Mentoring
Did you have mentors when you entered our profession? I think each one of us with some experience can point back to those people who helped us along the way. In any part of our lives, we have mentors who gave us a boost, encouraged us along the way, and helped us believe in ourselves as much as they believed in us. Do you remember those days?
I remember my first job with a big national service. I believed I was a pretty darned good MT. After all, I had speed. Now, for you who are newer to the profession, you should know that I didn’t take a course to become an MT. I had one medical terminology course and a course in machine transcription, that was it. My experience had been in a hospital, where, after the first week or so, no one really proofed our work. I sure can’t imagine that now. I spent the first six weeks or so in the manager’s office going over my mistakes! It made me question myself. The manager at the company was a great woman who simply taught me things and encouraged me. At one point, when she had pointed out that I spelled “xiphoid” with a z, I was beyond humiliated. Her response: You’ve probably always done it that way, right? Yes, I sure had. She then said she knew that because so had she until someone told her differently. No “how could you do that?!” She was just there, encouraging and teaching.
I also had some wonderful mentors in my professional development. They were there to help me learn and encourage as well. When I set a goal of wanting to some day be the president of my professional association, they took me under their wings and gently guided me toward that goal. I will never forget the impact they made in my life.
One of my all time favorite movies is the movie “Pay it Forward.” It speaks so much to the heart of giving to others and no matter how many times it is on TV, I always find time to watch it, and yes, I always cry at the end. Those of you have heard me do presentations know that I am a believer in passing the torch to a new generation, whether it is in MT or in leadership. I like to look for ways that I can give back to honor those who did the same for me.
The past week or two has brought some e-mails to my inbox from the newer folks in our profession. They are asking about how to find a mentor. They are craving someone who will just talk to them about the profession, share your expertise, and encourage them along the way. They have tried to find a mentor on their own or through other suggested channels, and it hasn’t worked. Of course, that made me think, why not here? Why not do something like that through MT Tools? This group is full of talented MTs who have something to offer and share with others, and I hope you will seriously consider this.
How about it? Would you be interested in participating in a mentoring program? It would all be done through email support. For those of you with experience, it’s an opportunity to help someone grow in our profession. For those of you who are new, it’s a chance to learn from someone who’s been there. If you are interested in participating in a program like this, please respond in the comment section. I will contact everyone who expresses an interest and we’ll get something going. I am looking forward to lots of response on this one.
Related posts:
- Are You Preparing for Certification as a Medical Transcriptionist?
- Medical Transcription: Alternative Career Paths
Tagged with: accuracy • Credentialing • Goals • leading with integrity • medical transcription • medical transcription goals • mentoring
Filed under: Goals • Professional Development
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When I started out, I had an “internship” at a local hospital for 3 months, then if they liked me, they hired me, if not, well. . they hired me. They mentored and clucked like a bunch of mother hens. But basically I had to either sink or swim. No QA. No text expanders, no nothing. The newbies today have it VERY easy in that regard. Of course there was no working at home either. anyway, I love to mentor, have done so and would like to do so again. Signed up for it with AHDI and never heard anymore about it.
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Kathy Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Great, Gwen! You are so good at that! I am hoping we have some great response here and I can set it up and do some matching. I know there’s a need and we can make a difference!
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Gwen S. You can be my mentor! Write to me at angalphin@gmail.com and I will give you the details of why I need a mentor! Thanks in advance!
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Kathy Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Angie, so I can put you on the list for wanting a mentor? I’m going to set something up and it looks like we can get people covered with that! Truly exciting!
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I would love to be a mentor. I have had so many people in my 5 years as an MT who have been influential to me, some in big ways and some even with just a timely word of encouragement or praise. I believe we are all in this together, and we all have something to offer each other, no matter our stage in the game. Not only that, but in sharing we so often receive, sometimes even something we didn’t know we needed.
Count me in as a mentor in whatever capacity you need. Sally
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Kathy Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I am so glad to hear that, Sally! You will be awesome at this, and you are right, that in giving, we also receive.
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I have had many people who influnced me to become an MT. I would have to say that my mom has the biggest influnce on me. I grew up around transcription, as my mom did it for 45 years. She just retired in August. I followed in her footsteps. She is always there for me if I have a question or just do not understand the word. I have many friends that have been transcriptionists for many years that are also there for me if I need anything. Mentors are great!
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Kathy Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
What an awesome story, Pam. My niece did the same thing, learned from her mom. She now works with me on this site and another one we are doing for students and schools.
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I would love to be a mentor. I learned on the job, was given a tape, and was told to go for it. No help…nothing. I wish I would have had somebody to help me through those first months, it would have made things much easier.
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Kathy Reply:
February 9th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Yea! I am glad to see you responding here, Glenda. I know you have a lot to offer and have put you on the list!
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Cathy, I would love to be mentored. I’m just beginning to look for work and have been seeking opportunities as an apprentice. It would be beneficial to have a guardian angel while I’m starting out. Thank you very much for being caring to the newbies in the field.
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Kathy Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Dawn, count on it! I am working on details this week and should have something out soon. All of us have had someone in our life who helped us along the way so it’s a great opportunity to give back.
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You may think I’m crazy, but if we think about it, every person who answers a question for us is a mentor of sorts…and every time we help someone else by answering a question, we are acting as a mentor. The important thing to remember is to double-check your reference before you take something as gospel, and double-check your response before you try to help someone else. After all, knowing how to research is probably one of our biggest skills! (I know that when I get a response from one of our QA people, they will often even cite a specific website where they got their information from to give me an answer, and I think that is really excellent!)
Sherry
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Kathy Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Sherry, you are right there. And some great points for those who mentor as well!
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Yes, you can count me in as a mentor. Have participated in the AHDI mentoring program and met some wonderful people that way, but had to stop when the “mentees” seemed to get stuck on “how do I get a job?” That is a question for the various student groups set up either in association with schools, AHDI, or other organizations. Would enjoy thoroughly having a “newbie” to help guide. Nothing sharpens your skills like having to be absolutely certain of your answers.
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Kathy Reply:
February 10th, 2010 at 7:32 am
Thanks, Crystal. I know for a new person in our industry that question of “how do I get my foot in the door?” is a big one. For those of us who have been around for awhile, it wasn’t that hard. Glenda’s story points that out, hand us a book, show us a machine and say go to work. Now I am even hearing some companies asking for FIVE years of experience and not just two so it gets harder. Still there are companies who will work with new folks and finding them is the key.
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I would enjoy mentoring. I’ve been in the field for 13 years and learned on my own — AT HOME! All I had was a green Stedmans dictionary and didn’t even know that Google existed until about 5 years ago. I was never part of any type of organization until 5 years ago, either. I never socialized with other MTs, because I did not know any. Why? I worked for a local contractor and she never informed me of all the tools available to me. My only “mentor” was my SIL and myself when I got started. Like Kathy said, I would love to pay it forward by helping in any way I can, even if it is with just an encouraging word. Thanks for this opportunity, Kathy!
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I would love to have a mentor. I haven’t finished school just yet, but having someone to talk to and give encouragement who understands the field would be wonderful!
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I am presently a MT student with no background in the medical field. When I first got involved with the actual transcription of the dictation, I thought, “how can I ever remember all these terms, plus the fact that most of the dictators are not very clear when they speak?” It would be a wonderful thing to have a mentor to help give perspective and encouragement on these two criteria for becoming an MT, along with other aspects of the job.
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Kathy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Great comment, Richard. I think mentors can make all the difference to someone who is new to any profession!
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I would love to be a mentor. When I first started out, I “fell into” a transcription job and did not even know what it was. I had never even had a terminology course. Needless to say, I bought lots of books and did lots of studying on my own. I had very few people to ask questions to. I often wish I would have had a mentor when I started in transcription years ago.
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Kathy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Love to have you on board with this one Melanie! It will be fun and rewarding all at the same time.
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I love mentoring and will toss my name into the ring. It is a very satisfying activity and I learn as much as I teach.
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Kathy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 8:04 am
I think you have made a really good point. We DO learn from those we mentor. It becomes a give and take and rewarding for both people involved. I often say “sometimes the teacher becomes the student.”
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Well, I see I am in good company from the responses above (hi Gwen, Cheryl, Sally and Glenda)! I’ve been a mentor with AHDI x4 now, and this last one has actually been the best experience. My “newbie” had just procured a job with Sten-Tel. The money was TERRIBLE–something like 5 cents a line in the beginning–but she had a great attitude about her learning curve, and we’ve talked about ways to shorten that curve. The other experiences were…well, as Crystal says above, newbies who wanted to know where to get a job. These days that is certainly relevant, but there is so much more to talk about–like where our industry is headed and how do we keep jobs once we get them! I’m in–sign me up!
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Kathy Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Great to see you doing this, Deb. I know you will be awesome at it.
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