Yeah, I know what you mean. I tried to do it all for years with small kids,
Posted By: no doormats on 2005-11-28
In Reply to: Unfortunately, from the OP's description - Sandy
schooling, learning a new job, handling the household and finances. Something's going to suffer, and most likely, EVERYTHING will suffer. We can't do it all by ourselves and we shouldn't be expected to. Unfortunately, smacking someone upside the head with a 2x4 is considered assault, but smacking them upside the head with a legal document outlining child support amounts and visitation requirements is quite effective.
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MT Moms w/small kids
Hi!
Yes, I just read through a lengthy thread that touched on MY question in a round about way, but... I was just curious what hours MT moms with small children work and (just as importantly) when do you sleep!?!?
I have no problem with daycare and I have family that would glady watch my 5 y/o but I choose to keep him home to save everyone trouble and myself money! He actually entertains himself quite well, better in fact than my husband when he's home during my work hours! 
I had considered working during the hours that my son is sleeping, but I don't see how that would work well, at least not for me. Even if I were to begin work at 8 PM and work until 3 or 4 AM, I would barely get to sleep before he wakes up, which is normally around 7:30. Three or four hours of sleep each night would get old QUICK, not to mention that by the time I begin work I would be tired and ready for bed and unable to think clearly, be productive, and would likely have trouble staying awake.
Right now, I'm working 32 hours per week with 2 half days and 3 split shifts and it seems to be working somewhat well... but can be rather hard to concentrate and be productive with the bustle of spring and summer daytime activities around the house with a 5 y/o.
Although a lengthy post, my question was simple: what work hours and sleep hours have you MT moms of small children come up with that works for you? And sure, any advice or tips would be appreciated as well. 
Yeah, right, like we will see that same post in another 10 years or even 5. (nm)
x
You have not been transcribing 10 years. Your resume reflects about 4 years tops. I am going to put
very little MT experience and now you're pushing software that posters can get for free. There is a problem with that. You need to search YOUR heart ands ask yourself just how helpful you are really trying to be to new MTs or if your lining your own pocketbook because you don't know how to transcribe yourself.
kids
my son is 11months old and will be just over a year by the time i finish school (if all goes as planned) my husband works different hours every week but I think i will be able to work around that also i am very much a night owl and plan to actually do alot of my work while he is sleeping and if all else fails my mom will take him a couple of days a week I would just have to work around her schedual. I know that if I needed to hire someone to watch him now and again I could, but if i were to work out of the home full time I would have a hard time finding child care because i don't know anyone who could watch him every day and because we live in a smaller town there are not very many day cares they tend to have long waiting lists and do not take children who are not potty trained. I am concerened that when he gets a little older it might be hard to entertain him while I am working, but wether I am working or not I had already planned to get him into a day care once he is potty trained a couple days a week just for social interaction since not many of my friends have kids his age. but thank you for the insight, maybe working at home will be harder then i originaly thought.
kids
How is everyone working with kids in the house??
What do kids have to do with it.
Hmmm. Okay I appreciate the advice here. I really initially inquired as to whether or not you could attend one of the less expensive schools and actually find work.
As far as the kids go, I have been attending college online for 2 years and manage the landscaping business we have as well as homeschool my children. I have worked from home doing inbound customer service calls as well. My children do not and are not a problem. My husband is supportive and the older ones help out. I don't work or study with children on my lap....whatever gave you that impression. I am a firm believer that anything can be accomplished. Why do people think that children limit you. You are only limited to what you believe your limitations are. Since I have been working from home for four years I would like to continue to do so but....with a steadier income. Any career I choose will require sacrafice and I am aware of that.
Back to the school thing.....I didn't want to waste time or money on an inexpensive school that will not train me or allow me to work. Once the training is completed I need to be a working woman. Thanks again for your opinion. I guess I am to assume that there are no schools worth the time besides the top three. So perhaps I need to wait until I have the large deposit required.
Kids and transcription
I cannot image having small children under foot while doing transcription. When I did transcription, I had to have total concentration. Of course, I only worked for 12 docs in a small hospital, and I was "it" -- the only transcriptionist.
However, I worked for a good hospital, and they allowed me to leave and pick up my two elementary school children and take them to what was then called a "nursery". I then went back to work and made my 8+ hour shift. A wonderful and challenging career!
Job/Kids - I understand
Hi Lisa,
I have heard your story many times. This is nothing new. You are, unfortunately, the victim of an advertising campaign by MT schools who -- quite frankly -- care only about the money. I have been shaking my head for YEARS at the ads stating MAKE $50K a year working at home as an MT!!! Oh sure, it can be done. I could do it if I worked full time. BUT....I have been an MT for 20+ years.
Here's the thing. If I had started working at home right out of school there is NO WAY I would have loved this job the way I do...and there is NO WAY I could have overcome the frustration of trying to work at home with small children. No way. Sorry, I know that doesn't give you hope....but it is the truth.
People are ALWAYS asking me about how they can get a job like mine (they seem to think it is something that should be EASY, yeah right). I explain to them that MTing is a great job and I encourage them to get the education but I emphasize that they SHOULD NOT have high hopes of working at home right away.
IMO it would be rare for an MT to start working at home right out of school and have the knowledge to earn ~really~ GOOD money. Skills and knowledge are mastered over time and they are the key to making big money in MTing....and I can't even begin to tell you how much I learned from my co-workers while I worked in the doc office for 7 years and in house at the hospital for 4 years. I have been working at home for 10 years now and LUV LUV LUV it. I have a 13 yo and twin 2 yo. I *do not* work full time. Not while the kids are young. I work 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. M-F, set schedule believe it or not...and can earn a pretty good income.........but it came from years of experience. I just really don't know if it can be done *WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS* right out of school.
So now for some advice: Try to find a job that is doc office or clinic work. It is so much easier. SOOOOOOOOOOO much. Get some good reference books. Study the book of style 2nd edition. They teach you minimal med term in school so you will probably need to find a way to keep advancing your medical vocab.
Current medical terminology by Vera Pyle might be a good reference book to get not only for when you get *stuck* but also just to read through when you get a free moment (Being a Mom I know those are few and far between).
I still learn stuff and I have been doing this for 20+ years. It really is a great job and I hope you are able to hang in there.
E-mail me if you want to discuss it further.
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.
Grandma now, raised my kids doing
medical transcription. I worked when they were at school and at night after bed time. When they were very little, the played around me. I worked at home while my children were growing up. When too young to start school, I had them home with me and also typed after they went to bed and during naps. I had to be flexible. My 3 children are all in their late 20s now and one has children of his own. All three tell me they felt I was a wonderful mom and their friends would always come over to our house. They tell me they are so glad they had a mom who was at home. My own mother was a single mom and had to work outside the home and I remember in grade school, her leaving the house before I did and how sad I felt that she wasn't home for me. I decided no matter what, I would raise my children and work at home to be with them. I am SOOO glad I did this because now in my 50s and they are all adults, I can see the benefit of it. I worked in an office for a while when they were in their late teens, didn't like it, now I work at home again and spend lots of time with hubby. I don't know about others, but for me, if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't change and thing, and I would definitely keep my children home with me. They are so precious and are only little once, then you miss it later on. This is a very special time only once in a lifetime when your children are babies.
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!
tsk tsk- small minds
I'm not trying to promote the Big 3 or Little 3. I'm talking about an economic change we are all currently dealing with.
I'm not attacking the Big 3. In fact, Career Step probably better represents the trend in terms of price of tuition. If they add Job Placement full time, they will be tough to beat.
Obviously, all companies are going to be squeezed because the consumer is being squeezed. Thus my prediction- just a prediction- and I'm not attacking the Big 3; I think tuitions will come down. AND I'll go further, I think job guarantees will become much more prevalent because this is what the consumer wants.
I know from dealing with MTs all day that I have to be very accurate as MTs naturally search out the smallest details, have to do that to be any good at the job. I wasn't the best MT. I'm better in management. So I try to be accurate so I don't get knit picked. The important messages can be lost by trivial criticism and small minds.
My prediction is not accurate in every sense. How can a prediction be entirely accurate? It's an educated guess. If I am right, we should start to see tuition prices falling. It will be so slow that we may not notice it. I'm guessing the consumer will demand lower prices as the economy continues to suffer.
I'm not criticizing Andrews or M-Tec. No need to beat on me again. I'm talking about something bigger than the Big 3. Banks failing, dollar dropping, oil going up, food going up, CC debt on the rise, savings down, real estate falling, record foreclosures, etc. This will all snowball over the next 2-3 years. Issues like these are interlinked with one affecting the other. The consumer will seek solutions. Schools will have to adapt to changing economic forces. We all will.
Peggy take a chance and say what you see happening! Offer something that will give us your insight. Students are a part of the cash strapped population and can use any insight they can get. Put a bunch of opinions together and we can better form our own bigger view.
SMALL MT COMPANIES
Hi,
Does anyone know of any small MT companies?
Thanks,
Newbie MT
You deduct your kids' school supplies? OMG!
And a TV? Wow, it never occurred to me to be that dishonest. I am in awe of your evil ways. Teach me, please.
These kids fresh out of school don't realize sm
that what they learned in school "mastered" or not is equivalent to just spit in the ocean.
Small claims court (sm)
You should be able to take her to small claims court. If you have proof that she owes you, it's a fairly straightforward process.
You shouldn't need a lawyer.
maybe a small local company
might be worth a try. My first job was with a company like that. I did not have an MT course or experience. It was relatively boring transcription (mostly insurance exams, worker's comp exams - tons of neck and back sprains) but it was a start. I trained in their office for a week or so and then they let me do it at home. After a year or so I worked for another small company and started doing clinic and hospital work. So if there are any small companies like that still around... check it out.
The fee (very small) is for their watching all of your work and
Honestly, the MT education programs are horrible. They should be providing this but they don't.
No one is going to spend their time/effort looking over a newbie's work, giving them constant feedback, etc., without charging some type of fee.
I wouldn't do it.
Apply for child care assistance and put the kids in daycare.
You can't juggle all that. Either that or have the father watch his own kids for a while so you can work.
Small Service transcriptionists in Birmingham, Al
Does anyone knows of a small service transcription service in Birmingham, Al? I'm about to graduate and will hopefully be able to get on with a transcription service?
I work for a small MTSO. They aren't hiring - sm
I've been with them for years, and they still have the same group of 10-12 MTs. Very steady, but they rarely hire new people.
There are small-sized medical dictionaries, too, instead of the huge
s
Have you tried local clinics or small MTSO's in your area?
That's how I got my first break. Good luck.
Have you tried local hospitals, doctors, small MTSO's
That's how I started out working for a very small local MTSO, then I went on to become an employee of a small local nephrology group where I still am today with great pay and benefits. I had no experience when I stated but the small MTSO decided to give me a chance. Don't give up.
Just highlight and hit that combo of keys again to make it all small letters. nm
m
Work for a small local and do PT for the nationals when I find a good one to stick with...sigh...nm
s
Oh yeah, like I said, it
will help you because the terminology, etc will come easier to you than someone who has never heard any of that before, but still, I think in order to actually be an MT, it does take the full training. Also, most companies won't hire you until you have done the full training.
Yeah, but...
In other words, the payment you make in April 2006 has to be for the tax year 2006?
yeah right lol
nm
Oh yeah!
http://www.tempurpedic.com/other_products/home_office_travel/the_seatcushion_by_tempur_pedic/
I have this and the lumbar support cushion. Heaven!! I sleep on a Tempur-Pedic mattress, too.
Yeah, this is the guy...
Who was going to call me in 3-5 minutes, a over a week ago.
yeah...
I just don't have a good feeling about it. Has anyone else received anything similar from here?
Thanks
yeah, ok
ok so I messed up...
yeah but but but
the thing is -- actual work experience, actually working at home without help, does make a big big difference. Being able to work the different work platforms, or some experience working some platform. Knowing how to solve problems THEN we get to the terrible terrible dictators. Sometimes, all I can hear is a tongue mumbling amd flicking back and forth inside the mouth. Unbelievable what is expected from MT with absolute perfection.
Yeah, ask about "placement."
nm
Yeah, what's the big secret?
nm
Yeah..again..I was talking to NEW MTs
x
Yeah, and if you can't make it as an MT after taking the VLC course,
you can always take their basket making class.
Oh yeah, that's real nice
You ought to be ashamed of yourself to say that you are helping people when you are dangling a position in her face, and then have enough nerve to rant about it. Everyone has a different situation. So, she says she is Mom first, aren't we all? Geez.... You people are amazing. Lisa, I commend you, for standing up for yourself. You'll make it in this business because it does take assertiveness whether it be now or in the future. Do not think for one minute there are not people in this field choosing their own hours so they can be mothers plus have an income. God bless, good luck, and take care of your children and your business as they only have one mother, but there are plenty of jobs out there for the taking. 
Yeah, it's called Caller ID - nm
xx
Yeah, it's a tough call (SM)
Like you said, it depends on the person. Regardless, there's a big learning curve for getting it right in this career. I hope for the best for the OP!
Yeah, I wondered the same thing...
LOL Yeah, you've MASTERED those subjects. LOL
LOL
LOL Yeah, you've MASTERED those subjects. LOL
I don't see anything funny about that. I have spent extra time doing extra work because I really want to be the best that I can be. I have been tested and passed with a 98 for everything, except for Pharmacology because they don't offer that in the school that I am in. I am very motivated and don't mind going the extra mile to be the best that I can be. I'm sorry that you don't think anyone could do this. Yes, things are always changing and as they change I will be up to date with all of the changes.
lol yeah, you've MASTERED those subjects lol
I'm not in school fot MT, I'm in school for Medical Office Specialist Billing/Coding, so they don't offer pharmacology. I wasn't boasting, I was clearly stating that I have mastered the subjects that I have taken and believe I could do very well with an MT position with the knowledge that I have now. You don't need to do the work in order to master the subject matter. Mastering the subject and the job is 2 different things, but I guess you don't know that, being that you have done the job for 25 years. Thanks for being encouraging. ;)
Yeah, I've noticed people do that a lot here.
nm
and how about menter? Oh, yeah, let's hire her today!**snort** nm
x
Yeah, like one company maybe out of multiple hundreds. Misinformed. nm
nm
Yeah, like who? Name names if this is so. Who would want to work for Spheris to begin with? They
the biggest offshoring national out there. What's the big deal?
This bologna is repeated over and over again with no real proof of any places that hire without testing these grads just like anyone else. So, they have a deal with Spheris, big deal. There are companies much better than Spheris out there that pay better, have better accounts, care about quality and don't offshore our work!
It's all advertising. The students pay for it too, and don't think they don't.
You would cringe at what goes on behind the scenes with these schools.
You say "many" large nationals? What do you consider large? There aren't that many LARGE nationals to begin with, and the ones that are out there aren't worth the time to talk about. Been there, done that!
It is BS. All of it.
Just do it. I work for a small MTSO and recently asked for myself - and got what I asked for. nm
xx
I took their course 5 years ago - sm
I was quite happy with it and the price, cost a little bit more now but still reasonable. If you do all you are supposed to it does prepare you well enough, though I skipped a couple things (learning the abbreviations); and I skimmed on the actual practice dictation which was a big mistake but I wanted to graduate and get working. But I still passed the final, though not as well as I would have if I had practiced more in advance. Took me 2 months to land a job, another 2 to actually start that particular job though; in the meantime I cold-called and landed a job with a small local MTSO and started that one first, then the other fell into place about 6 weeks later (acute care where I was thrown to the wolves basically). Nothing beats learning on the job though and I learned lots while testing my butt off to land that first job. There are plenty of CAI grads, just many look down on them though the program is very good and you come out adequately prepared though I think no school can prepare you for the real deal, it can at least give you the tools and knowledge to deal with reality.
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