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

Stuck in a major rut!!!! - wanttosaygoodbyetoMT

Posted: Mar 05, 2015

I am making less and less at my at-home transcription job. I have not been motivated at all lately, and I also never have enough work when I am motivated. I feel completely depressed. I have rare occasions where I am excited about job searching and entering a new career and/or going to school, but then I seem to lose all hope and motivation. My paychecks are no longer enough to support me. I guess I'm just looking to rant to relieve some of my stress and hopefully some motivation from people who might understand what I'm going through. I used to love my job and have been a transcriptionist for almost 2 decades, since graduating from high school. It also paid a decent wage back then, and it was nice to work in a hospital. I have become so apathetic and have almost completely given up hope about job searching. Any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated or even criticism. I need something to get me going again! Thanks in advance : )

I feel ya... - Backwoods Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
I genuinely felt the pain behind your words, because I feel like that as well.

I, too, worked for a hospital until outsourced and my pay as well is not enough, less than half of what I used to make. I have only been in this field about 8 years and I am not saying it has been a total loss, but had I known the field would take this turn I would have taken a different path.

My advice is to never give up, never surrender! You give them the satisfaction of taking your soul from you. Your goal should be to give them the middle finger and move on to better things, which you, as well as the rest of us, so deserve. Our talents are worth WAY more.

Just keep in mind that you would not get more than you could handle and when you are feeling overwhelmed, just stop, take a break, breathe deep, clear your mind and remember that a change is on the horizon. It is hard not to give up when it seems like you apply, apply and apply some more, but hear nothing. Keep at it! There is something better out there for you, it's probably just not "time" yet, but you are getting close. Just keep in mind, you are already about as low as you can get, you can only move up. Lock that 4-wheel drive in and dig out!

Good luck to us all. Karma is coming for these MTSOs. First round is on me when it does!

We are robots - Robot

[ In Reply To ..]
Start thinking of another career; go to nursing school for one year even to become an LPN. You are young enough still. Who of us really likes voice recognition to begin with? Productivity and speed do not go hand in hand with a quality end product. It has sucked our talents and knowledge right out of us and looking forward to work is not even an enjoyable task any longer. Besides that, we now have been inundated with doctors that half the time can't even talk or their accents are so thick, we are supposed to be mind readers. What joy can be found in this job any more? On top of this, the transcription companies are taking advantage of us, turning us into paupers and slave labor for nothing in return. They all push for us buying our equipment and software programs; many times we are provided lousy sound files to transcribe. Not too far in the future, healthcare records are going to be really suffering because there won't be any decent patient documentation out there. Then it will be too late. None of us will want to go back to it at that point. The goal seems to be to have nothing but "robots" who will be transcriptionists and we all know what "robot transcribing" has turned into - the marvelous voice recognition!

Nursing school, not so fast - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
I did that, I am in the same boat with this transcription job, not making any money and I did go to school, First CNA then LPN. No one will hire me as an LPN because they all want 1 year experience. I have applied to so many nursing jobs and I was ready to quit this transcription, but I can't find a job anywhere, I am now applying to grocery stores and home depot, etc. Just to make a 400.00 paycheck a week would make me feel like I was rich at this point. All these advertisements on TV saying nurses are in short demand, well they sure aren't hiring anybody new to the field. It really sucks. Everyone said go to school for RN then you'll get hired. Well I did some research on line, and they aren't getting hired either. Sorry to break the nursing news, but I have had my nursing license since December and still everyday I am here on line looking for a job, or out putting in applications the old fashioned way by going to the business. If anybody knows of a place that hires LPNs with no experience please let me know I will be there in a heartbeat.

Good luck to the original poster, but I would have loved to have that money that I spent on school right now, as my paychecks are so low, and find a different field, but nursing I don't think so.

Nursing School...Not So Fast - AmazedMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Cindy; I just saw your post. Have you considered applying for a chart reviewer position; they want people with LPN, RN licenses. Also, some of the insurance companies such as United Health Care for one, have jobs for LPNs. If all else fails, go to the place where you received your training and see if they can give you a job search helping hand. Best of luck to you! No education goes to waste!

To Amazed MT - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks. I will do that. I did go to the school, but they offered no help unfortunately. Thanks for your help.

Also Consider... - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
Also consider that LPNs often qualify for online advice or phone advice. I'm not sure what sort of actual work experience a clinic or hospital might be looking for with that, but it might be worth looking into, if you haven't already. Or, perhaps start your own website for online nursing questions. I don't know what sort of qualifications there are for that, or if it's even monitored, but it's something to think about.

I'm not sure if you looked into nursing home work. Since you were a CNA, you probably have. If you are searching only to work in a hospital, that is more difficult. Maybe a walk-in clinic or something? They're usually not complicated---it's mostly people with the sniffles, UTIs, cerumen, stuff like that.

Good luck!

Yes, I did home care as CNA - CINDY

[ In Reply To ..]
I did homecare as a CNA and saw the nurses coming in to fix the patients' wounds and that is why I decided to go into it. It looked really easy and not so hard. I have had a couple of interviews with home health agencies and they were hopeful, but as soon as they find out you don't have experience that's the end. I have been searching every kind of job. Thanks for all your suggestions. I already applied to the ones mentioned in the previous post that the other poster suggested. I know MT is a terrible field right now, and I am stuck here just like the original poster is.

Thanks, any suggestions are appreciated. :)

Amazed - FormerMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I went back to school after 2 decades of MT. I am now out of school and working outside the home. It is so nice getting a regular paycheck again. My last 5-6 years of MT were very painful, making less than minimum wage, always having to sit in front of the computer and putting up with these nasty companies. I'm in my 50s and have started a second career. What I found is that there are many, many women out there doing the exact same thing for whatever reason. Don't think you're too old to start over. I can't describe how happy I am to be out of transcription.

Thank you all for the encouragement! :) - wanttosaygoodbyetoMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement and advice. It's nice to know we're not alone in this. I am going to make job searching a priority starting next week. I am so looking forward to a new future with a career I'll love as much as I loved MT. I will be 36 soon and have been doing medical transcription since I was 18. I loved it so much while working in hospitals and even when I started working at home, but it has just gone downhill since then. I am also planning on starting school later this year. I would like to become a CNA as soon as possible, and then take nursing school path in the fall. I have noticed we have several STNA courses in my area that are really last less than two months. I wish you all the best! :)

oops I meant to say... - wanttosaygoodbyetoMT

[ In Reply To ..]
that are really short and last less than two months. I posted without proofreading :) lol

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