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

Feeling bad . . . - anony

Posted: Apr 25, 2013

Took a test for a city job and just got notice that I did not pass. I was on of over 300 people who took the test. Happy for those that passed but wish I would have been one of them. I believe I bombed in the math calculations. Boy is it ever a kick in the pants with regard to self-esteem to know that I cannot even pass a simple test. What can an old timer like me do when all I ever have done is transcription? Feelling about as low as possible right now. I will keep trying and looking. Too young to retire but too old to compete with 20-somethings and 30-somethings. Was never a really good student in the past so don't think that going back to school is in the picture as well as not being able to afford it. Struggling to pay bills now like everyone else. Hoping, and praying, that better days are ahead. I deserve some positives as the last couple of years have really been bad.

Possible new career for you - GrateMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Just a thought. While at the doctor's office yesterday and getting a blood draw, I had a thought. Phlebotomists have to make a decent paycheck, because I have had conversations with at least two in that field within the last few years sort of confirming that. I know they don't go to school too many months for that. One lady I know is a single mom supporting her 2 kids doing that and buying a brand new house to boot. I believe some sort of charity for single moms helped with the down payment for her. And, when Spheris was my employer, once a guy came to my house to take my vitals and measurements and weight, etc. for the insurance company Spheris was using at the time. He had come to the US from overseas somewhere (I forget just where) and settled in California because the climate was most like that of his country. He said he went to phlebotomy school while working another job at the same time and his wife did the same thing. The combination of school and work was hard, he said, but they did it and are still doing phlebotomy jobs after quite a few years. If one can get over the idea of fear of needles, etc., I am thinking it might be a fairly decent-paying job, or at least better than some. I am close enough to retirement age that I plan to just keep on being a MT, but this might be an idea for some of you.

Just trying to help...

Up poster is right. It's a fairly easy course and fast. - I took it years ago and

[ In Reply To ..]
worked in a clinic for a while drawing blood, the course was only like 8 weeks long (been quite a few years ago), but I got a little certificate of completion from the course and was sent to a local clinic to work through Interim Healthcare (staffing agency) and they offered me full time. I did'nt stay because I was still going through college at the time, but did do it for a while part-time.

What I did. - dnr

[ In Reply To ..]
I am lucky to live in an urban city. I don't know what access you have to schools.

I went online to every single community college within driving distance. I checked out what vocational programs they had. Many only take a year. I found a vocational program through one of the college's extension courses which is accelerated and only takes a year. Also, fortunately, they let the students pay the tuition for this course on time payments.

When I went to community college, because of MM's poor pay, I was able to qualify for full financial aid, and all my classes were paid for. I also searched for my textbooks on Half Bay and EBay and got them really cheap. I completed the dental assisting program which was only 1 year, but I got sick and can't do it, so I was back to square one. That is when I got the idea to check all the community college programs rather than just something I knew about.

Don't worry about being a 'bad student'. You only have to pass, i.e., get at least a C. Once you finish, employers don't care what your grades were. They just want a good worker.

You can get your little certificate in a few weeks here, but it only pays - around 9/hr tops. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

That depends on where you work and where you live. - I made more than $9, but it

[ In Reply To ..]
was years ago. Around here the average starting pay is between $10 and $12, but consider annual raises, a stable and steady work schedule. No such thing as NJA. Every job has a starting point, no one starts out on top. Many years ago when I started in MT I was making $10 an hour for a hospital and when outsourced, I was up to $16+ an hour.

Ya gotta crawl before you walk.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Have you tried - seeking out clerical work? Something

[ In Reply To ..]
in an office setting, secretarial, receptionist? I dont think age really matters with that type of work and it does not take a degree to do those kind of jobs or any fancy tests. Cheer up, maybe there is something better in store for you and this job was not it.

Bank teller? Medical office receptionist? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
My daughter's BF got a job as a salesman at the local VisionWorks (they sell prescription glasses) for hourly + commission, and he worked at a fast food restaurant before that, so no experience at all in anything like that.

Thanks but . . . - anony

[ In Reply To ..]
Don't really want to fork out money to get a $9/hr job. Most receptionists in my area top out at 9/hr. Pity. That is not much more than what I am making now. Just can't see borrowing money to go to school and ending up getting paid very little more than an MT. Keep looking, there has to be something out there.

Also . . . - anony

[ In Reply To ..]
I am also limited by the fact that I am not able to work where I would have to be on my feet for 8 hours or more a day. It sucks. Arthritic joints will not allow it.

time for me to get off the pity pot.

Maybe you should consider applying for disability. - Options are limited when you

[ In Reply To ..]
cant stand more than 8 hours and refuse to do clerical/secretarial work because of pay.

I should also add, you dont want to go back to school either. - out of suggestions.

[ In Reply To ..]

Not refusing-see message - anony

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Why would I take a job that was a cut in pay? Looking for something that pays more. Jeesh.

Receptionist - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think you would need to go to school to learn how to be a receptionist. Something else that comes to mind is that some of the larger clinics and doctor's offices hire schedulers and that is all they do, one of my friends (displaced MT) has a job doing that; she did not go to school for it. Medical records clerk? Call center?

Patient Sitter Job - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
You were clear in your original post that you didn't want to go back to school,so I'm not sure why others here are upset when you repeated that you didn't want to go back to school. People, the poster is looking for suggestions that don't include going back to school.

Anyway, I don't know if you're familiar with this, but if you've done acute care transcription, you may know what a patient sitter is.

It's a person hired by the hospital to just sit and watch over a patient who may be suicidal, agitated and pulling out lines, things like that. You work under the direct supervision of an R.N. The hospital by me pays $10 an hour, and I'm in a low-paying job area (FL).

It requires no real "skills," other than they want someone who is interactive and friendly and who can follow instructions. You would be trained on what to do, when to call the R.N., etc.

Bad part about a 24/7 business is the hours they may need you may not be to your liking, but it's certainly worth looking into. Hospitals do tend to have long shifts, but there may be an option for you anyway.

Go online and do searches for your local hospitals. Most of them have a "careers" tab. From there, you would do a job search and see if you see a Patient Sitter (or something else you think you might be able to do). Then, you would follow instructions for applying for the job you think you might want.

Good luck to you!

Legal transcriptionist? They get paid well according to a neighbor who does it. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

What to do? Prepare for the test? - Easily done online

[ In Reply To ..]
There are innumerable internet resources for math test review. You can do them.

Try googling. There is also a list of online courses at www.mooc-list.com. There are some for high school math review. Try www.saylor.org, too.

There is no reason your prior poor school performance should write the script for the rest of your life. Instead of continuing to believe that you are doomed by your past, start rewriting the script.

If you can't visualize that as a possibility, then just accept it and find a job that does not require change. I agree with the suggestion to go on disability, too. If your physical condition limits you, maybe it is time. Or, maybe a local agency can place you in a suitable job.

I recently had to review math for a school entrance exam. It was a lot easier than I remembered. Perhaps you will find that time changed everything.

take a maith refresher and re-apply! - Minka

[ In Reply To ..]
you'll do better next time.

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