More and more people are searching for a career in healthcare. There are many good reasons to choose healthcare careers. For a start, it is one of the most satisfying and rewarding career. As most of us spend almost half of our lives working, it is important to choose a career that you are satisfied with.
Healthcare careers also pay well. Many people are searching for high salary career. Entry level workers into the healthcare industry earn an average of $15 to $50 per hour. The more experience you have, the more you will earn in your healthcare career. You can find out more on how much you can earn from your healthcare career from Explore Health Careers and others.
As the world economy is entering into a stage of uncertainty, there is actually plenty of job security if you are pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. The healthcare field is in fact growing very rapidly. By year 2014, U.S. Department of Labour expects 4.7 million new career openings in the healthcare industry. Healthcare careers also have excellent job prospects and cover a variety of area. Hence, you will not have problem in finding a job.
Healthcare careers can also lead you in many career developments and directions. Some healthcare workers work in an office, some treat patients and there are others who do research. You may work in a small doctor’s clinic or manage a hospital. The range of skills and experience in the healthcare career is unlimited.
Some careers are popular in one area over another. This is not necessary true for healthcare careers. Almost all region in the U.S. and around the world demand healthcare professionals in many fields. When you become a trained health workers, you can basically choose where you want work in.
Many people will continue to advance their education beyond graduation. Some healthcare careers require up to 10 years of specialised education after graduating from high schools. There are also others that offer short courses at your local community colleges. Many of these healthcare career training programs involve both classroom and hands-on learning. You may need to be attached to a health institute for internship.
Perhaps the most satisfying aspects of healthcare careers is that you could make a difference in other’s lives. You are helping to make our world a healthier, safer and better place to live in.
With so many reasons to be involved in healthcare careers, small wonder that the U.S. News and World Report classified healthcare career as on of the best career in 2008. The followings are four healthcare careers that are considered among the best career in 2008:
Audiologist
The advancing technology to make people hears better had provided audiologist many different settings. Before this, there were also not many students who pursue a study in audiologist, hence making this field with bright job prospect.
An audiologist measures hearing ability. They diagnose hearing disorders and assess amplification devices for their patients. The also provide training in speech reading, and hence can work as consultants to government and industry on issues concerning noise-induced hearing loss.
Basically, an audiologist treat patients from birth through adulthood. A healthcare career as an audiologist basically involves the diagnosing and treatment of hearing problems through modern earwares. They also develop and implement prevention and offers hearing protection training program in various fields.
Dentist
Most dentists work for themselves, and are able to keep regular hours. They are also needed anywhere, which makes them one of the best healthcare career to pursue.
Dentistry is a branch of healthcare careers that is devoted to oral health. Dentists have excellent compensation and the demand for dental care is not going to decrease in the future.
There are many healthcare careers opportunity as a dentist. These include academic dentistry, general dentistry private practice, dental research, dental public policy, international healthcare, and in federal governments.
Dentists use latest techniques and equipment to provide oral healthcare for their patients. Today, dentists also use the latest radiographic and computer-generated imaging to identify diseases of the teeth.
There are also many people who visited dentists today for mal-positioned teeth to improve chewing, speech and appearance. Approximately 80% of all dentists are general dentist. There are also specialist dentists such as Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Pediatric Dentistry and others.
Occupational Therapist
As an occupational therapist, you assist clients performing all types of activities to help your patient improve their ability to perform daily activities. These include comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptive equipment recommendations and trainings on its usage.
Physician Assistant
Healthcare careers as physician assistant is one of the top 10 best jobs in the U.S. What does a physician assistant do? A physician assistant provide healthcare under the supervision of a physician. They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and other preventive healthcare services.
A physician assistant take medical histories, examine and treat patients, interpret X-ray results and prescribe medications They also help treat minor injuries. In rural clinics, physician assistants may even be the principal care providers with the physician only present for 1 or 2 days each week.
Physician assistants may also answer to house call. However, in all cases, physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician.
If you are still uncertain if healthcare careers may be for you, you can also try to enrol in some courses offered by community hospitals and volunteer for hospital services. Through such services, you should be able to develop quite an assessment on whether healthcare careers are truly suitable for you. You may also want to read about Careers in Nursing at this site.
Most Popular Healthcare Careers
Nutritionist Career
In the U.S., one of the most searched careers is the nutritionist career. Many career guides have been written about nutritionist career. What exactly does a nutritionist do?
A dietician or a nutritionist is someone who plans food and nutrition program. They also supervise the preparation or serving of meals. All patients who are ill need healthy and suitable diet and a nutritionist or a dietician accomplishes that by promoting healthy eating habbits and suggested diets.
A dietician or nutritionist carries out diet service systems for health institutions. They carry out research and educate people on what constitutes a healthy diet. Their place of employment include the clinic, the community and as consultant dietetics.
In the year 2006, there were 57,000 people who hold a nutritionist career. More than half of this number works in hospitals, clinics or the nursing homes.
To have a nutritionist career, you need a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, food service management or any related fields. There may also be a state law that require that you need to have licensure to be a nutritionist. Some other states require registration.
You should also have good foundation in science subjects such as chemistry and biology. You should also be interested in caring and helping people in their recovery.
There is plenty of career advancement opportunities for the dieticians and the nutritionists. You can advance to associate or director of a dietetic department or even set up your own practice. Some who left the field becomes sales representatives for medical equipment or food manufacturers.
The nutritionist career is having a good job outlook. It is expected to grow through year 2016. Growing and aging population will increase the demand for nutrition counselling and healthy eating habits. Many food service operations for health institutions will require dieticians.
What is the salary scales of a dieticians or a nutritionist? The median salary of a nutritionist or a dietician is reported to be $46,980. The highest median salary of a nutritionist or a dietician is from the general medical and surgical hospitals at a salary of $47,320.
According to the American Dietetic Association, median annualized wages for registered dietitians in 2005 varied by practice area as follows: $53,800 in consultation and business; $60,000 in food and nutrition management; $60,200 in education and research; $48,800 in clinical nutrition/ambulatory care; $50,000 in clinical nutrition/long-term care; $44,800 in community nutrition; and $45,000 in clinical nutrition/acute care. Salaries also vary by years in practice, education level, and geographic region.
What is in a day of a nutritionist career? A clinical nutritionist provides services to patients in hospitals and nursing care facilities. They assess, develop and implement nutrition programs. They will also evaluate and report results of the nutrition program. They regularly communicate with doctors and other professionals.
A community nutritionist provides counselling to the community on good nutrition habit that can prevent disease and promote good health. They usually works in public health clinics or health agencies.
A management nutritionist supervise and plan for large-scale meal preparation in health care institutions and other institutions such as company cafeterias, prisons or schools. They also perform budgeting and purchasing of food, equipment and supplies.
A nutritionist career as a consultant involves working under their own private practice. They will perform nutrition screenings and offer advice and consultation works on diets.
Nutritionist works in very clean environment and are on their feet for many hours of the day. Their regular working hours are usually on a regular 40-hour week.
Careers in Nursing
If you are choosing careers in nursing, then you are choosing a career that is filled with both personal and professional rewards. To be a good nurse, you should be prepared to spend your life to help others. However, to have successful careers in nursing, you need to blend scientific knowledge with a heart to care.
There are more than 2.6 million registered nurses (RN) in U.S. There is a need for many more nurses. There are many opportunities for careers in nursing. In fact, there is no shortage of jobs for a nurse.
What do Nurses do?
Everyday of a nurse’s job entails continuous learning, as if learning in a nursing school. Even for those who already have careers in nursing, many take continuing educational courses to keep up with the latest nursing science. Nurses work closely with doctors and other health care professionals. Nurses are also the advocates for patient and families.
What does careers in nursing entails? Nurses gather information about patient’s physical condition, emotional state, lifestyle and etc. They also identify patient’s problems or needs and involves patient to plan for their care. Nurses also implement medication plans and regularly reviews the results of the medical plan.
The Job Market for Careers in Nursing
Statistics have shown that there are great job markets for those who are considering careers in nursing. If you are wondering why, here are some reasons:
• The advancement in health care has help people live longer, hence there are more elderly people who needs care;
• More skilled nurses are required for the growing number of people who gets more sick;
• Nurses are required not only within hospital settings as in the past. Now, nurses are required out of hospital too.
• Many current nurses are retiring, and there are many more who are expected to retire within the next 10 to 15 years.
It is estimated that by the year 2020, there shall be a shortage of 800,000 nurses in U.S.
Taking all the above into consideration, there is great job market prospects for those who are considering careers in nursing. This is in particular true, for those who hold a bachelor of science degree in nursing.
What kind of salary can careers in nursing provide? The typical starting salary for careers in nursing is $44,600. This is higher than the starting salary of for those who are considering career in Accounting, Marketing, Economics or Teaching. The median salary of registered nurses is $52,330 and the highest 10% of this median is earning more than $74,760.
There are also some hospital that is offering a $14,000 sign-up bonus.
If you are wondering how much does a clinic nurse earns, the following figures may provide some insight:
• Clinical Nurse Specialists make about $41,226.
• Nurse administrators average $45,071.
• Nurse anesthetists earn about $113,000.
• Nurse practitioners average $71,000.
Today, careers in nursing is much more broader than what it used to be. Many nurses works out of the hospital environment. Some of those who works out of hospital environment includes:
• Long-term-care centers (rehabilitation, nursing homes, hospice)
• Community health clinics
• Freestanding outpatient and surgery centers
• Medical offices (eye doctors, dentists, obstetricians, surgeons, and others)
• Home care (visiting nurses, private duty nurses)
• Nursing schools (as professors)
• Corporate health centers (occupational safety, consultants, educators)
• Insurance and managed care companies
• Other companies (pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotech, and others)
• Research centers (research nursing)
• Schools (including K-12, university clinics)
• Military
• Peace Corps and international service organizations
• Hospital regulators (conducting surveys, inspections)
For those who are considering nursing careers in hospitals, these are the locations where nurses may work in:
• Patient care units at the bedside
• Operating rooms, trauma centers, and emergency rooms
• Medical records or other hospital offices
• X-ray and other diagnostic units
• Intensive care units
• Surgical and recovery units
• Same-day surgery centers
• Pediatrics, caring for children
• Hospital nurseries or neonatal intensive care units, caring for newborns
• Obstetrics, helping new moms give birth
• Psychiatric and drug treatment centers
• Laboratories
• Helicopters and ambulances, caring for patients in transport to hospitals
Nurses may have great advancement in their nursing careers too. Nurses may advance their career to:
• Clinical nurse specialists, who perform advanced work in specialized fields such as cancer or mental health;
• Certified nurse midwives, who help women through pregnancy, through childbirth, and help care for their newborns;
• Nurse anesthetists, who anesthetize patients in the operating room, emergency room, and elsewhere;
• Nurse researchers, who study ways to improve nursing methods, evaluate patterns of patient care, and more;
• Nurse practitioners, who perform many advanced medical functions that once only physicians were permitted to do; and,
• Psychiatric nurse practitioners, who perform functions that once only psychiatrists were permitted to do.
How do you prepare yourself for a career in nursing? Nursing schools require high school diploma and sound academic knowledge in English, chemistry, biology and psychology. You will also need some soft skills such as leadership, organisational skills, people skills, patience, compassion, problem-solving skills and sometimes a sense of humor too.
If you like to know how it is like to have a career in nursing, you may volunteer at a local hospital. There are plenty of nursing schools around. However, you should only apply to state-approved and accredited schools of nursing. There are generally three types of training programs for nurses:
- The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is usually a four year program offered at colleges and university around the country.
- The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a two year program offered at junior colleges and community colleges.
- The Hospital Diploma is a two or a three yea program based in hospital settings.
You may also further pursue your education in nursing to a master’s degree, usually for those who are in the fields of nursing practitioner, nurse anaesthetist, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist or RN first assistant in the operating room.
To be a registered nurse (RN), you must pass a national licensing exam. This exam is offered by the Board of Nursing. Some states may require continuing education or practice to maintain a nursing license.
There is a great job market for those who are considering careers in nursing!
Career in Engineering
A career in engineering may be a rewarding career. Engineers are the people who apply the principles of science to develop practical solutions to technical problems.
There are many disciplines in engineering career. Some engineers design products, then the machinery to develop the products. Others design, plan and supervise the construction of buildings and infra-structure. There are also engineers who work in petrol chemical industry.
There are more than 25 major specialties in engineering career that are recognized by professional societies. Engineers may also choose specialties even within the same discipline, such as motor vehicles or turbines or semi-conductor materials. Among some of the major engineering disciplines include:
Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Bioengineering
Ceramic Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Construction Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Engineering Management
Engineering Mechanics
Engineering Physics / Engineering Science
Environmental Engineering
Forest/Paper Engineering
Geological Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering
Microelectronic Engineering
Mining Engineering
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Ocean Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Software Engineering
Surveying and Geomatics
What is the pre-requisite for a career in engineering? For all entry level engineering career, a bachelor degree in engineering is compulsory. College graduates with a degree in a physical science or mathematics may also sometimes qualify for some engineering career. Engineers who are trained in one branch may sometimes work in related branches.
Most engineering programs in a college offer courses in mathematics and science and involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty. There is also engineering technology courses. However, engineering technology graduates are not qualified to register as professional engineers.
In the U.S., there are about 1,830 engineering programs that leads to a bachelor degree in engineering that are accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, ABET. To be admitted into a bachelor degree in engineering program, solid background in mathematics, science, courses in English, social studies, humanities and computer and technology is required. Most engineering degree courses can be completed within 4 years.
To advance in your career in engineering, you should obtain your Professional Engineers (P.E.) licensure. This is required for engineers who offer their services directly to the public. The P.E. licensure requires that the engineer has an engineering degree that is accredited by ABET. In Canada, the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board was established to accredit engineering degree programs.
Mechanical Engineering is now the largest undergraduate engineering discipline. The Electrical Engineering numbers are relatively steady while Computer Engineering had declined by 18% since 2001. Civil, General and Chemical engineering is the next largest group.
Engineers work a standard 40-hour week. There are extra pressure for engineering career with deadlines and engineers may need to work longer hours. Most engineering career will require that the engineers works in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Other engineer careers will require that the engineers work at construction site, oil and gas exploration and production sites.
To be successful in a career in engineering, you need to be creative, inquisitive and analytical. You should be able to work as part of a team and to be able to communicate well, both orally and in writing.
Graduates who are starting their engineering career usually works under the supervision of experience engineers. As they progress in their engineering career, they are given more independence to work on more complex projects.
What is the salary for a career in engineering? How much does an engineer earns? According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers in their 2007 salary survey, the average salary of mechanical engineering graduates is $54,587. The average salary for chemical engineering is $60,054. Civil engineers has an average salary of $47,145. Electrical engineers have an average salary of $54,599.
In the U.S., there are 1.5 million engineering jobs. About 37% of the engineering jobs are in manufacturing industries, 28% in the professional, scientific, and technical services. About 3% of the engineers are self-employed, most of them consultants.
The distribution of employment by engineering specialty is as follows:
Civil engineers 256,000
Mechanical engineers 227,000
Industrial engineers 201,000
Electrical engineers 153,000
Electronics engineers, except computer 138,000
Aerospace engineers 90,000
Computer hardware engineers 79,000
Environmental engineers 54,000
Chemical engineers 30,000
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety
engineers and inspectors 25,000
Materials engineers 22,000
Petroleum engineers 17,000
Nuclear engineers 15,000
Biomedical engineers 14,000
Marine engineers and naval architects 9,200
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety
engineers 7,100
Agricultural engineers 3,100
All other engineers 170,000
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering career opportunities are expected to grow by 11% in the next decade. This is as fast as in other career.
As competitive pressures and advancing technology force companies to continually innovate, engineers are in demand to increase productivity and expand output of goods and services.
There are also some threats to those who are considering a career in engineering. One of this threat include the outsourcing of engineering works to offshore engineers. However, onshore engineers are still required to interact with other employees and client.
The overall job opportunities for career in engineering are expected to be good as the graduates produced is in good balance with the number of job openings. There are also other engineering job openings created by the need to replace current engineers who retire, promoted to management levels or those who leave the engineering career.
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