A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Looking back with no regret - LeftMT

Posted: Feb 19, 2014

I visit this site occassionally to see where the industry is going and I just want to let those who are thinking about leaving MT to just do it. It has been 1-1/2 years now since I left MT. At 37 I became a state tested nursing assistant and still have no regrets. I do think back of the good ole MT days and start to miss the profession I loved for 13 years, but then I remember the headache and frustration of trying to meet line counts, terrible dictators, VR corrections and the dreaded feeling of trying to justify myself as I try to explain to my manager of why my line counts are low or why so many blanks. Of course, I then think back to the unexpected low job days and the trying to make up for the down time and then explaining that too. I just want to say to those who are ready to take the plunge into a new profession/job to just do it. Most of you will be happy you did. "I'm too old" is just an excuse. I work with ladies as old as 72 and I know nursing students who are in their 50s. My daughter goes to college with people even older. Positive change will only happen if you make it happen. Being a nursing assistant is a "crappy" job and getting hit and coughed on isn't that pleasant either, but I have less stress now and my husband has told me he likes my attitude adjustment. I know I am appreciated and I know I make a difference in at least 24 lives who can no longer care for themselves. Finding what you want to do and being happy IS worth taking a chance.

I left MT as well - No regrets,either

[ In Reply To ..]
I left MT 2 years ago, and have never turned a backward glance.

I still mourn "the good old days" when MT was good, but during my 15 years as an MT, it was turning out there were as many bad years later on, as there had been good years in the early years, and they were just getting "badder."

I decided to become a Home Health Aide, and while it's a bit difficult physically sometimes, I basically have zero mental stress. Yes, sometimes clients have attitudes, but you just get through it. After doing MT in the bad years, nothing comes close to the battering that MT work had become.

Age is no excuse at all. And it is no longer true (in my experience) that age holds you back from getting different work. True, if they want a young whippernsapper in corporate, you're going to lose out. But there's plenty of work for us oldsters (I'm 59). Some companies prefer our age group, in fact.

Best to all who have the courage to get out of MT. Don't let fear make your decision. It's weird going "out there" to work, but you'll find your way.

I left MT almost a year ago - Best decision I ever made

[ In Reply To ..]
I miss transcription. The way it "used to be", not as it is currently, however I understand that VR and all of its associated headaches, impossible line requirements, stress, lack of work, etc. is here to stay. I switched to coding. I enjoy having a paycheck again. Transcription was and probably will always be my dream job, but that dream turned into a nightmare quickly and it was time to let it go. Oh, and I'm 40. Age is just a number.

From the OP - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
I am thankful for the several years that MT was good. Oh, it was soooo good many moons ago. Not just the money, the joy of transcribing. It was the first time in my life that I actually enjoyed working. I am thankful for those good years.

I cried and cried when MT turned really bad, and cried even more when I had to make that decision to leave. It was supposed to last me until retirement, but it didn't.

Such is life....

Sorry, I am not the OP - I posted No Regrets Either note

[ In Reply To ..]
Sorry, I didn't mean I was the OP--I'm the one who posted a response about leaving.

I left to work in a grocery store - never been happier!

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm sure everyone looks at me like I'm an idiot, but I can't stop smiling when I'm at work. I love working with other people and being constantly moving! I feel healthier mentally and physically. And every night before my day off, I say the impossible--"I wish I were going to work tomorrow!" It's a relief for both me and my husband that I'm out of the house and getting paid by the hour!

Thank you this inspiring message. You give me hope. Hugs to all! - clb

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really needed to see this today. Your posts put a pep in my step (and off the foot pedal LOL). I have more confidence now today than I've had in years to be more aggressive in my job searches. Thanks again! :-)

me too - blurble

[ In Reply To ..]
Nice encouraging posts that things will be okay--thanks! I lost job to point and click EMR, outsourcing, and the like. Did find a general office job but ran by...shall we say....um....like the foreign companies we were outsourced to? Verbally abusive (so watch for that...must be a cultural thing). Found at home tx job...hoping it would "be different this time". It wasn't. Being asked to fudge time. Would have made $1 an hour the other day if you truly counted how long i was here at keyboard answering emails, qa, etc., and dinged over sad little commas or spaces. I'm sad and broke but to the gal that said she found a part-time grocery store job...while retail is hard...i seriously am thinking of that too. I'm 50. Medical environment period is getting very dicey..dicy dice-eeeee lol, so reluctant to try CNA or something. Time to see a lawyer I guess about finances :(.

Wanting to leave - hateit

[ In Reply To ..]
I desperately want to leave MT. I too have been doing it for years. First in radiology at a hospital which was outsourced. They then moved us to pathology. Elimated that position and have the doctors do their own reports and then I thought I was lucky enough to get into medical reoords (acute care)-- NOT. I barely make minimum wage, have to work inhouse and 90% of the doctors are terrible. They have cut our PTO and holiday pay. I just have to figure out WHAT to do.

When I left - I got HHA training

[ In Reply To ..]
I got trained in Home Health Aide for an elderly companion-type agency.

Congrats on your transition. I am doing something similar. - I encourage everyone to take the chance

[ In Reply To ..]
We usually surprise ourselves at what we can do...

Now that I'm at the end, I'm so glad I went back and did it. I aimed at the R.N. program. I will probably be very proud of finishing my A.S. degree in a science and my B.S. in a social science. If I'm not accepted to an R.N. program this year, I won't apply again. I'm too old. I'll aim for dept secretary in a hospital or something like that.

But the journey has been so worth it. A classmate, late 40s, LVN upgrading to RN, one day when we were talking about just this, she looked around, taking in all the 20, 30, and 40-somethings we get to talk the philosophy with and she said, "You, know its not a bad life doing this, you know?" I could have hugged her. No higher truth evah.

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