u/Adventurous_Sky_4850

I'm in phlebotomy school right now and we've started practicing on each other. My partner volunteered to let me practice on them at home because they're "not afraid of needles" (their words, not mine). Anyway I missed the vein. Twice. They were cool about it, but now every time I mention anything about class they're like "remember that time you stabbed me and got nothing?" 

So I guess my question is - how long did it take you to feel confident enough that you weren't guessing where the vein was? Because right now I feel great with the fake arms but people are a whole different thing.

I am finishing up my medical billing and coding certificate, and I keep wondering whether I am going to like this or if I am doing it because it seemed like a stable remote job. Everyone talks about the pay and the flexibility but nobody really talks about what it feels like to sit and code charts for eight hours.

I shadowed a friend's mom who does this and she was really honest about it being repetitive. She said some days she puts on headphones and just goes into a flow state and other days she feels like her brain is turning to mush. That scared me a little.

I am someone who needs variety or at least some kind of human interaction during the day. I am not sure if I am built for something this solitary.

Do you enjoy the work itself or has it become something you tolerate because the lifestyle works? And if you do enjoy it, what keeps it interesting for you?

I am about to finish my BA in Psychology, and my family is asking if I am going to grad school. I am not sure that is the right path for me right now. The cost and the time commitment feel overwhelming and I need to start earning something decent.

I have been looking into healthcare adjacent roles that don't require a new degree. Things like patient care technician or mental health technician. I already understand human behavior and communication from my psych background so I am wondering if that gives me any kind of edge in these fields.

I am not ready to commit to a masters yet, but I also do not want to be stuck in retail or food service while I wait.

Would love to hear from anyone who made this kind of change.

For three years, I've worked in an LTC facility and the last year I have been working nights on a med surg floor at a hospital. 

The thing is I like patient care. I like the chaos and I like that I am moving most of the shift. But I know I cannot do bedside CNA work for another twenty years. I just do not see that ending well.

I keep looking into LPN or even RN programs but the waitlists are insane and I cannot afford to stop working full time.

What I have been wondering about is stuff like medical assisting or medical billing. It seems like those roles are still healthcare adjacent but less physically destructive. 

Has anyone left CNA to something outpatient or administrative? Did you have to go back to school for a long time or did your CNA experience count for anything?