Also was a nurse, still am. You NEED an MT program to learn about this job, not
Posted By: a software program. nm on 2007-01-25
In Reply to: Transcription Software - traesea
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- Transcription Software - traesea
- Also was a nurse, still am. You NEED an MT program to learn about this job, not - a software program. nm
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Nurse to MT
I went from nursing to MT. I did train for MT while workig as a nurse. One of my biggest problems during training and through an internship was the medical abbreviations, they differed from what I had used for the previous 16 years (lower case instead of upper case, periods used in MT abbreviations, but not in nursing, abbreviations you are not supposed to use, etc.). Eventually, I worked out those and other kinks. Each client you have will have their own specs as will the company you work for. There is a lot to learn that is new and specific to medical transcription and not really applicable to nursing.
My nurse background was very helpful in knowing the content of reports and "what was actually going on." But, overall, that was not enough to get a job right out of training, so I did an internship. I've been working since I completed that, but not for much money. I've not seen any really good money in MT yet, though I hear it is there. Having made the transition, I would suggest MT training. On the other hand, you may get lucky and land a nice side job without it, I don't hear of that kind of luck often.
The money is better in nursing, but it is a trade off. Personally, I find MT more rewarding than the abuse that goes along with nursing. If you are a long time nurse, you'll know what I mean. With your background, you may find you don't really need to take the most expensive MT school training. The top three are always recommended, though, since they seem to turn out really good grads.
Good luck to you and God bless.
Nurse to MT
I am a nurse, and I EASILY went into MT and found a job quickly! I will have to say that nurses seem to have more knowledge of med terms, drugs, and the like. If you are good at typing, spelling and the proper english language--go for it! I only do MT work now, because I am home with my 2 little ones, once they are grown, I will return to nursing. Good luck to you and ignore the negative comments!
NURSE TO MT
I'M A REGISTERED NURSE, AND LOOKING FOR A SIDE JOB. THIS APPORTUNITY CAME TO ME THROUGH CAREERBUILD FROM TRANSAMASSOCIATES. THEY'RE OFFERING AN MT COURSE FOR 450.00 DOLLARS ONLY! WHICH THEY CLAIM IS THE COST OF THE SOFTWARE, AND ONCE I PASS THEIR TESTS, THEY GARANTEE ME WORK FROM THEM. HAS ANYBODY HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS COMPANY? OR IS IT A SCAM? THEY CLAIM TO BE ON THE BOARD OF DIR. OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE BBB. ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER? THKX. MINA
I make more as an MT than I did as a nurse...
Nurses do not make the big bucks, let me tell you....I make more now as an MT...plus do not pay for daycare, etc....
Being a transcriptionist is much different from being a nurse,
even if it's a medical transcriptionist
How much does the average nurse know about surgical procedures? How much time does the average nurse (not surgical nurse0 spend in the OR? Radiology? Neurology? Just because they know medical terms does not mean they are ready to be a Transcriptionist without getting any training.
And I'd like to be a surgical nurse, but I don't have the hands.
Did you ever consider whether you had the skills and tools to become a technical writer (medical language specialist, specifically) before you went into this profession? Did you ever take any career personality type testing in school or on line?
I'd love to assist in surgery for my career, but realistically, I'm too clumsy. But if I were determined to do it, I would certainly have researched schools and paid whatever was necessary to make sure I went to one that could have prepared me so I could have had a chance at it. Otherwise failure would be a given, right?
I went straight from being a nurse to doing MT work with
no extra training. I worked in a local hospital and picked up quite easily on the medical transcription end (worked in that department for 18 months). I then tested for a national company that actually required 2 years experience or certification from an approved school, but I passed the test and did well enough that they hired me and waived the 2-year experience qualification. Been at that same company for 7 years, have worked on multiple accounts, received raises and had no complaints about my work. So, yes, you can go from nursing to MT. It takes some practice and some on-hands learning, but you can do it.
I make 2-3 times what I made as a nurse. nm
20$ an hour?!!! I couldn't make this as a nurse where I live! You are VERY blessed! nm
s
A nurse does not have the proper training to be an MT, anymore than an MT could suddenly decide to b
nm
let's have a little fun, and learn something
I've always enjoyed word jumble. I think you all know that one ... the letters of a word are all jumbled and you have to figure out the word. Like this: ehrat = heart
I'll pick a word and then mix the letters up. In the subject line, I'll give the specialty (i.e. Cardiology) and you have to figure out the correct word. As soon as the correct word is posted, nobody else can respond. That round has ended.
I'll post one new word every day.
This game is ONLY open to people still in school or those with less than six months of work experience. So, all of you MTSOs with itchy fingers ... go transcribe an ESL who is dictating in the middle of traffic with the convertible roof down.
I'll take a show of hands ... would anyone else like to join in?
If you could learn it all on the job, why do you need them?
I don't think that school is very serious about providing an education. It would be one of the ones that just is in it for the money. "Charity begins at home" is probably their motto.
You won't learn 1/8 of what you need to
know from that course. Don't waste your time and money. I saw work from a graduate of that program. She wasn't even prepared to do radiology, let alone acute care, poor thing.
You can learn a lot
by going to the websites of the 2 best schools out there. Both are on line. They are in the neighborhood of $4000, which is comparable to the cost of a community college degree, but these 2 schools will give you an education very specific to learning MT without all the stuff you wouldn't actually need. But of course you need to be sure that's what you really want to do. If you read everything these sites have to offer you should have a pretty good idea.
http://www.andrewsschool.com/
http://www.mtecinc.com/
**sigh** when will they learn?
nm
That is excellent! I am sure you will learn a lot from her
:-)
Test everywhere you can, you learn a lot that way - sm
also make cold calls. This is how I landed my first job. I had tested with a company and passed and was hired, but was waiting to actually start (took 2 months for that to actually happen). In the meantime I started calling local companies, I got hired over the phone by one willing to take a chance on me. I was on probation for 3 months, doing about $200 a month (she only had little bit of extra work), after I a month or so I knew I was "hired" for good and eventually got a little more work as the MTSO wanted to do less herself. I applied at another place (while working the 2 jobs) and picked up a 3rd. All were PT but different types of work, etc. so I packed in a lot of experience that way. Just keep plugging away, took me 2 months to land the 1st then 2 weeks later got #2, and 3 months later got #3. Just takes a little time, patience, and lots of persistence.
I don't think that is helpful. She needs to learn
to do it "right." Being a newbie is tough, but a strict QA is more beneficial at this point in her career. It does't do her any good to have "slack" QA and then she moves to another job later and they are tough and she has to struggle then.
I've been doing this for years and I still make mistakes. I've spelled calculus for gallbladder stones for years and no one corrected me until recently, so all these years I've been spelling it incorrectly. Learn to do it "right" the first time and it will serve you well in the future.
People Just Don't Learn
Why is CS still getting praise??? Affordable or not, you may be an experienced *unemployed* MT because many companies are discovering that CS just doesn't give the education needed regardless of the few praisers who got lucky.
M-TEC or Andrews has a "refresher" course for MTs who have done 1 specialty or haven't worked for a while.
want to learn MT course for free?
you can use this blog site if you want to learn medical transcription for free
http://learn-free-medical-transcription.blogspot.com/
thank you
learn the basic tricks. sm
learn how to set up templates with field codes (F11 to jump). Learn how to set up your expander. If you don't have a clue look into the ABCZ system. Use Google to search for information on this. If you are stuck using autocorrect instead of a better Expander learn how to enter words quickly w/o a mouse (alt t a to open it. then tab then enter). These will save you a LOT of time entering or editing your entries.
Did you not have anything left to learn when you finished
school and actually started working in the real world? It is a learning process, day in and day out, just as nursing is. You can go to the best school in the world, have the most highly trained instructors, finish with flying colors, take the RMT, CMT or whatever, and still not be a good transcriptionist. Same thing goes with nursing. You can go to school and then pass state boards and still be a lousy nurse. A lot of what we all do is in the practical application day to day. I don't recall ever saying she shouldn't go to school. I just said it was possible to go from nursing to MT without formal training.
/
I'd like to learn/do Veterinary Transcription
I tested for a local vet recently. No call back yet, but he was an @$$ (I can see why he went into Veterinary medicine rather than human). Expected the MT to transcribe while being the front desk in a hard-floored, echoing foyer area with dogs and cats and people and birds around, and be the receptionist too.
But, I think it would be very interesting and a good resume skill to add.
Anyone know of a company that will hire an MT to do VT? Or is there a VT module I could do to add to my training?
No matter what you learn in school, each
company has their own way of doing things. Some go by BOSS, some the account dictates how to do things and you do whatever they want, even if it is against what BOSS or JCAHO say. Even a different account within the same company will do things differently than the previous one. You have to adapt. With the rare exception QA is very helpful and don't nitpick.
Newbies, ya gotta learn one thing here...sm
you must be accurate in all typed correspondence. I had a newbie that asked about doing an internship I offered. Here is her actual response:
Yes I am definetly interested.
Thanks you.
Now how am I supposed to hire somebody like that? 
NOW versus KNOW - Learn the difference as you will need to KNOW it at some point.
Trust me, you don't scare us. As experienced professionals, we know what happens to MTs with delusions of grandeur; they are in for a very rude awakening, to say the very least.
you overcome it by doing it..you'll never learn if you quit.
bn
ShortHand is very good and not complicated to learn. nm
s
Allied doesn't care if you learn anything OR if you get a job. They just want their $$. nm
x
Definitely sounds like a scam. You can't learn much in an 8-week course. NM
x
Don't worry - you'll learn all that basic stuff
in school. They used to teach it in secretarial classes, of course, but if you know you want to be an MT, go to one of the top schools (M-Tec and Andrews), and you will be ready when it's time to test.
Career Step only give you a year, so at M-TEC you have 18 months and will learn a LOT more.
Your post made it sound like you would rather take more time to do the course, but there's a reason M-Tec requires it done in 18 months.
You can't really learn if you drag it out longer than 18 months. You have to keep doing it, working at it, familiarizing yourself with it, in order to learn it. That is why they push you to not drag your feet, either do it or don't do it!
Good luck to you.
try the SUM Program
It is the best one I know of. Good luck.
MT program
Hi,
I took the Oak Horizon course offered at CVCC in Hickory NC.
At the time I took it, it was 2 semesters. But it is now a 3 semester course.
It was tough but I managed to make the honor roll.
Take care!!
The CS program done via the
community college is actually a better program! I would definitely consider myself a CS graduate. Put CS first, and I wouldn't even mention a community college unless you are asked. Where you took the CS course shouldn't matter. Good luck to you.
The program more than likely can be used elsewhere.
It doesnt mean you are paying for work. After you have been in transcription a while you will have dozens of programs on your computer for some reason or another. I have about 20 :) Some were free and some I had to pay for.
FTP program
Does anyone know of a good FTP program, and how to work one? Sorry if this is posted to the wrong board, but I am new to posting anything. :-(. Thanks in advance.
AIM program
Does anyone have any experience with the AIM mentoring program through Allstatae Transcription? Any info would be helpful!
AIM program
That was what I was afraid of! I have already paid my $99. and she said that it would be about a month before I could get started because she had a new client starting and she was going to start my internship with that client. Did you do any interning with her at all? Why did your friend go 5 months?? Thanks for your info I really appreciate it!
AIM program
Yes, I went through the program earlier this year and was able to find a job because of it. However, I never did receive my certificate in the mail.
M-TEC uses the SUM Program.
You are provided detailed feedback from an actual live human being who has experience in the field.
CareerStep has their own dictations that you compare to a computer program. You have to deduce for yourself if the differences in your transcription versus the "key" are true errors or acceptable style differences or if you are correct and the person who transcribed the report for the course made an error. If you have questions, you are to contact student support, who may or may not have time to provide feedback, and that feedback may or may not be accurate.
I went to CS, but I also did the SUM program on my own. If I had it all to do over again, I would not choose that program. I would go with Andrews or M-TEC. I did graduate with high honors, and I did get a great job a week after graduating (with a company I still work for), but I supplemented the course with the SUM program, Language of Medicine, and the HPI workbooks. There really is no comparison when it comes to the quality of materials. The CS course is essentially homemade whereas the materials used by M-Tec have been created and vetted by knowledgeable professionals.
OSI mentor program.
I applied and have not heard anything yet? Have any one else applied. Thanks.
I don't know about their mentor program...
But I have been working for them for about 6 months now and absolutely love them. I highly recommend them, and I have heard good things about their mentor program. I just haven't experienced it first-hand.
Lisha
Try an internship program
Cort Medical and Accustat Carolinas both have a mentoring progam, I also graduated from PCDI and could not find work, I had to work for free in an intership program for 8 weeks to get a job in the end, this might sound hopeless but I know how frustrating it is to look for work, I now have been working steady for accustat and love them if you need more information email me at flgeitner@comcast.net if you wish and may be I can help..
OSI Mentoring Program
Ever heard of OSi Mentoring Program?? Is this supposed to be on the up and up???? Good program? Bad program? Good company???? Thanks for the info....:)
osi mentor program
Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I am currently in the OSi mentor program and while it lacks a lot of structure, I am certainly getting my foot in the door and obtaining the experience necessary to move on to another company when possible.
Is there anyone at your school/program who can help?
Would it be possible for you to ask someone for more sample ESL dictations to transcribe? Would you be able to buy a CD of ESL dictation?
This company has an ESL CD: http://www.absoluteexperience.com/AudioSamples.html
The typing program I have is .......
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, which I have had for years. It doesn't cost much and allows you to practice your typing and improve typing speed.
Also, used to get a lot of headaches sitting in front of the computer but since I bought a radiation shield/screen to hang in front of my monitor, that has relieved a lot of my eye strain and headaches. It tones down the brightness of the monitor, which I didn't realize was so bright and how it affected by eyes until I put the filter screen in front of it. But I also wear glasses now for nearsightedness as a result of sitting in front of computers for years in previous jobs.
Anyway, hope this helps.
I don't know particulars about the MT program, but
my 14-YO took a course from them and it was a joke. You have to have finished at least 8th grade to take their classes, so that should tell you there they their courses aren't very challenging. Everything is open book and if you flunk the test the first go round, or just do poorly, you get a second chance to take the test, though you can only get a 70 if you have to take the test again, even if you score higher. I wouldn't waste money on it because it is like taking some classes from some of the other schools, it is just money wasted and their reputation isn't great and unless they are terribly desperate or running a scam, will pass you over. M-Tec, Andrews, and Career-Step are good some schools (not necessarily in that order). I believe the PF course is close to $1000 and you can take the course for close to the same amount at a local community college.
Mentoring program
Allstate Transcription has a mentoring program for those who are interested in something like this. Feel free to visit the website to learn more. Click on the AIM Program link, then Detailed Overview.
Advice for your program
Our company hires a good deal of recent grads, though most have a few months of experience.
Let me tell you what I see in their work and tests when they are referred to me because they cannot make their quality audits or they want to test to move up:
1) They have no idea what the AAMT BOS-2 is most of the time; those who do, seem to have just glanced at it. Please, please thoroughly study this wonderful resource and have your students deliberately practice these guidelines.
2) Teach them appropriate grammar and punctuation. Simple basic English grammar and punctuation that should have been learned in grade school and many do not have it.
3) Teach them to never, ever guess and to always use spellcheck. I am usually shocked at what could have been avoided had these 2 simple techniques been employed.
4) Teach them that even when they feel they are at their best game, they should - at the very least - periodically review AND relisten to their work before submitting it. Maybe 2 reports a day or so. Re-read it first for any spelling, grammar, terminology and punctuation errors. Then, relisten to that same report.
These very, very basic skills should be intinctive if they are well taught.
Please feel free to write if you'd like a more in-depth discussion about other trends I see in their work.
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