A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant

Thinking about a career in healthcare but not sure if medical assisting is the right fit for you? At Montes Healthcare College, we’ve been helping Californians discover their potential and train for meaningful careers since 2016. In this post, you’ll step inside a day in the life of a medical assistant through the experiences of three of our alumni. From busy clinics to urgent care centers, see what their workdays really look like and imagine yourself in their shoes.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do on a Daily Basis?

Here are 3 stories from our alumni to help you better understand what a medical assistant does on a daily basis, depending on their work space.

Jaqui at the Midwifery Clinic

I’m the medical assistant for three busy midwives and help manage their days.

My day begins with:

Reviewing all the appointments for my midwife team
Ensuring all necessary paperwork is in order
Pulling up the medical records for the midwives to review

I also prepare the exam rooms for whatever procedures we have coming up that day—Pap smears, ultrasounds, cervical checks, fetal non-stress tests, etc.

When the patients arrive, I:

Take their vital signs
Collect their urine to test for proteins (routine labs in this setting)
Show them to a room
Get a history and updates since their last appointment
Ask if they have any concerns or special topics for the midwife

I condense and relay all pertinent information to the midwife before they enter the room so they’re prepared. I act as a chaperone for the patient and assist the midwife with the exam or procedure.

Once the exam is complete, I:

Provide everything the patient needs before leaving—prescriptions, resource information, and appointment coordination
Administer flu shots or TDaP vaccines if needed

After the patient leaves, I update her chart and prepare the exam room for the next appointment.

Medical Assistants Checking Blood Pressure

Aliyah at the Outpatient Surgical Center

I am a medical assistant at a busy outpatient surgical center. My role is to man the front desk and be the face of our clinic.

My days are busy and exciting. I:

Greet every patient who enters the clinic
Coordinate the schedules of all our doctors
Take and make calls to insurance companies, other providers and clinics, and patients’ external care teams

I’m also responsible for:

All medical coding and billing that keeps our clinic funded
Managing patient records
Ensuring the clinic staff has all necessary forms from their patients

Throughout the day, I:

Check patients in
Schedule follow-up appointments
Keep the calendar updated
Organize the entire front end of the office

I am the eyes and ears of our clinic, and our providers count on me to know what’s going on. It’s rewarding to know that without me, the clinic just wouldn’t flow as well.

Lorenzo at an Urgent Care Center

I am a medical assistant at a local urgent care center in Gardena, California. What do I do here? The better question is what don’t I do!

Each day is different and exciting. I:

Stock exam rooms
Set up for procedures
Take vital signs
Give injections
Draw labs

I assist providers during procedures and help discharge patients by:

Providing educational materials
Giving follow-up instructions

We see everything from simple stomach bugs to traumatic injuries. You never know who’s going to walk through the door.

How Many Hours do Medical Assistants Work?

The short answer: it depends on where you work. Most full-time medical assistants clock in around 35-40 hours a week, typically spread across five shifts. In clinics and private practices, those hours usually line up with standard business times.

Hospitals, urgent care centers, and specialty facilities are a different story. You might work evenings, weekends, or even 12-hour shifts. In these settings, flexibility is key, and overtime can be part of the job.

What Skills Are Required to be a Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant’s job is a blend of clinical know-how, administrative organization, and people skills. You’re juggling patient care, medical records, and constant communication with both patients and providers, often all in the same hour.

If you’re curious about the exact skills that set successful MAs apart, we’ve put together a full breakdown covering everything from technical abilities to soft skills like empathy and teamwork.

Read our complete guide on the essential skills every medical assistant needs.

Key Takeaways on a Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant

If these days at work sound like something you are interested in, contact the staff at Montes Healthcare College to find out how you can have similar workdays in just six months! Find your calling and make a positive difference in your community when you become a medical assistant.

Medical assistants work in diverse settings. From midwifery clinics to urgent care centers, each with its own pace and responsibilities.
Daily tasks can include taking vitals, assisting with procedures, managing records, and coordinating patient care.
The role is highly dynamic, requiring adaptability, multitasking, and strong communication skills.
Schedules vary by workplace, offering both traditional and flexible hours.

FAQ

Is the life of a medical assistant dynamic?

Absolutely. No two days look exactly the same, especially if you work in urgent care, hospitals, or busy specialty clinics. One day you might be focused on routine check-ups and paperwork. The next time you’re assisting with procedures, juggling multiple patient needs, and troubleshooting unexpected situations. If you like variety and staying on your toes, you’ll thrive in this role.

What does a medical assistant do in a hospital?

In a hospital, medical assistants handle a mix of administrative and clinical tasks. You might take vital signs, update patient charts, prep rooms for procedures, transport patients between departments, or assist nurses and doctors during treatments. Hospitals often run 24/7, so expect a faster pace and a wider range of patient cases than in a small clinic.

What is a clinical medical assistant?

A clinical medical assistant focuses on direct patient care rather than front-office duties. This can include taking medical histories, performing basic lab tests, giving injections, preparing patients for exams, and assisting providers during procedures. You’re essentially the provider’s right hand when it comes to the hands-on side of healthcare.

What does a medical assistant do in a doctor’s office?

In a doctor’s office, your work is often a blend of patient interaction and behind-the-scenes organization. You might greet patients, take their vitals, review their medical history, prepare them for exams, and assist the physician during visits. You’ll also update records, coordinate lab work, and sometimes handle follow-up calls. The environment tends to be more predictable than urgent care or hospitals, but still busy enough to keep you engaged.

Can a Medical Assistant Give Shots?

Medical assistants are generally permitted to administer injections, including vaccines, once they have received proper training and direct authorization from a supervising physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse. Do not attempt doing any of these actions without prior clearance and fulfillment of the necessary authorization, depending on the state you work in.

In California, this authorization is contingent upon demonstrating competency by fulfilling two key requirements (information taken from the Medical Board of California website) :

Successful practical demonstrations: Performing 10 supervised injections for each method (intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal), including skin tests, skin punctures, and venipuncture.
Completion of theoretical training: Satisfying the required number of dedicated training hours for administering injections and performing skin tests (10 hours), venipuncture (10 hours), and administering medication via inhalation route (10 hours).