Jacqueline Tzintzun has always felt drawn to healthcare. Long before she began her career as a Medical Assistant, she saw what caring for others looked like through her mother’s nursing career.

“Growing up, my mom was essentially the nurse in her rural town in Mexico, and I loved learning about all the people she helped,” Jacqueline says. “Hearing the excitement in her voice when she talked about it really stuck with me.”

Those conversations sparked Jacqueline’s interest in healthcare and set her on a path that would eventually lead her into both patient care and education.

Building Experience Across the Medical Field

Jacqueline began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The role gave her early experience with patient care and showed her what working in healthcare was really like. After some time, she decided to enroll in a Medical Assistant program, where she could expand her clinical skills and work more closely with providers. Jacqueline graduated in 2018 and began working in urgent care. The job kept her busy and exposed her to a wide range of patient situations. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, she was right in the middle of it, helping test and treat patients during a challenging time for healthcare workers. Later, she worked in a county jail clinic. The environment was fast paced and required her to use a wide variety of skills.

“There was always something going on in my healthcare jobs, and I loved that fast-paced work,” Jacqueline explains. “I’m a go-go-go person,” she says. “If I’m busy all day, I’m happy.”

When Jacqueline took a position in an emergency department, the pace became even faster. Each role gave her new experiences and helped her grow more confident in her skills as a Medical Assistant.

A Healthcare Career Shift Inspired by Family

After several years working in busy healthcare settings, Jacqueline decided it was time to focus on growing her family. Long hospital shifts made it difficult to balance work and home life, so she began exploring other ways she might still contribute in healthcare. Around that time, she had a small moment with her son that stayed with her.

“One day I was helping my older kiddo with his homework,” Jacqueline explains. “Next thing I know, he looked up at me and said I would make a great teacher.”

Not long after that conversation, Jacqueline was scrolling through job listings late at night when she saw an opening for a Medical Assistant instructor at �鶹���� in Pasco, WA. It was around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, but she decided to apply. The position was originally listed as an adjunct role, but after her interview, Charter offered Jacqueline a full-time instructor position the very same day. With support from her husband, she took the job.

Today, Jacqueline says applying for that job in the middle of the night was one of the best decisions she ever made.

Medical Simulations in the Medical Assistant Lab

In addition to a variety of medical assistant courses, Jacqueline integrates Medical Assistant simulation throughout the �鶹���� medical assistant curriculum. She guides students through lab sessions where they practice the same skills they will use in clinics and medical offices. She allows her students to perform simulated patient care tasks like administering injections, checking vital signs, and other basic procedures.

Jacquline also teaches her students the administrative skills they need to be Medical Assistants, like patient intake, electronic health records, medical billing, and insurance processes. By the time they complete the program, students have experience with both sides of patient care.

Bringing Real Healthcare Experiences into the �鶹���� Classroom

One of Jacqueline’s favorite parts of teaching is sharing real experiences from her years of working in healthcare. Because she has worked in urgent care, corrections healthcare, and emergency departments, she has seen many situations that students may eventually face in their own careers.

She often tells stories during lessons to help students understand why their training matters. Hearing about real patient situations helps students see how important their role can be on a healthcare team.

“One story I tell during our cardiac care unit is the time I was able to help a patient who didn’t know he was having a heart attack,” Jacqueline says. “I use that to emphasize the attention to detail my students need to succeed in healthcare.”

Jacqueline believes these stories help students connect what they learn in the classroom with what they will experience in the real world.

Working Together to Support �鶹���� Student Success

Jacqueline also works closely with the other �鶹���� instructors in the Medical Assistant program. The team regularly meets to discuss how they teach different skills and make sure students are learning consistent techniques across classes.

By collaborating and sharing ideas, instructors continue to improve the program and better prepare students for their externships.

“We talk about how we teach certain skills and make sure we’re all on the same page,” Jacqueline says.

That teamwork helps ensure students graduate from the program confident and ready for their first jobs in healthcare.

Helping the Next Generation of Medical Assistants

Today, Jacqueline says teaching has become just as rewarding for her as working directly with patients. Watching students grow, gain confidence, and graduate from the program are among the most fulfilling parts of her job. She is especially excited to see her first group of students graduate and begin their own careers in healthcare. For Jacqueline, the journey that began with her mother’s example of helping others has come full circle. Now she is helping prepare the next generation of Medical Assistants to do the same.

Do you want to learn more about our amazing Medical Assistant graduates and instructors? Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form now!