caregivers, the push is on nationwide for better-educated nurses.

The curriculum for RNs and LPNs is similar, but RNs learn more about nursing theory, the scientific principles behind nursing interventions. While LPNs focus on practical nursing skills, RNs direct patient care and troubleshoot complex issues.

They Work Side by Side

In most healthcare settings, RNs and LPNs work side by side but in slightly different roles. LPNs are more likely to provide direct care, RNs have more assessment and administrative responsibility.

Managerial Advancement

Advancement into managerial positions is easier for RNs, but pushing paper isn’t for everyone. Nurses who thrive on direct patient care make the best practical nurses. LPNs have supervisory positions and even leadership roles in nursing homes and assisted living centers.

Students who are on the fence about which type of nursing credentials to pursue should consider their long-term career goals. If you have your heart set on being an RN, it’s worth pushing through challenges. But becoming an LPN first has advantages.

Educational Timeline

Becoming an LPN is quick. For adults who can’t afford to be out of the workforce for two or more years, there’s no better option. And for students who want a career in healthcare but aren’t yet sure what type of nursing they like, becoming an LPN is one way to get your feet wet. The nursing field is so diverse that new graduates struggle to find a job that’s the right fit.

Trying out different roles to get a feel for what they’re like enables better long-term career decisions. And while you’re at, you’re gaining valuable experience and making connections that open the door to greater opportunity. Admission to registered nursing programs is highly competitive, but LPNs have an advantage in the admission process.

Final Thoughts

Is becoming an LPN a good career choice? It is. Whether it’s your first step on the career ladder or your last, it’s a move in the right direction. If you don’t feel like you make a difference in your current job, the healthcare community is ready for you. Jobs come and go, but nursing is a career.

Ready to start a good career and work toward becoming an LPN? The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as an LPN.  Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an entry-level nursing position. 

After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, nursing students will further their career to become a licensed practical nurse. There is an overall need for LPNs in response to the aging baby boomer population.

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN at Gwinnett Institute.

Can a Medical Assistant Do EKGs?

Posted on

One way in which medical assistants contribute to better healthcare is by performing diagnostic tests. Convenient, it saves patients a trip to the hospital and conserves valuable resources. If you’re passionate about science and have an aptitude for technology, you’ll appreciate the excitement that doing laboratory tests provides. But which diagnostics can a medical assistant perform, and does it include EKGs?

What Tests Does a Medical Assistant Perform?

Which diagnostics you’ll do regularly as a medical assistant depends on the hospital, clinic or practice you work for. But you’ll be trained to do these tests:

Urinalysis

Medical assistants are not only trained to collect urine specimens, but they’re also taught how to perform urinalysis, a test that examines the contents of urine for abnormalities indicating an infection or other medical condition. From reading test strips to examining samples under the microscope, medical assistants learn how to identify the components in urine that could spell trouble from white blood cells and crystals to red blood cells and casts.

Pregnancy Tests

Urine-based pregnancy tests are done both to detect pregnancy and to rule it out before doing x-rays. In a women’s health practice, you may perform these daily.

Nasopharyngeal and Throat Swabs

A new role evolved for medical assistants during the pandemic, doing nasopharyngeal swabs. Essential for Covid-19 testing, it expands on the throat swabs done to diagnose strep throat infections.

Occult Blood Testing

The presence of occult blood in feces, blood you can’t see, suggests a wide range of medical conditions from gastrointestinal ulcers to colon cancer. The screening test is simple, place feces on specially treated paper, add chemical regents and observe for color changes. Medical assistants perform this test often as part of annual physicals for older adults.

Mantoux Testing

Tuberculosis remains a public health threat, so testing is part of pre-employment physicals for many workers. Performed by medical assistants and read by nurses, the Mantoux test is done by injecting tuberculin toxin between the two most superficial layers of skin.

Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy, the process of drawing blood from a vein, is necessary to collect samples for testing. Medical assistants are trained to draw and process specimens, testing them in-house when possible or shipping them to a laboratory.

EKGs

Among the most important tests medical assistants do are EKGs. There are several types that medical assistants perform or assist with. Let’s take a closer look at what an EKG is and the medical assistant’s role.

What Is an EKG?

An EKG, or ECG, is an electrocardiogram. Developed at the turn of the 20th century by the Dutch physician and medical researcher, Willem Einthoven, it’s a simple test that maps electrical activity in the heart through leads applied to the body’s surface. Heartbeats are recorded as waves, each corresponding to a different phase of the cardiac cycle:

P Wave – starts when the sinoatrial node, the heart’s pacemaker, fires an electrical impulse.

Q Wave – measures the impulse as it travels through the septum, the bridge between the right and left sides of the heart muscle.

R Wave – the tallest peak on a normal EKG, reflecting the contraction of the left ventricle.

S Wave – occurs as the lower chambers of the heart muscle depolarize, and the right ventricle contracts, forcing blood through the lungs.

T Wave – marks the end of the cardiac cycle as the ventricles relax.

There are two types of EKGs that medical assistants perform. The first is a standard 12-lead EKG that gives doctors a two-dimensional view of heart function. Done with the patient at rest, it takes about ten minutes to complete in an office or inpatient setting.

The second is portable Holter monitoring for patients who experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or palpitations, only occasionally or during activity. Patients are fitted with discrete devices as small as a deck of cards. Worn for up to two weeks, Holter monitors can catch abnormalities that regular EKGs miss.

What Do EKGs Tell Doctors?

An electrocardiogram is just one of several diagnostic tests used to assess cardiac function and diagnose disorders, such as:

Heart dysrhythmias — abnormalities in the heart rate and rhythm

Ischemia — chest pain resulting from decreased blood supply to the heart muscle

Electrolyte imbalances — high or low levels of mineral ions that regulate heart function

Cardiomyopathy — thickening of heart chamber walls secondary to heart failure or high blood pressure

Heart attacks — the death of heart muscle due to coronary artery blockages

Early diagnosis of these heart disorders improves the odds of successful treatment. A quick, painless, and inexpensive test, the EKG is among the fastest ways to detect a heart attack.

What Are the Steps to Perform an EKG?

Medical assistants are responsible for the EKG process from start to finish. The steps include:

Equipment Preparation

Before the first test of the day, medical assistants do quality control checks on the EKG machine to ensure that it’s working properly. They restock the necessary supplies, disinfect shared spaces, and turn off unnecessary electrical devices, such as cell phones, fans and air conditioners, which could interfere with the tracing.

Prescreening

Medical assistants screen patients for physical limitations before testing begins. People with heart failure, for example, can’t lie down without having shortness of breath, so accommodations must be made. The goal is for the patient to be comfortable enough to remain still, movement causes artifacts in the tracing.

Patient Education

Getting the best EKG results requires patient cooperation, so medical assistants explain the process in detail before the test begins to alleviate stress.

Patient Preparation

Helping patients prepare physically for an EKG is straightforward, but each step is critical for the best results.

As a medical assistant, you will:

  • Safeguard patient privacy
  • Remind patients to remove metal jewelry and body piercings that may interfere with the test
  • Offer loose-fitting garments to make electrode placement more comfortable
  • Help position the patient on the exam table
  • Shave the hair and cleanse the skin where the electrodes will be applied

Performing the EKG

To perform the EKG, the medical assistant sticks the electrode pads firmly on the patient’s body, avoiding bony prominences and broken skin. Once placed, the color-coded leads that transmit the electric impulses are attached and the electrocardiograph is turned on.

The patient is then asked to take a deep breath and hold it while remaining as still as possible until the tracing is complete, it takes less than 30 seconds. Preliminary results are recorded in the patient’s chart for the doctor to review. Any unexpected symptoms or glaring abnormalities are reported before the patient leaves.

Aftercare

After the test, the medical assistant removes the electrodes and helps physically impaired patients peel off the pads. Patients are reminded when to expect results and who they can call with inquiries. The exam room is then restocked and sanitized for the next patient.

How Often Does a Medical Assistant Do EKGs?

In a busy cardiology office, a medical assistant could do dozens of EKGs per day, some are hired exclusively for that role. In a hospital, clinic, or general practitioner’s office, you may do several per week to a few per day.

EKG Skills for Medical Assistants

Performing EKGs is a technically straightforward task, but it also requires sound clinical judgment and people skills. Among the most essential are:

Empathy

Medical assistants work with patients from all walks of life, many of whom are anxious about diagnostic tests. The more you can put them at ease, the more likely they’ll be physically relaxed, so the EKG will be more accurate.

Patient satisfaction is also important, so medical assistants should consider the procedure from the patient’s point of view, improving their comfort in whatever way possible.

Attention to Detail

Performing an EKG is simple, but there’s little room for error. Poor technique can skew the results, resulting in care delays. Attention to detail is crucial.

Good Communication Skills

Medical assistants coordinate with physicians, colleagues, and patients during the EKG process. From explaining the process to patients to notifying the doctor of unusual findings, good communication skills keep things running safely and smoothly.

Stamina

Doing EKGs requires bending, twisting, and reaching to place electrodes and assist patients with physical challenges. Being in good physical condition makes the job easier.

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze facts and make sound decisions. It’s a skill medical assistants will use every day as they troubleshoot issues pertaining to EKGs from how to calm a frightened child to when to notify the doctor of abnormal findings. Critical thinking is a must for prioritizing workflow and managing emergencies.

A Commitment to Lifelong Learning

Healthcare evolves continually, and so must your skills as an EKG technician. New techniques and insights into EKG interpretation are always on the horizon. As a medical assistant, you’ll need to embrace lifelong continuing education.

How to Become a Medical Assistant

If doing EKGs sounds intriguing, one of the quickest ways to get training is to enroll in a vocational school medical assisting program. You’ll graduate in less than a year with EKG and other valuable skills while enjoying benefits, such as financial aid, small class sizes and job placement services. A diploma is your key to a secure future in a growing industry.

Final Thoughts

Medical assistants have broad-ranging responsibilities, but few are as exciting or meaningful as doing EKGs. Working side-by-side with doctors, you’ll peer into the human body using the latest in technology and bring better health to your community, one patient at a time.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

Is There a Certification for Microsoft Office?

Posted on

Are you interested in an office job and wonder if there is a certification for Microsoft Office? The good news is yes, there is. Microsoft Office certification may be one of the most valuable credentials that you attain, and it is most important if you are considering an office or executive assistant position. Whether you are looking for your first job, or you already hold an office position, the certification can help distinguish you from your peers and help you earn the career that you deserve. With the Microsoft Office certification, your resume becomes stronger. Instead of just stating that you are “proficient”in Microsoft Office products, you can announce that you are accomplished, and the certification proves it.

What are the Different Types of Office Jobs?

One of the nice things about training for an office assistant job is that you can use your Microsoft skills in just about any work environment. Here are just some of the industries that are currently looking to fill office positions:

  • Energy
  • Real Estate
  • Medical and Dental
  • Education
  • Retail
  • Travel and Entertainment
  • Communications Technology
  • Legal and Law Enforcement

Who Uses Microsoft Office?

Whether you are an accountant who uses Microsoft Excel as a tool for bank and account reconciliations or a human resources specialist that gives PowerPoint presentations that help employees get the most from their company benefits, you can be more efficient with additional training and certification in the Microsoft Office suite. A certification in Outlook will help you organize your contacts, calendar, and email better, resulting in more production. Microsoft Office is the lifeblood of any office.

What Are Other Microsoft Office Certification Benefits?

There are many benefits to getting a certification in Microsoft Office. Some of those benefits include:

A Competitive Advantage

When you and another applicant are going for the same position, your certification will give you the competitive advantage. Not only are you proficient in Microsoft Office but you also have a certification. This means you are well versed in the basic, intermediate, and advanced functions of the software. Employers know that you are fully trained on Microsoft Office and can skip that part of the training.

Filling Knowledge Gaps

In addition to improving your resume, taking coursework leading to Microsoft Office certification helps fill in any gaps you might have in your knowledge of Microsoft Office programs. You may be using one or more of the applications already, but taking a course focused on the software will help you be aware of gaps in your training so you can become proficient in functions of the program that you may not even be aware of. Also, every release of the Microsoft software package offers new features. This coursework will help you to understand and use the latest attributes and put them to work toward your best interest. Furthermore, knowing that you have a specialist’s knowledge of the most-recent Microsoft capabilities is sure to boost your confidence and value on the job.

What is Included in Microsoft Office Software?

Microsoft Office is a collection of productivity applications that launched over 30 years ago. In that time, it has grown to include more applications, be more efficient, and become a staple in most offices. It started with the three programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Access and Outlook have been added to the suite to round out the function of Microsoft Office. In addition, the applications have been enhanced to interact with each other and use common utilities like spellcheck. Here is an overview of the five applications that are part of Microsoft Office:

Microsoft Word

Word is a word processor and one of the most widely used of the Microsoft applications. Its purpose is to assist you in creating, editing, and storing letters, documents, contracts, and reports. It has robust features to format and edit. Word is used throughout the business world, government, and education. An office assistant would use Word to create a letter for mailing, record office minutes, or create a press release for a new product offering.

Microsoft Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet application offered by Microsoft. It start with a matrix of columns and rows like a sheet of graph paper. While Word is designed for verbal creations, Excel uses numbers. It has the power to store number data and make calculations. Graphing capabilities and pivot tables are some of the more advanced features of Excel. Keeping track of petty cash expenditures or company equipment that has been assigned to employees are just two examples of how an office assistant could put Excel to work for them.

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint is an application for creating slideshow presentations. The slides can include text, images, and charts. PowerPoint presentations can be shown on a computer display screen, printed on paper, or converted to slides. PowerPoint integrates with other Office products, including Word and Excel. Assisting the boss with a presentation on upcoming business plans or this year’s budget, an executive assistant could turn to PowerPoint for help creating the visuals for this meeting.

Microsoft Outlook

Most people may think of Outlook as an email platform, but it has some powerful features for performing other tasks. These features include a calendar, scheduling, note taking, and contacts modules. An office assistant may use Outlook to not only send and receive their emails but also to schedule meetings and communicate important information throughout the company. An executive assistant may have access to several calendars, giving them the power to coordinate between schedules.

Microsoft Access

Access is a database management tool for users to manage data in a database. While Excel is great for computations, calculations, and logical functions, data is easier to manipulate in Access. Filtering, inputting, sorting, and grouping are some of the tasks that Access can lend a hand with. It can accommodate thousands of records at a time. It also integrates with many of the other Microsoft Office applications. For example, the marketing department may want to know the customers in a specific area code or zip code. Loaded into Access, the administrative assistant could quickly sort the data and provide the information to the marketing team. If you have too many data sorts to comprehend, then Access is the software you want to use.

How is the Microsoft Office Certification Exams Administered?

The certification exam is designed to test how skillfully you apply the Microsoft Office software to create business solutions. Not only is the exam timed, but the number of keystrokes is also taken into consideration as a measure of your efficiency.

Are There Different Certification Levels?

There are two levels for the Certification: Associate and Expert. To attain the Associate level, you must pass three of the four exams that cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. For the Expert level, you must pass two of the three exams for Word Expert, Excel Expert, or Access Expert. Furthermore, the Associate Certification is a prerequisite for taking the Expert level exams.

How Can You Prepare for the Microsoft Office Certification?

Some people may think that they can learn all they need to know about Microsoft Office on their own. The problem with that approach is that they don’t know what they don’t know.

Whether you have some, a lot, or no experience with the Microsoft Office programs, attending a computer operations program is a good way to learn about business duties including the use of Microsoft Office. This approach can ensure you are fully prepared for the Microsoft Office certification exams. Many students have found it is beneficial to take the certification exam shortly after completing their training. This way the material is still fresh in your minds. With the certification in hand, you are qualified for administrative jobs in all industries, government, and non-profit organizations. In addition, your personal schedule, communications, and records will benefit from the organization and skills you learn from the certification.

What are the Benefits of a Formal Education?

There are many benefits to getting a formal education to prepare for the Microsoft Office certification exams. These benefits include:

A Complete Curriculum

The first benefit of a formal education is that you learn all the Microsoft programs from start to finish. Classes are taught in progression, each lesson building on the prior. This way you lay a foundation that you can build upon throughout the computer operations program.

The Latest Microsoft Office Software

Microsoft Office software can be expensive but taking a computer operations program will allow you to learn on the latest and most advanced software that Microsoft offers. It is important to learn on the actual programs you will use when you start working in an office. Plus, you will get to learn the latest and greatest functions that are offered by the newest Microsoft Office version.

Industry Experienced Instructors

It is hard to learn by yourself. You can watch a bunch of YouTube videos, but will you really learn everything you need to pass the Microsoft Office certification exams? Attending a vocational school program allows you to learn from an industry experienced instructor that can offer one-on-one attention, while tailoring the curriculum to your learning style.

Practice Exams

A great benefit of a formal education is that you can take practice exams that are offered by the vocational program. Are you ready to take the certification exams? Once you pass the practice exam, you will know what is on the exam, how the questions are asked and what you need to know to pass. It also builds confidence for exam day.

Career Services

One of the best benefits of attending a vocational school is the career services that we offer. We will help you build your resume, practice for interviews, and find the job that fits your passion. A vocational school has ties with the community, and we may even hear about jobs before the general public. Regardless of the industry you want to work in or the type of office job you are looking for, Gwinnett College will help you find the right fit for your career aspirations.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know more about the Microsoft Office certification exams, ready to learn more about Gwinnett College’s computer operations program. Prepare for the Microsoft Office certification and your first day at your new office position. You bring the passion, and we can supply the curriculum.

Want to Learn More?

The Computer Operations diploma training program is designed to provide college students with job-related training in a variety of computer fields.  Gwinnett College students will complete computer training courses relating to the various Microsoft Office applications relating to word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation creation. The Computer Operations diploma program also includes training in administrative office procedures and accounting.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Georgia?

Posted on

Jobs in the medical field are popular for their many benefits, but most can take years in college to train for. It’s a barrier for students with enthusiasm and aptitude. But the good news is that you don’t have to wait to fulfill your higher education goals. If you have your heart set on a healthcare career, you can become a medical assistant in less than a year by graduating with a diploma from a vocational school in Georgia.

Why Do People Get Jobs in Healthcare?

Careers in healthcare have a lot to offer both personally and professionally. But it’s the personal rewards that draw most people to the field. You’ll thrive as a medical assistant if:

You’re a People-Person

If you like getting to know people and learning about their stories, healthcare is a person-centric field. You’ll meet physically and emotionally vulnerable patients from all walks of life that need care. You’ll put a human touch on medicine and make connections that will last a lifetime. Working in the healthcare field has benefits beyond a paycheck.

You’re Team-Oriented

Medicine is a collaboration among many healthcare professionals, including medical assistants. If you don’t feel supported in your current job, you’ll enjoy the camaraderie in the healthcare field. You’ll work with like-minded people focused on a shared goal, delivering top-quality care.

You Want to Help Your Community

Americans are aging and retiring in record numbers, many millions in the next decade. As they do, they’ll need more highly trained staff to deliver preventive medical services, so the demand for frontline healthcare workers has never been greater. As a medical assistant, you’ll support your neighbors, caring for them as individuals and at the community level through education and outreach services.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants have a diverse range of clinical and administrative responsibilities. They support the clinical staff by managing tasks that require training, while bridging the gap between the office and the exam room with their clerical expertise. Medical assistants are the jacks-of-all-trades that private practices, clinics, and hospitals depend on to keep things run smoothly. As a medical assistant, you’ll:

Schedule Appointments

Front office assistants handle most of the scheduling in a doctor’s office, but when it comes to squeezing in emergencies or booking procedures, medical assistants have the clinical training needed to schedule urgent or complex visits.

Triage Phone Calls

Office assistants handle routine inquiries, but medical assistants manage health-related calls. When patients phone in troubling symptoms, medical assistants ask clinical questions on the doctor’s behalf, triaging messages from the most to the least urgent.

Room Patients

After check-in, medical assistants help patients prepare for exams. They escort patients to treatment rooms and help them change while performing basic clinical and administrative tasks that save the doctor valuable time.

Update Medical Records

Among those duties is to update the patient’s health record so the provider has the most current information with which to make effective treatment decisions. You’ll review a patient’s medication and allergy lists, note physical complaints, and perform verbal pre-screenings for pain, mental health, and home safety issues.

Take Vital Signs

Medical assistants take a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate at each visit, creating an ongoing record to track changes that could point to disease. It’s a simple yet technical task that requires sound clinical judgment and people skills.

Do Diagnostic Tests

Among a medical assistant’s most important responsibilities is performing diagnostic tests. In school, you’ll learn to check blood glucose levels, analyze urine samples for signs of infection and take electrocardiograms. If you enjoy science and technology, it’s exciting work that offers opportunities to specialize.

Working in a cardiology office, for example, you may do dozens of EKGs per day while a medical assistant in a urological practice will do urine testing. Becoming skilled at diagnostic testing is a good way for medical assistants with a strong interest in a particular type of medicine to enter a specialty field.

Perform Phlebotomy

Blood tests, like minor surgeries, can be performed in a doctor’s office with the help of a blood tests offer doctors insight into their patients’ health.

Once a service only accessible in hospitals, phlebotomy is now offered in most private practices. In a vocational school program, you’ll learn how to take and process blood samples.

Assist with Minor Surgical Procedures

More doctors are offering in-office surgical procedures from mole removals to biopsies for their patients’ convenience, but they can’t do it alone. As a medical assistant, you’ll set up instrument trays, prepare safety equipment, pass instruments during the procedure, and keep a close eye on the patient’s comfort and well-being.

Manage Infection Control

Medical settings can harbor viruses and dangerous strains of drug-resistant bacteria. From screening patients for symptoms of infection to disinfecting exam rooms and equipment between visits, medical assistants take the lead in keeping patients safe.

Educate Patients

Medical assistants can’t diagnose or treat illness, but they can educate patients about their doctor-prescribed treatment plans. As go-to sources for clinical information, it’s rewarding to help patients better understand their physician’s recommendations from dietary advice to medication safety. You’ll also help prepare people for surgeries with pre- and post-procedure instructions.

Help Around the Office

Medical assistants receive training in general office procedures from filing and faxing to writing correspondence and managing inventory. Instruction also includes billing, coding and filling out insurance forms.

In a large facility, most medical assistants have a greater clinical than administrative role. But in a small office, you may be involved in a broader range of clerical activities when you have downtime. From helping the front office with referrals and assisting the back office with insurance claims, you’ll dabble in it all. One of the best parts about being a medical assistant is the opportunity to spread your wings and use your full range of talents.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Georgia

There are several ways to break into medical assisting in Georgia. Gone are the days when you can find a medical assisting job without formal training, the healthcare industry has become too complex and the cost of on-the-job training too high. Employers in Georgia want applicants with proven skills.

But while some medical assisting students opt to get an associate’s or even a bachelor’s degree, most candidates get diplomas from vocational schools because it’s an easier option. The only prerequisites are a high school diploma or general equivalency certificate, compassion, enthusiasm, and the willingness to work hard.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Georgia?

How long it takes to become a medical assistant depends on your choice of training and career goals. It takes two years in college to get an associate degree and four to obtain a bachelors. But full-time students can get a diploma in less than a year by graduating from a vocational school program in Georgia. You’ll qualify for certification and can apply for the same jobs as college graduates because the curriculum is just as comprehensive.

And most vocational schools in Georgia offer the same perks as colleges, like career services, plus value-added benefits from smaller class sizes and hands-on training to flexible learning options and hands-on training.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t have 2 to 4 years to get a formal education, then consider a vocational school program. In less than a year, you can start working on the frontlines of healthcare in Georgia. Take the first step with us and learn about the medical assistant program at Gwinnett Colleges & Institute today. Bring your passion and enthusiasm and we will supply the rest.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

 

Medical Assisting Instructor – Atlanta campuses, posted 3/4/2022

Posted on

Gwinnett College (all Atlanta campuses) is seeking potential Instructors in our Medical Assisting programs. Instructors in this allied health field are expected to teach a variety of classes including clinical lab classes, front office classes, and science classes. Courses are being held in-person and on-campus. All campuses utilize Canvas as our learning management system.

Schedule
Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 9:00am-3:30pm; 24 hours per week.

Begin Date
Classes officially begin on Monday, April 11, 2022. Training is expected to completed prior to the first day of class.

Requirements
Applicant must have at least five (5) years of practical work experience in healthcare. Medical assisting experience is preferred, but comparable positions will be accepted.
Applicant must have at least an Associate Degree in any field.
Having a national certification, ie NCCT, AHS, AMT, AAMA, is preferred but not required.
Prior teaching experience is preferred but not required.

Please submit resumes to TDavis@gwinnettcollege.edu.

Do You Need a Degree or Diploma to be a Nurse?

Posted on

All nurses share a similar mission, but licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) have unique roles with different career paths commensurate with their training. The level of education you choose should reflect your professional goals, but the path you follow matters less than getting started. It’s a short road from a vocational school to a rewarding career in nursing.

Do You Need a Degree or Diploma to Be a Nurse?

All nurses are licensed, clinical professionals. States set the education requirements, but a diploma or degree is required to be a nurse in all 50 states. There are no exceptions.

Why Do You Need Formal Education to Be a Nurse?

Healthcare is an increasingly complex, highly scientific field. The level of education nurses need has been widely debated as communities struggle with shortages, but the research is clear, better-trained nurses mean improved health outcomes for patients.

How Do You Become an LPN, RN or RN with a Bachelor’s degree?

Training defines your role as a nurse. While LPNs, RNs with associate degrees (ADNs), and RNs with bachelor’s degrees (BSNs) qualify for many of the same jobs, each role requires progressively more education.

If getting a degree isn’t in the cards right now, the good news is that all you need to become a practical nurse is a vocational school diploma. It’s the first step on the path to a rewarding career in healthcare and a stepping-stone to higher education.

What Is the Difference Between an LPN, an RN and a Nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree?

The biggest difference between an LPN, an ADN and a BSN is their level of training. Let’s take a closer look at what each nurse does, who they work with, where they work and what their career trajectory looks like.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Licensed practical nurses are just that, nurses who focus on practical tasks. A vocational school diploma is required to practice. The curriculum is basic yet comprehensive. LPNs learn how to:

  • Bathe, feed and dress patients
  • Take vital signs
  • Manage therapeutic diets
  • Monitor intake and output
  • Give medications and administer treatments
  • Monitor blood sugar
  • Insert urinary catheters
  • Remove sutures and staples
  • Perform stable wound care
  • Help with therapeutic activities
  • Collect biological specimens
  • Document care
  • Educate patients
  • Support families
  • Supervise paraprofessional staff
  • Perform basic life support

LPN work with other nurses, nurse’s assistants, therapists, doctors and more in clinics, hospitals, private practices, nursing homes, assisted living centers and patients’ homes. Their skills are ideal for people who need nursing supervision but are clinically stable, so the two settings LPNs work in most are nursing homes and home care.

Because practical nurses can meet the needs of most nursing or residential home patients, they qualify to be floor supervisors and with experience, nurse managers. They can also handle their own home care cases and are well-suited to help persons who need daily nursing care, such as tube feedings or ventilation management.

Being a practical nurse is a valuable and fulfilling role, but career growth is minimal without further education.

Registered Nurse (RN) — ADN

It takes a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to become a registered nurse. Both RNs and BSN s qualify for the same entry-level positions, but associate degree programs focus on developing clinical expertise versus leadership abilities.

RNs learn the same practical skills as LPNs, but they receive additional training. Topics included in an RN program but not in an LPN’s curriculum may include:

  • Pathophysiology
  • Advanced physical assessment skills
  • Psychology and mental health
  • Evidence-based nursing
  • Research and practice development
  • Nursing informatics and technology
  • Community nursing

RNs work in the same places as LPNs, but most are employed in hospitals because they have the training and clinical judgment needed to assess and manage unstable patients. From admission through discharge, they plan, implement and evaluate the outcomes of nursing care.

Responsibilities beyond those of an LPN include:

  • Starting IV lines
  • Complex wound care
  • Blood transfusions
  • Post-surgical monitoring
  • Advanced life support
  • Care planning

They also supervise practical nurses in most settings.

Because registered nurses benefit from classes that dive deeper into the science of healthcare, they’re better equipped to troubleshoot complex medical issues and make independent decisions about nursing care. They’re expected to interact with the clinical healthcare team at a higher level.

ADNs also benefit from additional clinical rotations that expose them to specialized care settings from mental health and chemical dependency units to specialty clinics. They begin their careers with more experience and, therefore, a broader view of the professional nursing field.

Although ADNs have the same scope of practice and professional license as registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees, their career growth is comparatively limited. Moving into a leadership position may prove difficult without experience and higher education.

ADNs may work as charge nurses, floor supervisors and lower-level nurse managers, but roles in upper management and administration are usually reserved for BSNs. ADNs who want to improve their skills and job prospects can take an RN to BSN bridge course to get their bachelor’s degree.

RN to BSN

The number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees grew in size in the last few years. Why? Citing improvements in patient outcomes and lower mortality rates, National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Health calls for an increase in the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees. Researchers found significant improvements among safety and quality indicators when nurses with BSNs were on the job, so the benefits can’t be ignored.

Students enrolled in a bachelor’s nursing program receive the same clinical training as RNs with an associate degree, but course material digs deeper. The goal is not only for BSN-educated nurses to develop superior clinical skills, but also to be critical thinkers and natural leaders. Third- and fourth-year students take courses in:

  • Research
  • Health
  • Genomics
  • Health technology
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Health policy

These broader clinical experiences deepen their knowledge and the role of nurses in the world around them. Graduates are primed for even further education and top leadership positions.

Still, most BSNs begin their careers working in hospitals where they learn the ropes and fine-tune their clinical skills. Later, they can advance into supervisory jobs, working their way up the ladder from charge nurses to unit managers. Or, if they prefer clinical practice, BSNs can become certified in a wide range of clinical specialties such as wound care, dialysis and diabetes education.

BSNs are also employed in other healthcare settings for their unique clinical skills. Outreach practices, for example, benefit from hiring nurses with an understanding of community health. But they also qualify for purely administrative roles and jobs in research that none but the most experienced ADNs get. Having a bachelor’s degree opens doors and makes you a more valuable employee.

Most school nursing and public health positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. In these jobs, you’ll not only support your community, but you’ll work with local leaders and heads of industry to create healthcare policy. If you want to take your nursing career as far as it can go, start by getting a bachelor’s degree.

LPN, RN or BSN — Making the Right Choice

There’s no wrong way to join the nursing field, but the education choices students make early in their careers help shape their futures. It’s essential to think about your career goals and where you want to be as a nurse in five, ten or fifteen years from now before you decide.

An easy way to launch a nursing career is to enroll in a vocational school practical nursing program. You’ll graduate with a diploma in months, not years, having spent less time and money than your college counterparts to break into the industry. It’s a great way to gain experience and a good option for adults with responsibilities at home who can’t afford to be without a paycheck for the two to four years it takes to become an RN or BSN.

Becoming an LPN is also an attractive option for students who want to be nurses but who aren’t yet sure which direction they want their careers to take. Working in different settings helps you get a feel for different types of nursing. Many students start as LPNs, so they can earn while they learn, gaining experience and insight as they work toward a degree part-time.

But while experience and aptitude play a part in which jobs nurses grow into, it’s important to be realistic. State law limits a nurse’s scope of practice based on their training, so no matter how much enthusiasm and experience an LPN has, they will never become an RN without a degree. Practical nurses have good jobs, but opportunities for advancement are limited.

If your heart is set on becoming an RN, nurses with bachelor’s degrees are the future. But if you can’t spend multiple years in college now, start with an associate degree and work toward a bachelor’s at your own pace.

As a BSN, you’ll also have education options that can take your career even further. With a master’s degree, you can become a primary healthcare provider in your own right as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specializing in family health, midwifery, anesthesiology and more.

Florence Nightingale once said that nurses should never consider themselves finished with education. So, whether you begin your nursing career as an LPN, an RN or a BSN, where you start is always less important than where you’re going.

Final Thoughts

The World Health Organization projects a 5 million-plus shortage of nurses worldwide by 2030, so LPNs and RNs with all levels of training will continue to be in demand. Nearly a quarter-million new nurses are needed in the next decade in the US alone. But training remains the key to success in this versatile and dynamic field. With the right education, you can lead the pack.

LPN Program

Gwinnett Institute in Orlando offers a Practical Nursing diploma program that trains LPN students for positions delivering basic bedside care to patients. LPN courses create employment opportunities that include entry-level practical nursing positions in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, urgent care facilities, occupational care centers, and physician offices.

Upon successful completion of the program and demonstrated nursing competence, the college graduates will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN licensure examination.*  

Registered Nurse Program

The Associate of Science in Nursing degree program at Gwinnett College provides training to prepare college graduates to enter the nursing profession as a registered nurse.  Classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, simulations, and clinical experiences help to prepare college graduates for an entry-level nursing position. 

RN to BSN Program

The RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing/RN-BSN program is designed to provide professionals currently licensed as registered nurses the flexibility of online study to build upon the knowledge gained through previous training and education. The RN to BSN program courses are designed to assist college students with developing the core knowledge and skills needed to provide patient-centered care and to work collaboratively with other professionals in the field.

*While Gwinnett Colleges & Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam.  College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a pre-requisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN, RN or BSN at Gwinnett College.

Can I Be a Paralegal without a Law Degree?

Posted on

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in the legal field? Want to spend years becoming a lawyer or complete a paralegal diploma or degree program in much less time? Becoming a paralegal can also become a stepping-stone to other job opportunities like becoming a lawyer. However, becoming a paralegal allows you to take on important, challenging work. So how do you qualify for this rare opportunity? First let’s look at what a paralegal does.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

Paralegal responsibilities vary depending upon the area of law in which they work. In general, it is the paralegal’s job to support attorneys, conduct legal research, draft documents, and maintain and organize files.

As a paralegal, you might find yourself completing tasks such as investigating a case, reviewing documents, researching pertinent laws and regulations, drafting correspondence and legal documents, filing legal documents with the court, and scheduling a variety of depositions and meetings.

Paralegals frequently use computers and other technology in connection with their responsibilities. Familiarity with electronic database management and assorted legal software is a must.

Can You Be a Paralegal Without a Law Degree?

You absolutely can become a paralegal without earning a law degree. In fact, the vast majority of paralegals have not completed a law school education. A diploma or degree from a vocational school is the only credential an employer will value when look at a paralegal candidate.

What Education Will Help You Become a Paralegal?

Completing a paralegal diploma or degree program at a vocational school is the route that many paralegals choose. These programs provide you with an understanding of the legal system in the United States and help you to acquire the skills and knowledge that you need to work as a paralegal. Topics such as the court system, trials, laws, legal research, contracts, hearings, ethics, and technology all will be explored.

What Do You Learn During a Paralegal Program?

Throughout the duration of the diploma or degree program, you will be introduced to various legal concentrations. These include topics such as tort law, bankruptcy, civil law, criminal law, family law, wills and trusts, and real estate. By being introduced to many different areas of the legal field, you will gain a broad understanding of litigation and the many areas of law in which litigation is used.

Legal Theory

Your classes will allow you to explore legal theory and reasoning as well as the fundamentals of legal research and writing. You’ll learn how to analyze your research findings as you become familiar with the resources, terminology and documentation that are required for paralegals.

Litigation

While learning about litigation, you’ll cover areas like family law, environmental law, and criminal law. When coursework focuses on business law, you’ll discover what you need to know about banking, real estate, corporations, and contracts.

Family Law

Imagine that you develop an interest in family law while completing your paralegal diploma or degree program. If you became a paralegal in a family law practice, you would be working with people who are going through a separation or divorce. Accordingly, you would encounter things like the division of property, alimony, child custody, child support and visitation rights. You also might deal with diverse situations like adoption, restraining orders, grandparents’ rights, and child guardianship with the state. A family law practice might have you frequently preparing for court dates.

Corporate Law

You will learn about corporate law. Corporate paralegals often work in an in-house capacity at a large business. During the program you learn how to support the company’s legal department. You may do this by keeping tabs on legislation that might affect how your industry does business and implementing changes to the contracts on which your organization relies. You will learn how to complete a variety of business entity documents that must be filed with the state government to maintain your company in good standing. You will also learn paralegal duties like generating annual reports or organizing shareholder meetings.

Wills and Trusts

During the diploma or degree program, you will learn about wills and trusts in estate planning and probate law firm. You learn how to interact with clients who are interested in preparing a will, trust, or other estate planning document. Preparing probate forms and drafts of trusts and wills is part of what you learn during the paralegal program. You’ll learn how to delve into the client’s financial situation and assess creditors’ claims after a client is deceased.

As you can see, paralegals may be responsible for a broad array of tasks and projects. Some paralegals are deeply involved in litigation and love the challenge of regularly supporting attorneys who appear in court. Others are intrigued by the world of big business, and they enjoy keeping track of legislative developments and examining the finer points of complex business contracts. Still other paralegals like to help people determine how they will distribute their assets at the time of their death.

These and many other possibilities are open to you when you complete a paralegal diploma or degree at a vocational school. Which career path sounds most interesting to you?

What Types of Law Do You Become Familiar with in This Paralegal Program?

Your paralegal diploma or degree program will cover all major areas of law including bankruptcy, criminal law, family law, immigration, intellectual property, personal injury, and real estate. With a broad-based foundation in legal knowledge, you will be prepared to support attorneys and take on a wide assortment of responsibilities in the legal world.

The Legal System

Your journey toward becoming a paralegal begins with a broad overview of the legal profession and the legal system in the United States. Introductory coursework includes subjects like legal research, legal writing, and legal ethics. Your instructors will help you to familiarize yourself with legal theory as well as civil litigation and procedures. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore criminal law and procedures, methods of investigation and evidence gathering and completing computer research. Other topics may include the preparation of legal documents, law office procedures and economics.

Different Types of Law

Once you have a firm grasp of the legal world and how it works, it’s time to dive into the various concentration areas. Bankruptcy law, business organizations, real estate law, family law, intellectual property and personal injury are just a few of the subjects that will receive an in-depth exploration.

Legal Research

Thanks to your coursework in these areas, this program will prepare you to help lawyers to investigate cases and interview clients. Performing independent legal research will be a part of your daily routine, and you’ll understand all the legal terminology that you need to succeed in the modern law office.

Manage File Systems

With your working knowledge of computers and specialized legal office software, you will be fully prepared to hit the ground running in your first job. You’ll have expert-level skills regarding managing and maintaining complex file systems and be able to identify and assess ethical issues. With your sharpened writing skills, you will be ready to write legal correspondence, draft reports and set up complex legal documents.

What Are the Benefits of a Formal Education?

The legal field today is fast-paced and demanding. It is essential that paralegals be knowledgeable, well-educated, polished, and professional. Unless you have completed a paralegal diploma or degree program that demonstrates your grasp of the pertinent subject matter, it will be hard to stand out in a crowded field of applicants.

A Complete Paralegal Curriculum

Earning a paralegal diploma or degree exposes you to a complete curriculum. Trying to learn to about being a paralegal by yourself may leave major gaps in your learning, and this can hold you back when applying for a job. While sitting in an interview at a law firm, you want to make the best first impression possible. One way to do this is by saying that you’ve earned a paralegal diploma or degree from a vocational school.

This tells potential employers that you’ve earned the right to the title paralegal. Your education is complete and thorough, fully preparing you to take on this challenging role.

Industry Experienced Instructors

Attending a formal paralegal diploma or degree program lets you work with instructors who have real-world, legal industry experience. Many instructors are practicing attorneys or paralegals with decades of experience. If you want to know what it’s really like to live and work in the legal field, then this is the place to find out.

Your instructors will introduce you to the day in and day out reality of working in the modern legal profession. Thanks to their insight and experience, you’ll begin your career with a clear understanding of your responsibilities.

Real World Experience

This is accomplished through the review of real case studies. You’ll become familiar with how the U.S. legal system works by delving into real-world examples. Examining facts, evidence and testimony will bring obscure legal points to light, and you’ll gain a fresh and comprehensive understanding about how the legal world really works.

Career Services

Another advantage of a formal education in the paralegal profession is that you receive comprehensive career services. We help you find the perfect job that suits your interests and abilities. There are many different legal concentrations, and some of them may appeal more to you then others. Thanks to our career services, we can help you land the perfect opportunity that fits your passion.

Want to Learn More?

Do you have the qualities law firms are looking for in a paralegal? Ready to learn more about becoming a paralegal or legal assistant? The Gwinnett Colleges & Institute diploma and degree programs in Paralegal Studies provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and the legal skills necessary to perform many paralegal functions including research, writing, investigation, and interviewing.

Contact us today or complete the Request More Information form on the top of the page to take the next step towards your new career in the Paralegal field.

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

Posted on

Are you interested in becoming a medical assistant and wondering what an electronic health record is? What does it do and how does a medical assistant use it during their duties at a medical facility? With the evolution of medical technology, the industry is identifying ways to improve health outcomes and one important way that has happened is by transferring paper files to electronic health records.

What is an Electronic Health Record?

The electronic health record (EHR) is a systematic collection of a patient’s electronically stored information. The electronic health records are the central repository of information for all providers in a patient’s care including physicians, medical offices, and healthcare professionals.

An electronic health record is a digital compilation of a patient’s entire medical history. Stored in a computer, it holds information including:

  • Demographics
  • Diagnoses
  • Immunization record
  • Allergy list
  • Medication profile
  • Vital signs
  • Progress notes
  • Care plans
  • Diagnostic test results
  • Radiographic images
  • Administrative and billing data

Some of the information recorded in electronic medical records is also recorded in electronic health records. While use interchangeably, they do have distinct use cases.

What is the Difference Between EHR and EMR?

While electronic medical records (EMRs) are designed for proprietary use, EHRs are built to be accessible by everyone involved in the patient’s care from a primary physician to billing specialists.

Why not just replace EMRs with EHRs? The answer is complicated but lies in patient privacy. Patients must expressly consent to share records related to substance abuse, mental health treatment or STDs, so some records are safer as EMRs.

While EMRs and EHRs are destined to remain separate systems, the goal is that EHRs will eventually contain most of the information in EMRs so that patients always get the promptest and most informed care possible.

Patient Benefits of Electronic Health Records

There are many important benefits to using electronic health records. Some of the benefits include improved patient outcomes, collective care throughout the patient’s life, historical tracking of patient records, proper monitoring of patients, less errors and duplicate testing, time and resources savings, and confidential and secure patient information.

Electronic Health Records Help Improve Patient Outcomes

A medical records system can be set up to alert the health care provider of possible complications, allergies to certain medications, critical lab values or an alert that the patient is due for an important test. These electronic health record systems can also let physician’s offices know who is late on their bills or has a denied claim. Electronic health records make it easy for a medical assistant to support a medical facility and keep it running smoothly.

Collective Patient Care

The electronic health record can be accessed, created, and managed by authorized providers and medical staff from multiple health care organizations. Patients receive better medical treatment because the shareability of electronic health records among the healthcare provider community. The physician doesn’t have to wait hours for the patient’s medical records to be received in the mail or fax. With electronic health records, patient information is available for another medical provider almost instantaneously.

By sharing the information with all health care providers, the risks of medical errors are lowered, the patient doesn’t have to pay for duplicate tests, and overall quality of care improves. With electronic health records, the patient is also able to access and respond to physicians using communication tools like text messages and emails.

Historical Tracking of Patient Records

Physicians have access to the patient’s health care records across their entire life, offering explanations for different conditions or treatments that have administered. Many patients move from one physician to the next and each physician can access the patient’s notes in electronic format.

Monitor Patient Outcomes

By using electronic health records, the health care community can monitor a patient and understand when screenings are necessary or when preventative care is administered. Government agencies can also see an epidemic start or identify where budget should be allocated with the help of electronic health records.

Lower Error Rate

Electronic health records can help physicians avoid making errors in medications prescribed and treatments administered. If a patient reports an allergy to one physician, all physicians that access the health records will know about the allergy and not prescribe medication that will cause an adverse reaction. Electronic health records will also reduce the number of duplicate tests that are performed from a lack of insight into other physician’s treatments and medical records.

Saving Time and Resources

Many physicians have resources dedicated to managing incoming and outgoing patient files. Time and resources can be wasted with an inefficiency of paper filing processes. Having electronic health records and a universal coding system allows physicians more time to help their patients.

Confidential and Secure Information

Keeping patient’s personal information in a secure environment, makes it harder for people to steal paper documents or intercept mail that holds confidential patient information. Electronic health records are accessed only by those who have permission. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) specifies who can access a patient’s private health records and when.

Make Healthcare More Affordable

It costs billions of dollars to process medical transactions using old technology like fax and snail mail. Doctors’ offices hired clerical staff just to handle paperwork. Electronic health records speed transactions, making them more efficient and reducing the cost of healthcare for patients.

Bolster Public Health Surveillance

COVID-19 underscores the need for increased public health surveillance. Electronic health records contain the diagnostic codes the CDC and WHO use to track disease rates in real-time. Paper tracking would make large-scale pandemic management nearly impossible, but easily accessible digital data can be converted quickly enough to guide immediate resource management.

How To Become a Medical Assistant

An easy way to become a medical assistant is by attending a vocational school’s medical assistant program. You can complete this program in months, rather than years and start a new career in healthcare as a medical assistant.

What are the Benefits of a Formal Education?

There are many benefits to a formal education. From a comprehensive curriculum to career services and everything in between, getting a formal education will allow employers to skip most of the on-the-job training and allow you to start working right after graduation.

Comprehensive Curriculum

When you attend a medical assistant program at a vocational school, you learn what you need to start working. No art history electives that make you a well-rounded student. Just what you need to start working and nothing else. During a medical assistant program, you learn about anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, phlebotomy, EKG administration and much more.

Lab Experience

One of the great benefits of a medical assistant program is the ability to put lecture theory to the test with lab work. You will spend countless hours working on medical assisting procedures until you have mastered them. You will also have the chance enjoy an externship. Externships allow students to shadow medical assistants and perform real procedures under the strict supervision of a nurse or physician. Practice makes perfect, and you get a lot of practice during a medical assistant program.

Industry Experienced Instructors

At Gwinnett College, we pride ourselves in the instructors we hire to prepare you for the workforce. They have experience in the industry, know what employers are looking for in a candidate, and offer one-on-one attention so you don’t get left behind.

Access to Career Services

The best benefit that you will receive at Gwinnett College is career services to find the job you are passionate about. We help you build your resume, prepare for interviews, write thank you emails and meet employers in the community. Our career services staff works to understand your passion and find the right match for your career.

Final Thoughts

Did learn about electronic health records interest you? Want to use EHRs to help patients improve health outcomes? If you want to learn more about becoming a medical assistant, then contact us today. We are happy to answer any of your questions and we will be by your side every step of the process.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

Medical Assisting: Clinical and Clerical Duties

Posted on

 

Medical assistants have both clerical and clinical responsibilities. Some tasks are distinctly one or the other, while others blend seamlessly together. As a medical assistant, you’ll be a jack-of-all-trades and a master of many.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants support doctors, nurses, and administrators by performing a broad range of clinical and clerical tasks in healthcare settings. Their job descriptions vary, some have a predominantly clinical focus while others are more administrative in nature. It’s a flexible role and an excellent career choice for people with diverse interests, satisfying passions for wellness, science, and finance.

On an average day as a medical assistant, you’ll use your clinical and administrative training to:

Triage Phone Calls

Medical office assistants usually manage the switchboard in medical settings, but while they can make appointments and answer general questions about the practice, they have limited clinical training and can’t respond to health concerns. Their role is to forward medical calls to someone who can best answer symptom-related inquiries, typically a medical assistant.

Medical assistants work side-by-side with doctors, so they’re aware of patients’ needs. They have the clinical expertise necessary to know which symptoms require home care instructions or an emergency visit.

While they can’t offer medical advice, they know, for example, that the surgeon they work for wants all patients with post-operative fevers to be prioritized for appointments. After speaking to the client and reviewing their symptoms, they’ll help the medical office assistant determine when the patient should be seen.

From the administrative perspective, this task also requires significant documentation. Records kept by medical assistants help subsequent providers track symptoms and treatments so that the patient always gets the most timely and appropriate care possible.

Stock Exam Rooms and Manage Inventory

Keeping exam rooms stocked is one responsibility with both clinical and administrative features. After reviewing the day’s schedule, medical assistants use their clinical know-how to choose the supplies needed for each visit. Postoperative care, for example, may require a staple remover kit and bandages while the doctor will need a cerumen removal kit to treat impacted ear wax.

Each of these supplies is also an expense that practices need to track. As a medical assistant, you may need to scan supplies into an inventory tracking system or keep lists of which items to reorder. With experience, you may work with vendors directly to source products and negotiate prices.

Room Patients

When a client arrives for an appointment, you’ll escort them to an exam room while preparing them for their visits. Your role will be to complete the clerical and clinical tasks necessary for providers to make the most of their one-on-one time with patients.

After taking their vital signs, you’ll update their medication and allergy lists, complete verbal pre-screenings, such as the PHQ-9 questionnaire for depression, and take notes about their physical symptoms.

You’ll also search in their medical records for overdue services, such as PAP smears and influenza vaccines, flagging the patient’s needs. When the provider arrives, they will review your notes and follow up on concerns.

Perform Diagnostic Tests

Performing diagnostic tests is a purely clinical responsibility, yet it has an administrative component. Medical assistants can assist with x-rays, draw blood, collect biological samples, complete TB tests, and do EKGs without close supervision. It’s satisfying work for science-driven people.

But each of these tasks also has a billing and coding component in which both medical assistants and medical billing specialists participate. Because they have both clinical and clerical training, medical assistants often serve as the bridge between the exam room and the back office.

Administer Medications and Treatments

Medical assistants can administer many medications and treatments in most states. Though limited to working with stable patients, they can give immunizations, remove stitches, and apply dry dressings under the supervision of a doctor or nurse. They’re also responsible for the administrative aspects of these duties, including obtaining signed consent forms and documentation.

Provide Billing Support

There’s a billing component in most of what medical assistants do, but some medical assistants take a leading role. Just as there are medical assistants that perform primarily clinical duties, so are there some that embrace mostly administrative duties.

Medical assistants can help fill out insurance forms and research rejected claims, filling in the blanks if clinical information was missing. They may also participate in marketing, financial management and human resource activities under the supervision of the practice administrator.

Maintaining Medical Records

Medical assistants make entries into clinical records in real-time as they care for patients. However, they can also oversee entire record systems, directing the flow of information between providers and patients. Patient privacy regulations and internet security add a deeper administrative dimension to recordkeeping responsibilities.

Patient Education

Medical assistants have clinical and clerical roles in patient education. Helping a patient prepare for hospital admission, for example, not only includes giving them clinical instructions, such as not to eat or take medication after a specific time, but it also requires verifying demographic and insurance data for the facility as well as informing insurers of the admission.

Where Do Medical Assistants Work?

Where there are doctors and nurses, there’s a need for medical assistants. Medical assistants are increasingly being recognized for their skill and versatility and are hired in many health settings, including:

Private Practices

The majority of medical assistants work in doctor’s offices, it’s the ideal setting for a blended skillset and makes the most of a medical assistant’s clinical expertise. Core clinical duties may include:

  • Rooming patients
  • Taking vital signs
  • Giving vaccinations
  • Performing diagnostic tests
  • Assisting with treatments
  • Phlebotomy
  • Managing referrals
  • Patient education

Administrative responsibilities encompass:

  • Managing the schedule
  • Overseeing inventory
  • Ordering medical supplies
  • Billing and coding
  • Filing
  • Record management

Hospitals

Medical assistants in hospitals work in many departments, from admissions and ambulatory surgery to the billing and records departments. Because some patients are more acute, clinical roles may be limited to:

  • Taking vital signs
  • Collecting specimens for the lab
  • Patient observation
  • Transporting patients between departments
  • Reviewing post-procedure instructions

Performing phlebotomy and diagnostics tests in a hospital usually require additional certifications, but there’s also more potential for exclusively administrative roles. Hospitals hire medical assistants to:

  • Greet clients
  • Work as unit clerks
  • Restock inventory
  • Handle pre-admission paperwork
  • Track down families for emergency admissions
  • Follow-up on admissions with insurers
  • Work in billing
  • Manage medical records

You could, for example, work exclusively with medical records, ensuring they’re complete and properly stored while responding promptly to inquiries for clinical information. Your clinical training allows you to find pertinent medical information quickly to help doctors make speedy treatment decisions.

Clinics

Larger than private practices but smaller than hospitals, clinics are a fun environment for medical assistants. There is less staff, so roles are less focused. Everyone chips in and does the necessary jobs. Clinical tasks may include:

  • Screening patients for symptoms
  • Obtaining vital signs
  • Drawing blood
  • Assisting with radiographs and EKGs
  • Administering medications
  • Reviewing home care instructions

Clerical duties may consist of:

  • Managing the waiting area
  • Checking patients in
  • Requesting prior records
  • Filing
  • Reviewing consent forms
  • Filling out insurance claims
  • Preparing invoices
  • Taking payments, light accounting

Medical Billing Services

Many physicians are now outsourcing their billing to separate the business and health aspects of their practice. Medical assistants working in billing practices have no direct clinical role since they rarely see patients face-to-face. However, they do spend considerable time on the phone with them, ironing out billing and insurance issues, some of which require extensive clinical research. You may have to reach out to providers to clarify health data and review charges.

Responsibilities include:

  • Taking patient phone calls
  • Troubleshooting bills
  • Researching claims
  • Posting payments
  • Collections

What’s the Easiest Way to Become a Medical Assistant?

There’s more than one way to become a medical assistant. You can go to college for two years and get an associate degree or get to work faster with a vocational school diploma.

If you attend full-time, you can graduate in as little as nine months. By eliminating elective classes that don’t directly improve your skills as a medical assistant, you’ll complete your program in less than half the time while qualifying for the same certifications and entry-level positions as your college-educated peers. It’s an unbeatable value.

There are also part-time options that let you learn at your own pace while continuing to work, but full-time participation is the fast route to graduation day It’s a great option for adults who want a new career without sacrificing an extra year of earning potential.

Vocational school medical assisting programs also come with other perks, including job placement benefits. Career advisers work closely with local employers to help fill their staffing needs. Students not only get a networking edge from industry-seasoned instructors, but they often find out about jobs that aren’t posted publicly. Employers are increasingly turning to schools for trained graduates instead of placing want ads that attract unqualified applicants.

Final Thoughts

Medical assisting has a lot going for it as a career. It’s secure and personally rewarding, but the best part about the job is that it’s never stale because it’s so flexible. Whether your strengths lie in clinical or clerical practice, there are always opportunities and a place for you in the medical community.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.

Should I Get a Degree or Diploma in Massage Therapy?

Posted on

Are you interested in becoming a massage therapist but not sure if you should go for a diploma or degree? You are not alone. Many people who are interested in this field may have questions about what a massage therapist does, as well as what the difference is between a diploma and a degree in massage therapy. Following is some information that answers these questions, as well as what the benefits are of attending a vocational school program.

What Does a Massage Therapist Do?

A massage therapist provides massage therapy techniques for their clients to reduce pain and inflammation, minimize healing time, reduce stress, and improve their client’s wellbeing and quality of life. Massage therapists also work with different types of clients and maintain open communication with them to efficiently address their needs and make sure that they are providing effective relief.

How Do You Become a Massage Therapist?

The easiest way to become a massage therapist is to get a diploma or degree from a vocational school. With the help of a formal education, you will learn a complete curriculum that includes the many different massage techniques, taught by industry experienced instructors offering one-on-one attention to answer your questions and guide you through the curriculum.

What Do You Learn During a Massage Therapy Program?

During both a diploma and degree program, you learn many of the same skills. From complete training in the many massage techniques to anatomy and physiology of the body. These classes will help you work toward a diploma and with some additional coursework, you can qualify for a degree in massage therapy.

Both a diploma and degree program offer a variety of courses you must successfully pass to obtain you massage therapy diploma or degree.

Anatomy and Physiology

Because massage therapy is dependent upon your knowledge of human anatomy, you will complete coursework in anatomy and physiology. You will become familiar with the innerworkings of the body, including each system and how they interact with each other. When a client identifies the location of their pain, it is important to know how to effectively target this pain and relieve it with the knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

Swedish Massage

This technique is one of the most well-known within the industry. Initially developed in the 1800s, it was designed to alleviate aches and pains by purposefully manipulating various muscle groups and tendons. This technique has been perfected over the years and is now one of the most universally popular techniques utilized in the industry today. This technique is one of the corner stones of massage therapy, and you will receive advanced training while completing your diploma and degree coursework.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is another cornerstone of the industry. This technique helps a client release tension that is built up within the muscles and tendons, reduce stress, reduce blood pressure, and alleviate pain. Deep tissue massage consists of five specific techniques including cross fiber friction, active release, muscle energy, trigger point, and myofascial. This is a common technique used for strains and sports injuries. Deep tissue massage is also used in rehabilitation because it is effective in decreasing swelling as well as improve healing time.

Chair Massage

Many professionals who work in office settings suffer from aches and pains from their work environment. Hours of sitting at a desk in an unnatural position that is not ergonomically sound can cause injury and unnecessary pain. Many professionals enjoy receiving a chair massage during their lunch hour or even on site.

Reflexology

Reflexology is one of the oldest therapeutic techniques used by many professional massage therapists. This massage technique consists of applying pressure to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet to alleviate aches, pains, and pressure in various parts of the body. Reflexology can be used to treat many ailments, including anxiety, insomnia, and sinus issues. You will receive training in the art of reflexology and be able to perform this technique upon graduation from a diploma or degree program.

Sports Massage

Clients who are physically active will often schedule an appointment for sports massage. Sports massage is designed with athletes and physically active individuals in mind and is meant to enhance athletic performance or help athletes recover from sports-related injuries. Sports massage uses Swedish massage but focuses on one part of the body that is injured. First, the techniques utilized within this specialty are more varied than other techniques, and include working on a client’s trigger points, kneading and wringing the muscles, as well as effleurage. These techniques will break down scar tissue and help to increase mobility and reduce inflammation around the injured areas.

Neuromuscular Therapy

Trigger points are places on a person’s body where a network of nerves come together. These trigger points are responsible for bothersome symptoms, including numbness, tingling, and pain. By targeting these trigger points through neuromuscular therapy, you can alleviate a client’s pain and release harmful energy and toxins from their system. This technique also helps to improve a client’s posture, which is especially beneficial for clients whose line of work is more sedentary in nature.

Business and Success Techniques

Many massage therapists begin their career at entry level positions. However, as they spend more time in the field perfecting their techniques, some decide to embark upon a new path and choose to open their own private practices. It takes advanced knowledge to successfully run a business. Therefore, you will take a class in business and success techniques to learn how to run or manage a private practice. You will learn about marketing, accounting, management, and other important aspects of running a successful massage therapy business.

What are the Benefits of Attending a Vocational School Program?

Whether you are working toward a degree or diploma in massage therapy, there are several reasons why you should consider attending a vocational school program. Following are some of the main benefits you receive by enrolling in a massage therapy program.

Open the Door to More Vocational Opportunities

Many people find it difficult to keep a steady line of work in this current economic climate. By enrolling in a massage therapy program and obtaining education in this highly in-demand field, you are more likely to enjoy vocational opportunities, career growth, and longevity.

Enjoy Stability

Many newly graduated massage therapists start their careers in an entry level position and can work their way up to a managerial position. Others decide to open their own practices and run their own business. By enrolling in a degree or diploma massage therapy program, you will enjoy job stability, self-employment if you choose, as well as making your own hours. You can also decide to bring your professional skills to a client’s home or offer your services on a part-time basis.

Learn a Highly Marketable and In-Demand Trade

The demand for experienced massage therapists has increased dramatically over the last several decades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for massage therapist is projected to grow 32 percent in the next decade.

Receive Instruction from Industry Experienced Instructors

Instructors who teach at vocational schools come with years of experience and have a wealth of knowledge to bestow upon you. These instructors have seen the industry evolve and are able to provide thorough instruction on delivering quality massage techniques. You will enjoy professional guidance and the mentorship of great teachers. You will also have the ability to maintain these contacts as you embark on your career path.

Access to Career Services

Sometimes it can be difficult to find a great career path without the right connections. The good news is that vocational schools provide career services to help connect you with the right positions and job options. You may prefer to work in a spa setting, while others may want to start at a franchise. Career services will help you find openings, assist in building your resume, and preparing you for job interviews so you can land the perfect massage therapy position.

Final Thoughts

Did you know that you can earn a diploma, and then decide to put your knowledge towards receiving a c degree in massage therapy? The coursework that you successfully complete while getting a diploma can be transferred into a massage therapy degree program. This can help minimize the amount of additional coursework you must complete to receive a degree in massage therapy and allow you to dip your foot into the water by attending a diploma program. Whether you decide to start with a diploma or go directly to a degree program, it is time to start a new and exciting career as a massage therapist today.

Now that you know a little more about degrees and diplomas in massage therapy, what to learn more about training to become a massage therapist? Upon graduation, Massage Therapy Program students will receive diplomas and be qualified to seek entry-level positions as clinical, medical, or deep tissue massage therapists in wellness clinics and centers, spa environments including resorts and franchises, and self-employment.

Gwinnett College also offers a degree program in Massage & Spa Management for students attending the Lilburn, GA campus. The Associate of Science Degree in Massage and Spa Operations is designed to provide you with the additional knowledge and practical skills to transition into positions of leadership within the spa environment or to better function as a proprietor of your own massage business. The program includes core curriculum courses specific to the practice of massage as well as courses to be used in the administration of a practice.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a massage therapist today.