Do Medical Assistants Give Injections?

Medical assistants are trained professionals who perform a wide variety of tasks in modern healthcare facilities, including everything from appointment paperwork to taking patient vitals and, yes, administering injections. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this aspect of the medical assistant job description and explain how you can start a career as a medical assistant.

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Medical assistants are essential players in the healthcare team. Here are some of the roles they take on in modern hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and rehab centers:

Patient education
Making appointments and handling the required paperwork
Taking patients’ vital signs, such as their blood pressure and temperature
Preparing patients for exams and recording medical histories
Exam room setup and preparation

The Role of Medical Assistants in Administering Injections and Immunizations

Some medical assistants give shots as part of their regular day-to-day job duties, while others will not be involved in giving injections. It depends on the particular type of medical facility where they work, state legislation, and the level of training they have.

Most states allow medical assistants to give shots if they have appropriate training and are working under the authority of a doctor, physician assistant, or registered nurse. To make sure they are competent to complete the duty safely and effectively, medical assistants who will be tasked with giving injections undergo training. The training usually covers following injection protocols, how to handle potential adverse effects, and giving and preparing immunizations.

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant?

Register for a medical assistant program. There are many medical assisting training programs available from institutions like local community colleges, or vocational schools. You can consider an institution that specializes in training students to work in the healthcare industry like PCI Health Training Center.
Finish all of your training. Learn about clinical and administrative skills like office management, patient care, and medical terminology, and make sure that your training program includes an externship so you can get hands-on experience practicing your new skills.
Become certified. Depending on the state where you live, you may also need a professional certification to work as a medical assistant or perform certain tasks. Regardless of what state you want to work in, getting certified can improve your career prospects in a competitive job market.

Verify the local requirements and make sure you adhere to state-specific certification requirements.

Is Being a Medical Assistant a Good Career?

Becoming a medical assistant is an option worth consideration for anyone looking for a career with low barriers to entry that offers a chance to help others through their work. Projections for the future indicate a significant rise in demand for medical assistants. The aging population and rising demand for regular healthcare services are the main drivers of the increase.

Ready to kickstart your career in healthcare? Enroll in PCI Health Training Center’s medical assistant program today and take the first step toward a fulfilling career as a medical assistant!

Learn more about Medical Assistant:

What Medical Assistants Do