Healthcare Careers

With America's population aging rapidly, the demand for healthcare workers is rising exponentially. Virtually every job within the healthcare industry is expected to experience faster-than-average growth in the next ten years according the Department of Labor. Healthcare jobs are ideal for those who enjoy working with people and have an interest in science and technology. A summary of the healthcare field follows.

About the Field

The healthcare industry is dedicated to the delivery of health and similar services in order to identify, evaluate, treat, and prevent disorders and diseases. Many healthcare jobs provide support services to medical doctors in the process of diagnosing or treating patients. For instance, nursing school graduates administer tests, educate patients, provide advice, handle medical machinery, and assist physicians in treating and medicating patients. Likewise, a pharmacy technician works under licensed pharmacists to give patients medications and other healthcare products. The healthcare industry as a whole has experienced explosive growth in recent years, a trend that is expected to continue for decades.

Career Possibilities

In nursing school, students typically specialize in one or more patient care areas. These specialties then determine the career possibilities available to nursing graduates. Nursing professionals can specialize in four ways. First, they can elect to work in a certain venue, such as operating-room nurses, or perioperative nurses. Alternatively, nurses can opt to specialize in a certain health condition, such as a diabetes management nurse. Other nurses choose to specialize in a particular organ of the body, such as an obstetrics/gynecology nurse. Lastly, a nurse can choose to specialize according to a certain population, such as pediatric nurses who work exclusively with children and adolescents.

In the pharmacy field, there are also a number of careers available. Pharmacists, pharmacy aides, and pharmacy technicians all work in the pharmacological specialty of healthcare. These individuals fill prescriptions for patients, educate the public on available medications, and provide advice on the use, side effects, and contraindications of various medications.

Many other healthcare jobs are available outside of the nursing and pharmacy fields. A physician assistant, radiology technician, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, and medical records keeper are just a few examples of possible healthcare careers. These jobs all involve patient care or performing administrative or healthcare support services for physicians and hospitals.

Education and Credentialing

The degrees you can earn from nursing school include a bachelor's degree (BSN), associate's degree (ADN), and a diploma. A typical bachelor's-level nursing program takes four years to complete. ADN degrees are offered by community colleges and can take 2-3 years to complete. Hospitals offer diploma programs, which usually require three years of study. Any one of these degrees will prepare a graduate for entry-level nursing careers, although the best opportunities are reserved for nurses with bachelor's degrees. Nurses may also pursue a master's-level education in order to become clinical nurse specialists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. To become a licensed nurse, students must complete an accredited nursing program and pass the NLEX-RN, the national licensing exam for nurses.

Healthcare jobs that do not require a bachelor's degree include a pharmacy technician, radiologic technologist, and a physical therapist assistant, to name a few. To become a pharmacy tech, you will need to complete an approved training program, usually at a community college, and meet the certification requirements for your state. Radiologic technologists typically obtain an associate's degree in radiography and, in 40 states, must obtain a license to practice. Physical therapist assistants also complete an associate's degree, but licensing is not mandatory.

Additional Info

The healthcare field is vast and has a plethora of interesting and challenging positions from which to choose. If you don't see any healthcare jobs that catch your attention, perhaps another career would be better for you. Research other possibilities in our career field pages.

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