I've always mentored someone along the way. Have 2 now that I'm working with. Can't take on
Posted By: and still work! :) nm W. on 2005-08-06
In Reply to: Finding mentors - Jan
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- Finding mentors - Jan
- I've always mentored someone along the way. Have 2 now that I'm working with. Can't take on - and still work! :) nm W.
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I've mentored several people and only 1 could cut it
It really takes a lot to be a mentor one-on-one with someone entering this field. My experience has been that there is an attitude of entitlement (not that I'm saying this about YOU personally, your mileage may vary). It's as though I am supposed to overlook the lack of pervserverance to research words because I'm there as the buffer to fall back on....like just don't worry about, Milton will pick up the slack so I can just get a higher line count.
Once I actually offered to mentor on the condition of being paid for my efforts and I was accused of being a scheister just into it for the money. The deal was that I would mentor the person until I could help them get a job and after two months of being gainfully employed (all the time answering questions), my pay would be equal to 2 weeks pay of the person I mentored. Now, I'm investing all this time and effort into the situation for potentially months on end and then I'm accused of being into it for a couple hundred dollars?? I make that in a day of transcribing so that got me out of being interested in mentoring.
I had no mentor, I had no QA feedback, I worked from home, didn't have the electronic resources that are available today, worked mostly 12 hour days usually 6 to 7 days a week and I made very little my first year but doubled my income every year for 4 years until I hit a plataeu and now pay is going down for reasons beyond my control.
If you don't have the dedication to making yourself a success, you may find a mentor who gives up on you and you'll be feeling as though you are a victim. Don't count on a mentor. Count on yourself. Best of luck.
I've mentored AHP newbies, too, and they lack SO much basic
s
I've been working for over a year now,
and I don't even know what my typing speed is anymore. It would be hard for me to take a typing test because I am so used to using my expander. I am really surprised you are finding most companies want a certain speed. I did not encounter that when I was applying.
Linked the website. They've never responded the few times I've tried. nm
,
so you've been MT'ing for 6 months and I've been at it for 25 years but I don't know
what I'm talking about...that's a good one. The purpose of this board is for experienced MT's to give information to new MT's. One of the developments in this field is its recent downturn. We have a responsibility to be upfront with what we see, know and any conclusions we might draw. With less than 1 year of experience in the field, I hardly think you're in a position to give an educated answer regarding things like job markets, global influences and technological challenges. But then again, people like to only listen to things they like to hear...so have at it!
I've never heard of that school, and I've
been doing this for nearly 20 years. Maybe they have in Canada, but in case you work for a company in the US, you might want to consider M-Tec and Andrews. They are on-line and their students get jobs when they graduate because they are in demand. Again, not sure how much it will complicate getting work since you live in Canada, but I think you should at least compare the programs closely.
working
I finished my course and now I am trying to work from home, but everyone wants experience. What can I do?
Working for them and....
it seems to be going well. I am a newbie and they are giving me a chance, which is more than others would do. All I can say is give it a try.
But if you are working as an IC, YOU
should purchase the software, pedal, etc. needed to do the job. Otherwise you are trying to be an employee. But at any rate, no I would not pay an 11.95 admin fee to get a job. Why don't you get a job somewhere else for free if you want a job?
If you are already working, why do you (sm)
need to change jobs? You said you have references from the doctors you are working for. So by working for do you mean transcribing for, or other work?
I'm confused.
? working as IC
I have a lot of questions. When you work as an IC do you need to set up as a business and file your taxes in a business name or -- just add the income thru a 1099. We file a joint return.
if not working, i would still take it.
knowledge has no price. if she is not working right now, than gaining the experience is well worth it.
If she is earning a living transcribing, than no don't quit your job to earn $0 and learn.
I, on the other hand, think the offer is generous. It takes me just as long to proof a report than it does to transcribe it myself. Why would I want to pay someone to transcribe it, if I am going to have to proof it. It just does not make sense.
Yes, I am working now but
not for A Scripts
Keep working
I plan to keep working FT at the university where I currently work. I have talked to a few people who did Career Step for their training and were pleased I am trying to weigh the $1600 price tag with what realistic options that I would have upon completion.
Working at home
Just because you work at home does not automatically mean you get to pick your own hours. MT companies all have different needs, and coverage is needed, in many cases, 24 hours a day. Many companies will allow you to pick your own hours, but they will expect you stick to that schedule. Other companies will let you work anytime in a 12-hour window. It all just depends on the needs of the company.
working for peanuts
I am new to this board, but I will be glad to work for peanuts if I can just get my foot in the door!! Please feel free to contact me about any lesser paying jobs that are available. I'm articulate, but I still know I have to pay my dues.
Student and working
Well I can say this, I am a MT student at Career Step now. I am also taking their coding program. I have been subcontracting for a few months now for a couple of different places and I was just hired by another place yesterday so it can be done. 
working at home
I was just wondering what insurance company you worked for at home and what the name of the place was in New England. I would settle for something like this until I could get into a hospital.
Thank you!
Just Started working PT
I just graduated from Career Step and got a PT job within 2 weeks. Mind you it was the only company that was interested in doing the PT thing, plus I have dail-up, so I was really limited on my options. But, so you know, PT jobs are out there. Good luck.
They are probably all busy working! LOL
x
Wow! I could be working for the same company!
I felt the exact same as you do!! After six months I am finally on paid status, but the pay is not much. Good luck! Let me know if you find anything better!
working in a hospital
I work for a hospital and have for 20 years. I am an at-home MT.. I am a full-time employee just like anyone who has to physical go there everday. The pay is much better and benefits too.. There are some still out there.
working from home
I agree with the last post. It's so hard to get hired with a company. I was in the same situation you are....just finished school, had a baby, wanted to stay at home and do transcription. So, during one of my office visits, I got the nerve up and asked my OB doc if I could do their transcription and they said yes!!!! Their office manager was doing it and she hated it. It was great!!! I then got another account on recommendation from that office manager. I think this is more doable for you than working with a baby, meeting quotas, not being able to pass tests, etc. And, you may like "having" to get out of the house to pick up tapes! I know I did! It was a reason to get out every other day or so. Also, you may have some flexibiltiy with having your husband or friend pick up and drop off your work. I did that also. One time, the office manager dropped it off to me because she lived nearby!!!!! Good luck!!
working from home
 That is encouraging because if someone has been a Transcriptionist for twenty years and still has to leave blanks then there is hope for us newbies! 
working from home
Have you tried testing with Medi-Voxx? They gave me a shot right out of school. I'm 53 and my kids are grown but I only wanted to work from home. I'm still with them after a little over a year and they are a great company that took a chance on me as a newbie.
I have been working now for 4 weeks (sm)
I am supposed to be typing 1200 lines a day, but I am now at 800 lines a day and can't seem to reach 1200. It is an acute care account with many dictators. I hope this week to get to 1000. I feel like I will never get to 1200!
Working from home
In case I wasn't more clear earlier, I am interested in hearing from people that have experience in working from home. I'd love to get advice on where to send my resume that doesn't necessarily require prior experience to be able to work from home immediately.
working in a hospital
If you have the opportunity to work alongside another MT in a hospital, TAKE that opportunity. It will be much easier to learn with someone available to help you right when you need it instead of waiting on e-mails with corrections or using IM.
traveling and working
One last question today. Are many people able to travel on the job. For example, my parents are 4 hours away, and I like to visit for extended time. How many people use laptops and transcribe where they are? I just would like to know the freedom you have on being able to leave town and still continue working.
working from laptop
You can either tether from your cell phone or get a wireless card that goes into your computer. This is secure. If you use the hotel wireless it might not be. The teathering is about 60 dollars a month and it is monthly. The lap top card is the same price but it requires a 2 year contract, at least that was the last time I checked. Tethering actually works the best for me. You can actually use it riding in a car at 80 miles per hour if you are in range of cell coverage whereas the laptop card drops the signal.
Also, you better hope you like working for them, because (sm)
that's all they're training you for. Most companies have never heard of this training program, and unless you have 2 years' of experience, they won't hire you. This place trains you to work for THEM only. You have no way of knowing how qualified you would be to work elsewhere.
Working for a "national"
I've only worked for a local hospital, but from all the negative comments I've seen about MTSOs, you'd be better off applying for one of those work-at-home jobs stuffing envelopes. The biggest complaint seems to be overhiring, with people waiting around for work to trickle in. It makes for excellent turnaround time, no doubt, but what MTSOs are doing should be against the law. National MTSOs should be outlawed altogether in my view, at least in the hospital setting. Any hospital that can't afford to do its own healthcare documentation isn't fit to serve the public. Another complaint with national MTSOs is way too many accounts, e.g., you rarely get the same doctor more than once and each account has its own profile/format that you have to familiarize yourself with on your own time. Add to that "clocking in" (for which you don't get paid) and unrealistic production requirements (taking everything above into consideration), and what you have is basically a minimum wage job. Good luck if you want to start your own business, but you will be competing with those nationals that can produce desired turnaround times (again, for the reasons stated above) and are offering lower and lower rates to compete with other nationals. I have nothing against local MTSOs, who do a good job for private practices and clinics, but national MTSOs are the root of all evil in this business. Greed does not begin or end on Wall Street.
How do you get around this besides working in an office first?
or maybe I am expecting too much, and it just is not going to work without some office time before me.
I am not sure how anyone expects a new graduate to get a job when everyone wants experience; however nobody is willing to hire us so that we may gain that experience.
working at home
Try this link below, because my frriend did and she eventuaslly found some work. I actually found this link on MtStars. I have 12 years experience and finally did find something by sending out over 350 resumes. You can also go to MTJobs.com and look at the company sites, that's how I found work. Here is the other link.
http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/websites/index2.php?username=mtjobfind&page=7
working with kids at home - sm
That is another thing I forgot to mention that these schools have a tendency to do .... "oh, it's great, you can work at home and pick your own schedule and work when you want." "Oh sure, you can work AND take care of your kids at the same time."
NEWSFLASH: There are very very few companies that will let you pick and choose when you want to work and let you stop work, pick up your kids, type for an hour, go make dinner, type for another hour, play with your kids, type for 2 hours, help with homework, etc. Very few.
Although, currently I am recruiting for a hospital that needs a full time transcriptionist. They will let you work full time at home and around your kids schedules, but you have to live within an hour of the hospital and have to work onsite for six months before going home.
Working at home question
Does anyone know of legit work from home besides MT. Just a question while I'm in school I would like to supplement my income without having to go back to the office after having a baby.
I'm working, why would I need to make myself feel better?
I'm sure if they wanted them to know, they would have told them. I think you know we don't give out names here!!
Facts are facts! Good job cheering them on though!
Are you working for a good company?
I'd like to get with a good company and make the kind of money you mentioned. Can you recommend any good ones. I've been an MT seven years and made it to $40K (that's with OT). Thanks.
After some experience working for another MTSO...
I registered a dba with my city, marketed like crazy, and got my own accounts and my own subs working for me.
Besides a great MT education, the thing that has helped the most is having a Stanford MBA business consultant in my corner. I couldn't have done this so quickly without his advice and coaching. Luckily, he works cheap since he's my SO!
Presently working for them and loving it! nm.
x
Professional MT's would be too busy working to
frequent this board themselves. I run a business, I have time. What's your excuse?
I have been working from home since the day I graduated!
I had numerous companies wanting me to test with them. The ladies I know who graduated at the same time I did echo similar experiences. I have also made excellent money. With the right training, the ability to be a good MT, and the drive, it can be done!
You are working for free?! That would be the the problem I would think. SM
Why would a company advance you to paid status if they are able to get you to do the work for free. You should get paid for your time and knowledge. I am new also, only on my second week working, and on full QA. I am getting paid, as you should be also! My advise would be, quit now, put this 'internship' as professional experience on your resume, and begin looking for a new PAYING job!
Where you are at now they very well may never intend to advance you to paid status. I'm willing to bet the company IS getting paid for these reports that you are doing the work on.
Remember to check into any company that is offering you a job. Unfortunately there are crooked companies and people out there. Best of luck to you!
Any newbies working for Medware out there?
x
Newbie MT working at home
Currently, I am working at home as an IC MT and will very soon have one year in as a paid MT post an internship. I am hoping to be able to make a change soon to another company I am now getting a decent paycheck, but I spend virtually all my time doing this because of a low newbie cpl.
I've read similar plights from other newbie MTs and from more experienced ones when talking about their beginnings. I've got to tell you, starting out is tough. Yes, it can be done, but you will probably find yourself working much more than you expected at first. Many MTs say to start off onsite somewhere. I believe that is a good idea.
The one thing I would have chosen differently is something touted on this board often and that would have been to do whatever I could to go to the best and most recognized schools. As also mentioned on this board, you just don't know what you don't know until you run into it. You will find a learning curve once you get your first job too.
I agree with you about doubting the MT industry will dry up before you finish training. But, I do think we will all have to become somewhat flexible and change as the industry changes. Change is often difficult, we all like to be in our comfort zones. Sometimes people forget or perhaps don't have the business experience to understand that business (and markets) always evolve. The MTs that can evolve with the industry trends will work, those who can't will be working at The Bates Motel or some little mom and pop transcription company. And, that's okay too, if that is what they want.
My parents always said that anything worth having was worth working for and if it wasn't worth working for, then it isn't worth having. I like this work and, to me, yes it is a worth working hard for.
I don't know if any of that is helpful, but those are my thoughts. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.
From my experience in working with grads from both -
PLease do not make your decision based on one school sounding like you can get through it faster than the other. I used to perform QA duties and had the opportunity to work with grads from both schools. The schools both produce excellent MTs. I would have to say, and this is only MY opinion from the grads we hired, that the grads from M-Tec had better ears and the ones from Andrews seemed to have more book knowledge overall. I chose M-TEC because I liked how everyone sounded on the message boards. Kathy and Susan were the only instructors when I attended, and both of them are super nice and were (and still are!) willing to answer just about any question I came up with. Call up both schools and chat with whoever answers the phone and go with your gut. :-) Remember, you are only going to get what you put into any school. Good luck in which ever one you choose!
working at home - kids
I can't advise you on schools because I did not train at one.
You did not say how old your son is. If you are working at home, is he old enough to entertain himself? I started MT just before my son was born and I did not really save any money on child care although I was home. Until he was 7 or 8 I had to pay for child care. Because he wanted/needed my attention when I was working. But maybe you can arrange your schedule and your husband can help out so it will work out for you. Good luck!
When I started working from home we only had one
I just made sure that my programs were closed out before my husband or kids got on. The only problem with letting others on is that they will surf the net and download things that bog the computer down. I would suggest if possible for you to have your own PC. Usually bare bones is okay as long as it's fairly new. Actually, Vista does not work with some companies, so you may want to look into a refurbished tower running XP and maybe Office 2003. I've also seen others post that they work from a laptop on the go, which I haven't done yet, but it seems to work well when MTs need to travel. Good luck in your endeavors, and welcome to the MT world. It is a satisfying job.
Working at home as a newbie is
no fun. Unless you go to one of the 2 schools we know prepare people, you need experienced ears sitting nearby you to listen to every mumble you can't puzzle out. On-site, hourly jobs are hard to come by, even for experienced people. It's true that the medical records department is usually in a dingy basement, but when you're new you concentrate so hard it doesn't matter.
MT versus working at Wal-Mart
I have been an MT for 16 years. Twice I've taken time off (over a year at a time), because of being burned out.
Working as an MT at home is much better than working at Wal-Mart, or any other retail-type job. I have much more flexibility in the hours I work. I can be at home with my children, so that I can take care of their needs. I've never had to have babysitters for my kids. Now that they're all in school, it is easier, and I can still schedule my work time around their hours. How in the world would working at Wal-Mart be better than that?? And even though the amount of pay I've been offered recently is less than my best job 5 years ago, I am still making 3 times as much as a Wal-Mart employee!
I never went to school for training. I am just an excellent speller with good typing and grammar skills, and I learn quickly. I worked at my college health center for one year because of the above skills. I didn't work after that for a time. Three years later, I started sending out resumes to a bunch of local MTSOs and, after several months, one asked me to come test. My persistence paid off. I did very well on the testing and was hired. I struggled those first couple of years. Because I worked hard to learn new specialties, the MTSO was always asking me to take on a new one. I probably worked a lot of hours for low pay as I learned each new specialty (I guess you COULD say I paid for my training! Lol!), and I shed a LOT of tears as I worked in the wee hours of the morning (because I didn't work until after my kids were in bed). However, I am grateful to her for that experience. I did eventually move on into acute care and did fine because of the opportunities she gave me.
I still think MT is a good opportunity for people who just want to be able to be home with their kids and/or have a flexible schedule that allows them to run a forgotten lunch to school, go to a child's afterschool game, etc. How many workplace jobs offer that?? It's still worth it to me!
I've also done both
As an LPN of 16 years years and an MT of two years, I can attest to the fact that the pay is better in nursing, but the stress is FAR greater. Yes, there is a huge demand for nurses alright. You will be doing much more than your own share of work. Support and back up is often not available (though not admitted to by administration), you often will not be able to care for patients as you were taught and know they should be cared for, your body will ache everyday (provided you don't get an actual physical injury that will always be your fault for "lack of technique") and your feet will scream in agony from being on them day after day all day frequently for 12 and 16 hour shifts. You may find yourself forced to work over a second shift because your relief person simply doesn't show up, don't expect your daycare or babysitter to be understanding of that - it won't be "their problem" but you can't leave your patients without coverage, which means you will be stuck.
Most patients are decent, just ill, in pain, therapy or basically maintenance. Other patients are going to spit on you, kick, hit, pinch, scratch, gouge their nails into you, bite, scream, yell, curse, throw things at you (food, medications, equipment, feces, whatever they can get their hands on). Then there's the unintentonal things too, such as sneezing or coughing in your face, vomiting on you or passing gas.
Administration always talks about how nursing is a 24/7 job, that what one nurse can't get done in her/his shift, the next one can pick up. That's bull! If you miss something or don't miraculously get it done, they are all over you like white on rice and writing you up one wall and down the other! It is not legal to have to work through your lunch and breaks, but you will eventually. Don't think you won't! You will also find yourself clocking out and going back to finish whatever you need to for your shift. You can't even report staff or administrative abuses to authorities because of HIPAA and confidentiality clauses, there is no protective whistle-blower clause in nursing. That's a good way to get yourself fired and blackballed, then you can't work anywhere in the same area.
Most doctors are okay, others are pure asses. If you want to be a nurse, do yourself a favor and only be an RN. That way you will get paid much better and have at least two levels below you to delegate to - the LPN and CNA.
When I went into nursing, I considered it an honor, the most noble thing I could do for God and my fellow man. I have since found it to be the most brutal profession of my life. Short of professional boxing, I don't really know what would be worse. You will be thrown around as a nurse some time or another and jerked around by DONs and others in supervisory or administrative roles even more frequently. When I got my last beating, all I did was start walking down a hall in response to a staff member calling my name. I went to assist her, didn't know what I was walking into till I was up against a wall getting my head punched by a 6' schizophrenic man. And, of course since he was a patient, he couldn't be blamed or "responsible" for his actions" and I couldn't do anything aobut it but feel the pain.
And as if that isn't enough, there are many people with dangerous, negative attitudes that won't life a finger to help anyone that they are not forced to do (as if that wasn't what they are paid to do in the first place!). Some people are just mean and nasty to work with. You probably get that anywhere, but you WILL get it in nursing - especially nursing homes.
Speaking only for myself, I find taking the pay cut and working behind the scenes from my own home to be safer and much more satisfying. I would never have thought that 16 years ago. No one could have convinced me that anything I've just said here was true, now I've lived it. Maybe MTSOs are not the most caring souls out there for MTs, but healthcare administratrators and DONs are not either. Nurses are in huge demand because the support and working conditions are horrifying. The older the nurse gets, the less resilient. There may be some great nurse positions out there, but I never found any that lasted. That usually changed with the next DON that came along.
Good luck to you in whatever you choose. If you choose nursing, I hope you have a better life experience than I have had. As far as MT goes, it is an evolving field. VR cannot do the job alone, someone needs to go over each one. I wish you peace and happiness.
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