On the days when she needs inspiration Kristen Ostertag opens her wallet and pulls out a handwritten note. 她读的都是她自己写的。 They are the reason she decided to go to college, change careers, and never look back.
A mother of three teenagers, Kristen enjoyed her job as the director of advocacy and finance manager for a local domestic violence shelter. However, at the beginning of the pandemic she was reminded that there aren’t any guarantees in life. She felt called to become a nurse but decided to earn a medical assisting certificate first.
During an online Collin College medical assisting program interview, she wrote the words, “I really want this,” and tucked the note in her wallet.
克里斯汀说：“离开一份成功的事业是很可怕的。 “It was only because of the support of my husband that I could. Since that moment I’ve been all in. It was a no-brainer to select a program that could give me so many certification options.”
According to Kimberly Gentry, professor of Medical Assisting Advanced Practice, the college’s Medical Assisting Advanced Practice program offers hands-on training and skills that prepare students to work in physicians offices, urgent care facilities, and hospitals. Students can choose to enroll in the 10-month certificate program or the two-year associate of applied science degree.
“One unique feature of this program is that it is an advanced practice program, allowing students to take multiple credentialing exams and increase their marketability to employers,金伯利说。 “In addition to the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification, students may become credentialed as Certified Phlebotomy Technicians (CPT), Electrocardiography (EKG) Technicians, and Medical Scribes.”
作为项目的一部分，克里斯汀完成了在心脏病学办公室的实习。 She took patient histories and vital signs, verified insurance, scheduled appointments, updated medical records, and performed hundreds of EKGs.
“There wasn’t anything that they could throw at me that I couldn’t perform, and that is because of this program,” Kristen said. “The interaction with the patients gave me confirmation that I was doing what I was called to do. Multiple patients told the providers that they felt heard and that I was kind. It was rewarding to find a balance of being efficient and still giving great patient care, letting patients know they are important.”
如今，克里斯汀是该项目的顾问委员会成员。 This spring she plans to work as a medical assistant during the day while she takes a nursing prerequisite class at night.
“今年春天我将申请金沙博彩的护理项目，”她说。 “I can’t stress enough how much Professor Kimberly Gentry taught all of the students. Most of us didn’t have any medical experience. The amount we learned in an accelerated amount of time was tremendous. 我强烈推荐这个节目。 It really gives you a chance to get started in the medical field quickly.”
欲了解更多信息，请访问www.collin.edu/department/medicalassisting。
要申请和金沙博彩威利校区的金沙博彩课程，请访问www.collin.edu/campuses/wylie。
照片由萨拉卡彭特，金沙博彩的摄影师。
经Wylie The Connection杂志许可转载。