Embarking on your medical assisting externship is one of the most important steps in your career journey. This real-world experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and actual hands-on work, preparing you for the healthcare industry. If you’re wondering how to make the most out of your medical assisting externships, this guide will help you approach your externship with the right mindset, focus, and strategies to get the maximum benefit.
Why Medical Assisting Externships Are Important
Medical assisting externships are designed to provide students with hands-on experience in real healthcare settings like clinics, hospitals, and private practices. They give you an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom, interact with patients, and build professional relationships with healthcare staff.
Key Benefits of Medical Assisting Externships:
- Practical Experience: Externships allow you to develop clinical and administrative skills.
- Professional Growth: Learn workplace dynamics, time management, and team collaboration.
- Career Exploration: Discover which healthcare setting suits your skills and personality.
- Networking: Build connections with mentors and potential employers.
To fully reap these benefits, it’s important to approach your externship with a proactive mindset. Here’s how to make the most out of your medical assisting externships.
1. Come Prepared for Your First Day
Your first impression matters. Being prepared from day one shows professionalism, initiative, and enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Tips for Preparation:
- Review Your Skills: Brush up on common tasks such as taking vitals, updating medical records, or administering injections.
- Research the Facility: Understand the type of patients they serve, the services they offer, and their policies.
- Bring the Right Tools: Pack essentials like scrubs, a notebook, pens, a watch with a second hand, and comfortable shoes.
Pro Tip:
Make sure you know the facility’s dress code and arrive early on your first day. Being on time sets a positive tone for the entire externship.
2. Ask Questions and Seek Feedback
Externships are a learning experience, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek advice. Healthcare professionals understand that you’re there to learn and grow.
How to Approach This:
- Be Curious: Ask questions about procedures, medical terminology, or patient care techniques.
- Seek Clarification: If you don’t understand a task, ask for guidance.
- Request Feedback: Proactively ask supervisors for feedback on your performance to identify areas for improvement.
Pro Tip:
Write down feedback and reflect on it after your shift. Showing that you can learn and apply feedback will demonstrate your commitment to improvement.
3. Take Initiative
If you’re wondering how to make the most out of your medical assisting externships, one of the best strategies is to take initiative. Show enthusiasm for learning and offer to help whenever you can.
Ways to Take Initiative:
- Volunteer for Tasks: Don’t wait to be told what to do—step up and ask if you can assist with certain tasks.
- Observe and Shadow: Watch experienced professionals perform complex tasks to learn new techniques.
- Offer Help: Whether it’s assisting with paperwork or prepping exam rooms, small efforts make a big impression.
Pro Tip:
Taking the initiative doesn’t mean overstepping your boundaries. Always ask for permission before performing any tasks you’re unsure about.
4. Focus on Building Relationships
Your medical assisting externship is also an opportunity to network and build relationships with healthcare professionals. These relationships can lead to mentorship opportunities, references, or even job offers.
Tips for Building Relationships:
- Be Professional: Treat everyone with respect, from patients to physicians.
- Learn from Mentors: Identify a mentor or senior medical assistant and ask them about their experiences and career path.
- Connect with Colleagues: Work collaboratively and learn how each role contributes to patient care.
Pro Tip:
After your externship, stay in touch with the professionals you connected with. A thank-you note or email can leave a lasting impression.
5. Be Patient-Centered
At the heart of medical assisting is patient care. Demonstrating compassion, patience, and attentiveness during your externship is essential to your success.
Ways to Provide Excellent Patient Care:
- Communicate Clearly: Speak to patients in a calm and friendly tone to make them feel comfortable.
- Be Empathetic: Listen to their concerns and respond with compassion.
- Pay Attention to Detail: Whether you’re taking vitals or updating medical records, accuracy is key to ensuring quality care.
Pro Tip:
Remember that patients often feel vulnerable in medical settings. Your kindness and professionalism can make a world of difference.
6. Take Notes and Keep a Journal
Keeping track of your daily experiences will help you process what you’ve learned and reflect on your progress throughout the externship.
What to Record:
- Procedures you observed or assisted with
- Techniques and tips you learned from supervisors
- The feedback you received and how you applied it
- Questions or challenges you encountered
Pro Tip:
Your journal can serve as a reference for future interviews or when creating your resume to highlight your hands-on experience.
7. Improve Your Time Management Skills
Working in a fast-paced healthcare environment will require you to juggle multiple tasks efficiently. Use your externship to strengthen your time management and prioritization skills.
Strategies for Better Time Management:
- Create To-Do Lists: Keep track of tasks for the day to stay organized.
- Learn to Prioritize: Focus on the most important or time-sensitive tasks first.
- Stay Calm Under Pressure: Maintain composure during busy shifts to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
Pro Tip:
Ask supervisors for tips on managing time in a clinical environment—they have years of experience balancing patient care and administrative duties.
8. Treat the Externship Like a Job
Approach your externship with the professionalism and work ethic you would display in a paid role. Many healthcare employers use externships to identify potential hires.
Professional Habits to Develop:
- Arrive on time and be ready to work.
- Follow all policies and procedures.
- Communicate clearly with your team.
- Maintain a positive and can-do attitude.
Pro Tip:
Show your commitment by being engaged throughout the entire externship. Employers notice dedication and enthusiasm, which could lead to a job offer.
9. Learn the Administrative Side of Medical Assisting
While clinical skills are essential, don’t overlook the importance of administrative tasks during your externship. Medical assistants often balance patient care with clerical duties.
Key Administrative Skills to Master:
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Updating electronic health records (EHR)
- Managing insurance forms and billing
- Answering phone calls and handling patient inquiries
Pro Tip:
Mastering administrative tasks can make you a more versatile candidate when applying for medical assisting jobs.
10. Reflect and Apply Your Experience
At the end of your medical assisting externship, take the time to reflect on everything you’ve learned. Use this reflection to refine your skills and prepare for your future career.
Post-Externship Steps:
- Identify areas where you excelled and where you can improve.
- Update your resume to include the skills and experience gained.
- Use your externship experience to prepare for job interviews by sharing specific examples of what you learned.
Pro Tip:
Reach out to supervisors for a recommendation letter after successfully completing your externship. This can add credibility to your job applications.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to make the most out of your medical assisting externships can set you up for success in your career. By staying proactive, learning from every experience, and building professional relationships, you’ll gain valuable skills that prepare you for the workforce.
Externships are more than just a requirement—they’re a stepping stone to your job in the healthcare industry. Approach your externship with dedication, and you’ll be ready to launch a career as a medical assistant. For those serious about launching your Medical Assisting career, MedQuest College provides comprehensive training programs designed to equip students with the skills needed to start their careers. MedQuest’s program offers hands-on experience, real-world externship opportunities, and dedicated support to help students every step of the way.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward a career in medical assisting, visit MedQuest College and learn more about our programs today!