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There are few industries as important or rewarding to work in than healthcare. Those that work in this industry spend their time-saving lives and help people to lead active and happy lives which is incredibly noble. While many of the professions in this large industry will require a number of years of studying, there are also roles which do not require such extensive studying. This means that this is an industry that is open to all and it can also be a lucrative area to work in (although it often requires serious commitment and long hours). Here are a few options for those interested in the healthcare industry:
Physician
A physician plays one of the most important roles in healthcare by diagnosing and treating patients. There are many different areas that you can specialize in, such as pediatrics, oncology, and dermatology. As you would expect as such a pivotal role in healthcare treatment, a physician will spend around 10 years studying before completing a residency at a hospital. Income will depend on experience, but this can be a highly lucrative field to enter.
Registered Nurse
The nursing industry is one which is highly competitive, and this is because it is one of the noblest professions that you can enter. A registered nurse (RN) will coordinate patient care while also providing emotional support for families which means that nurses must have a wide range of skills. To become a registered nurse, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree (4 years), or you may be able to get a role with an associate degree.
Surgeon
Another one of the biggest jobs in the healthcare industry is being a surgeon. This is a role that commands a huge amount of respect as you will be saving and changing lives each day. As you would expect, there is a lot of training that must be done and different areas to specialize in, but it is also one of the best paying jobs in the industry.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist assesses, prevents and treats mental disorders and can work in a wide range of job environments. This is a particularly important role and one which will grow in demand with the rise in mental health issues around the world. It can be a highly lucrative role, but it will take a long time to become qualified.
Pharmacist
A pharmacist is responsible for providing prescription medication to patients and can recommend medication to those with ailments not serious enough to visit their doctor. This means that they must have excellent knowledge of medications, chemistry and physiology. Pharmacists can work at healthcare facilities, in pharmacies and at drug stores.
Physical Therapist
People require physical therapy after illnesses, injuries and surgery and a physical therapist will use their expertise to help people to overcome physical difficulties that they may be having. It is a highly rewarding profession to work in and could involve working in a hospital, clinic or perhaps working with athletes to recover from injuries.
Dental Hygienist
Dentistry is one of the major areas of healthcare and a sector that can be very well paid. There are many different roles in this sector and a dental hygienist is someone that will clean patient’s teeth and provide information on how to properly look after their teeth. They work closely alongside orthodontists and dentists.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Another key area of dental care is oral and maxillofacial surgery. These surgeons will go through an additional 4 years of training in order to perform surgical procedures to the face, mouth and jaw. As such an important role, it can also be a very well-paid position.
Hospital Administrator
Roles in the healthcare industry involve much more than treating patients and there are a number of very important roles in dealing with the running of healthcare systems. A hospital administrator is one such role where you are responsible for planning and overseeing health services in a hospital. You can earn an online MBA in healthcare administration which would teach you everything that you need to succeed in this role or one similar, such as a medical manager or health information manager.
Nurse Anesthetist
A nurse anesthetist administers pain and numbing medications to help surgeons carry out operations. A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) will need to study extensively but it can be a high paying role.
Optometrist
Vision and eye health is incredibly important and an optometrist is in charge of all aspects of this. This includes prescribing glasses, providing treatment for those with eye conditions and even performing surgery (such as laser eye surgery).
Pediatrician
Pediatricians provide care for children through to adolescence. Their training will teach them about the medical conditions that are particularly prevalent amongst young people as well as general conditions. Much like any physician, there are certain areas that can be specialized in.
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist helps people to learn or re-learn everyday skills to help people to overcome various mental and physical conditions or after an accident/surgery. This could include helping people to bath, eat, cook and various other tasks. It can be a very rewarding line of work and you can work in hospitals, physical therapy clinics, schools, nursing homes and many other areas.
Speech-Language Pathologist
A speech-language pathologist has the important and rewarding role of helping those that have difficulty speaking, listening and chewing. This can involve working with people who have suffered from brain injuries, hearing loss, dyslexia or anything else that can make communication difficult.
Other Roles
In addition to all of the above, there are then many other roles which do not require a medical degree but are still hugely important in making a healthcare facility to run smoothly. This could include administrators, receptionists, assistants, public relations, janitors and many, many other roles.
The healthcare industry is one which is filled with highly rewarding and often very well paid positions. If you have an interest in joining this industry then the above are just a few of the options that are available to you and areas worth looking into due to their importance, progression opportunities, salary, work-life balance etc.
