How to Handle Job Interview Nerves

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So after nine months of school and internship it’s finally time to go out there and get your dream job. You’ve spent hours combing through job openings, you’ve polished your resume to perfection, and you’ve applied for some great jobs. Then that moment comes and you get a call to come in for an interview. Now is NOT the time to panic. Here are a few great tips to help you relax and face your interview like a pro.
  1. Do Your Homework – Look up the name of the company your interview is with and find out as much about them as you can. The more you know in advance the better prepared you will be to not only answer questions, but also ask them.
  2. Take a Drive – Or a taxi, bus, or train. In other words drive to the company the night before the interview so you know where you are going and get feel for the area. You can also scope out parking and get an idea of what traffic may be like as you make your daily commute
  3. Dress For Success – And do it the night before the interview. Make sure your clothes are clean, in good repair, and ironed. If you need to replace anything make sure to do so before interview day. If you had to buy new shoes make sure to wear them before your interview so they are broken in and comfortable. If you’ve been putting off a haircut now is a great time to find some time and get it done.
  4. Practice – Remember your professional development class and all those great interview questions you discussed? Now is the time to re-visit that material and review everything. Write out questions and answers and practice saying them out loud. The more comfortable you are saying your answers, the more natural you will sound.
  5. Catch Some Z’s – The night before your interview get a good night’s sleep, at least 7-8 hours. The better rested you are the less stressed you will feel the next day. Also don’t forget your breakfast. A little food will go a long way to settling your nerves.
While these tips may not calm all of your pre-interview nerves they can definitely help. Remember you have worked very hard to get to this point in your life and you are READY to succeed. All of your hard work over the last several months has brought you to this point. If you are ready to take the first steps towards your new career contact us today. We offer our students a wide array of Career Support Services to help you succeed in your new career. To learn more visit our website at www.allenschool.edu.

Graduation Traditions

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The Phoenix Campus has already had their graduation and the New York celebration is just around the corner. It’s a time of fun and excitement and many, many traditions. From the songs we play to the funny hats, there are many traditions involved in graduation ceremonies. Here are just a few of those explained.
  1. Pomp and Circumstance – We all know the song, but why do we play it at graduations? The song was composed in 1901 by Edward Elgar for the coronation of Britain’s King Edward VII. Four years after this Elgar received an honorary doctorate from Yale and the song was played when he crossed the stage. After this many Ivy League schools began to play the song at graduation and it has since become an American tradition.
 
  1. Funny Hats – Those square caps known as mortar boards are believed to be based on a similar hat that was known as a biretta, which was worn by Roman Catholic clergy. In the 14th and 15th century the biretta was commonly worn by artists and scholars. This symbol has endured through the centuries until today when the mortar board and gown have become the tradition for graduation garb everywhere.
 
  1. Moving of the Tassel – At the beginning of the ceremony the tassel is worn on the right side of your hat. Once you receive your certificate there will come a point in the ceremony where you get to move the tassel to the left. This symbolizes the transition from being a candidate or student to having actually completed and earned your degree.
 
  1. Tossing Of the Cap – Believe it or not you can look to the US Navy for this tradition. The 1912 graduating class of the Naval Academy was the first class to graduate as fully commissioned officers, and received their officer hats at graduation. This left them free to toss their old hats away without worrying about getting them back. The tradition has since caught on as a symbol of ending a chapter in a graduate’s life and beginning a new one.
  The Allen School is so very proud of all of our 2018 graduates. We look forward to seeing you all begin exciting new careers in healthcare, and are honored we could help you start this journey. From the Allen School Family to all of you, Congratulations!

AIDS Walk NY Is Almost Here!

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The Month of May is a very special one for our New York Campuses. Not only is it finally done snowing (we hope) but it’s also time for the campuses to participate in AIDS Walk New York. This year marks the 15th consecutive year the Allen School will participate in this great event and help make strides to find a cure for HIV and AIDS. In its over 30 years, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $150 million to combat HIV and AIDS. The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline sustaining the prevention, care, and advocacy programs GMHC provides for the thousands of men, women, and families affected by the disease in the tri-state area. The proceeds also benefit several HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program (CPP). Visit gmhc.org to learn more about its life-sustaining programs and services. The Allen School is very proud that we are able to participate in this event and others like it as we take learning beyond the classroom and into the real world. If you are ready to get an education that is more than simply classwork contact us today. Please visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more

There’s an App for That

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Smart phones are great tools for many things including your career in healthcare. There are a ton of apps out there that can help you do everything from learn anatomy to study for your certification exam. Today we look at 4 apps that you may find helpful as you start your new career.
  1. Epocrates – This app provides healthcare workers with information on everything from pharmaceutical drug information to dosing calculations and more. The app is updated constantly so you will always have the most up to date information at your fingertips.
  2. Visual Anatomy – This app puts a highly intricate guide to the human body right in your hands. It also allows you to exam many organs in 3D and there’s even a visual search that uses Google to give you real life imagery to go with the life like graphics found in the app.
  3. SkyScape – Is a Medical Library that allows users to research hundreds of medical texts using its patented SmartSearch feature which can reference different materials uses very little info from the user. There is also a SmartLink feature that helps suggest procedures for patient treatment across more than 50 medical libraries of information. Much like Epocrates it updates constantly to help keep you up to speed.
  4. CMA Test Prep – If you are ready to work on sitting for your Medical Assistant Certification this app just may give you the key to success. There are over 2000 questions loaded in the apps database that are designed to give you the same look and feel you will find when you go to sit for your exam. The app covers a wide variety of topics that you will need to know as a medical assistant.
If you are ready to start your new career in healthcare there’s an app for that… or at least a website. Visit us today at www.allenschool.edu to learn how rewarding a career in healthcare can be.

The Future Looks Bright as a Medical Assistant

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Choosing a career in the medical field is a wise path to consider. People assume that they must spend numerous years and tens of thousands of dollars to work as a doctor, but there are many essential staff in the medical industry that don’t require this level of investment.

As a Medical Assistant, you are the first individual to interact with a patient once they have checked in. Responsibilities include taking medical histories, recording vital signs, and completing administrative and clinical tasks. The responsibilities are critical to a successful patient experience. You can learn to perform all these tasks with a reasonable medical assistant training program.

There are many reasons why the future is bright for medical assistants:

Job Security

No matter what is going on the world, people will always need medical support. The population in the United States continues to grow due to the increase in life spans, so the need for healthcare is more crucial now than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical assistants have increased 34% since 2008. Phoenix, Arizona, Brooklyn, NY, and Queens, New York are some of most populous cities in the nation, so they demand high numbers of hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Medical Assistant Hours

Due to the nature of the medical field, you are likely to find a position that offers the exact hours you require to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Hospitals always need medical assistants at various shifts throughout the day and offer part-time positions if you aren’t in need of a full-time gig. You can also count on finding doctor offices that offer a consistent 8-5-hour range, with holidays off. The possibility of finding flexible hours that meet your needs is likely.

Job Satisfaction

Regardless what type of office or hospital you work for, you can find satisfaction in being part of a close-knit team that works together to help those in your community. You get the opportunity to work alongside very knowledgeable physicians who will help you advance your skill set. Earning a consistent and competitive wage while improving lives is quite a gift. You can acquire your RMA or CMA certification training at The Allen School, which offers excellent preparation for the RMA or CMA exam. We offer excellent programs throughout Phoenix, Queens, and Brooklyn. Please contact us for more information.

Image: Minerva Studio / shutterstock

Medical Assisting: The Path to A Bright Future

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Are you interested in building a successful career in the medical field but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you have long-term goals of becoming a nurse, pharmacist, or even physician. The Allen School of Health Sciences is the right place for you to start working towards these goals. Medical assisting presents the ideal entry career into healthcare and can serve as an excellent stepping stone to even more. The Allen School is here to provide you with a guide to help you understand the path to your career goals.  After your medical assistant training, you can become an important member of the healthcare team and will be required to perform both administrative and medical support duties. Your duties may include preparing patients for medical appointments, managing medical records, coding, and billing, performing diagnostic tests, take patients’ vital signs, and administering medication under the supervision.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow by a whopping 29% from 2016 to 2026. This can be attributed to the aging baby-boomer population in need of preventive medical services. Also, an increasing number of healthcare facilities will need support workers, mainly medical assistants.

Becoming a medical assistant lays the groundwork for a great new career path that may help you achieve your ultimate healthcare goals 

Training Is Your First Step

Training in medical assisting may be one of the greatest life-changing decisions you can ever make, and the first step to achieving your career goals. Training can expose you to increased employment opportunities, possible room for career growth and advancement, greater likelihood of better pay, and maybe even more job opportunities since you can opt to work in hospitals, a physician’s office, and outpatient clinics. Training allows you to acquire a versatile set of skills and prepares you to do a plethora of different tasks.

Specialized training can mean that you’re more in-demand than those who lack formal education. Programs for medical assisting have taken you beyond simple textbook learning, and into the clinical setting, which provides you the hands-on skills many employers find desirable. Our courses have a targeted focus on medical terminology, anatomy, laboratory procedures, clinical component, medical billing, and office operations.

Once you complete your training, our career services department will help you secure an internship to hone these skill even further. After internship, they will continue to support you as you enter into your new career field as a medical assistant

The Allen School of Health Sciences has a rich history of success. We have produced thousands of highly skilled and highly sought after students to the job market. In addition to our rich and diverse experience, we focus 100% on healthcare training, continually update our curriculum to match modern medical trends and offer personalized financial plans to our students. A quick search for medical assistant training near me will guide you to either of our campuses in Phoenix, Brooklyn or Jamaica/Queens, depending on your location. Give us a call now at 888-620-6745 to get started on your application process. 

 

Image: Stock-Asso / shutterstock

Top Hospitals in NYC for Medical Assistants

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Hospitals are, by far, the most significant employers a great source of employment opportunity for certified medical (CMA) and nursing assistants (CNA), in the healthcare industry. Highly trained healthcare employees are in demand at hospitals around the country, especially in populated cities like New York, which is filled with some of the country’s top hospitals with some of the best doctors. That makes these hospitals a fantastic place to launch your new career as a nursing assistant.

Less than eight years ago there were over 100,000 nursing assistant jobs in New York alone and 1.5 million nurse assistant jobs across the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, that number is expected to increase by at least 11 percent in the next eight years.

To put that into perspective, most occupations have an average growth of around seven percent, meaning nursing assistants will be an occupation in high demand for New York City hospitals in the coming years, thanks to the aging baby boomer generation.

This aging population needs compassionate, highly trained, and knowledgeable caregivers; precisely the type of people who gain their training at from the Allen School of Health Sciences.

Top New York City Hospitals for Nursing Assistants Starting Your Healthcare Career

Whether you are just starting your nursing assistant training at The Allen School, or are about to graduate and go for your CNA certification go on internship and graduate, it’s a good idea to know what hospitals in the area would be an excellent place to start your career. We’ve compiled a brief list of the most well-known top hospitals in New York City.

Mount Sinai Hospital

Probably the most well-known New York hospital, Mount Sinai is a teaching hospital that is ranked on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll as number 18 and is committed to reducing the number of medical errors and accidents made by staff and doctors alike.

New York Presbyterian Hospital

Ranked by the Best Hospitals Honor Roll as number eight, New York Presbyterian is a general surgical and medical facility as well as a teaching hospital with several New York locations including Brooklyn. This makes it perfect for students just graduating the Allen School nursing assistant programs.

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Jamaica Hospital, located in Jamaica, New York, is a general surgical and medical facility that has been the recipient of the NRC Health Excellence Award for the most improved hospital.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center

A teaching hospital and general medical facility, Beth Israel is well-known for its dedication to excellence and innovation. It is part of the Mount Sinai health system and is affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine.

Find Nursing and Medical Assistant Jobs at Hospitals

If a hospital seems like a good fit for you and you’d like to take the first steps to start your career in one, contact us today. Classes are enrolling now at all campuses. Excited to start your career at one of these hospitals? Contact the Allen School today to get started on your new career.

 

Image: Stokkete / shutterstock

Avoiding Spring Allergy Triggers

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Well it may not seem like it in some parts of the nation, but Spring is almost here and soon April showers will be bringing May flowers. With those flowers will come allergies, a common condition that many of our students will see in their clinics and work sites as they begin their careers. While there is no cure for allergies there are important steps that can be taken to help prevent and alleviate symptoms. The National Jewish Health Center has put together a list of things allergy sufferers can do to help alleviate and prevent some of the worst symptoms allergies can bring.
  1. Cool Wisely – Use your Air Conditioner and make sure any filters are replaced or cleaned. Try to avoid using window or attic fans that simply pull in outside air
  2. Clean Up – Use a saline nasal wash and change clothes and shower after doing anything outside to avoid bringing pollen inside
  3. Block the Wind – use a scarf or try to stay inside more on windy days
  4. Garden Carefully – Avoid fertilizers and pesticides. See if you can get someone else to mow the lawn
  5. Take your Medications – If you are on prescription meds for allergies be sure to take them according to your doctors directions.
To read more great tips on avoiding allergy triggers please read the entire article here. If you are ready to spring into a new career and grow a new skillset in the field of healthcare contact us today. Our final spring classes for Medical and Nursing Assistant are enrolling now and filling fast. Please visit www.allenschool.edu for more info.

Dine Out for Autism 2018

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As many of you know April is Autism awareness Month a cause we proudly celebrate through our Institution for Hope campaign here at the Allen School. There are many ways our students and staff help support this great cause but one of the best (and tastiest) ways to support Autism awareness this month is through the Autism Speaks Dine Out. Autism Speaks has partnered with several restaurants nationwide that are donating a portion of their sales to help increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. From pizza to fine dining there are tons of great restaurants to visit in the month of April. Here are a few to get your mouth watering:
  • Joe’s Crab Shack
  • Stix to Go
  • Texas Roadhouse
  • Papa Johns
  • Studio Movie Bar and Grill
  • Bodega Negra NY
  • Bone Fish Grill
To see the full list of restaurants participating in this year’s Dine Out for Autism please click here. To learn more about Autism Speaks and the important work they do to help those with autism and their families please visit https://www.autismspeaks.org

Top 5 Questions to Ask as You Look For Schools

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Choosing the school you attend to further your education could possibly be one of the most important decisions you ever make in your life. It’s important to consider not only your classes, but the quality of the education being offered as well as any support services you may need to truly be successful in your new career. When you are considering a school please keep in mind the following:
  1. Are the Instructors Qualified? – The instructors should be experts in the field of healthcare and should specialize in the field they are teaching.
  2. Is the Institution Accredited? – The accreditation of the institution is very important as this determines not only the quality of the education you will receive, but also what benefits, such as Financial Aid that may be available to you as a student.
  3. What Kind Of Support Services will I receive while I’m in school? – Classwork is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to starting your new career, but what else does the institution offer? While you are in school be sure to ask about things like tutoring and extra practice sessions.
  4. What types of Career Services are offered? – Let’s face it; you are going to school to start a new career. The school you choose should offer you all the support they can to help you get started.
  5. Do you offer any opportunities to build my resume outside of course work? – For many this is their first time working in the field of healthcare and it’s important to build relevant experience on your resume prior to completing school.
Finding the right school to fit your needs and life style can be a daunting task, but with a little research you will find the perfect match for your needs. We sincerely hope that you find your place in the Allen School family. If you’re ready to take the next step and tour our campus and learn more about our programs please give us a call at 877-591-8753 or visit www.allenschool.edu.