Participants in the health care profession have a respected and interesting title to accompany their career choice. The field is full of opportunities for those willing to put in the hours and many tend to produce a generous paycheck. Health care providers are necessary for the well being of society and these five options are only a few of the many growing fields available.
Radiology
Radiology is a branch of medicine that studies and uses imaging technology. The growth in knowledge of radiation and x-rays has increased doctor’s ability to diagnose and cure remedies. Alongside this growth is a dramatic increase in a need for specialists. Within the field of radiology, the careers available are Radiologic Technologist, Radiologist Assistant, Radiologist M.D. and title specific jobs for the type of imaging associated. Radiologists are most commonly used to take images through fluoroscopy, CT scanning, ultrasound, and MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
To receive the title of radiologist, aspiring students must complete an undergraduate degree (science-related is encouraged), four years of medical school, residency programs, and achieve their license by passing the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination within their state of interest. The average income for radiologists range between $350,000 and $425,000 and their demand is currently on the climb.
Nursing
For those more personable and wanting to be interactive with patients, nursing is a steadily climbing field with many opportunities. Nursing has multiple levels available based on the amount of schooling completed and certifications received. A registered nurse must complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a four-year degree offered at many public and private universities, and pass the national licensing exam (NCLEX-RN). Within the BSN, mandatory clinic hours are assigned at various hospitals, clinics, or healthcare facilities in the area. This gives the nurses in training an opportunity to interact with patients and have an overseer direct and instruct them on basic duties.
In 2012, the average salary ranged from $60,000 to $73,000. Over the next three years, the nursing field is projected to have a 23% job increase bringing the employment from 2.5 million to over three million. Due to the dramatically projected climb of the field, nursing is a very practical and rewarding career to consider.
Health Information Management
As the health care system is gradually converting to an online format, more and more technology savvy employees are looing towards health information management. Their main duties are to analyze, manage, and protect confidential health records. While those in this field aren’t required to attend medical school, their education and certifications are taking just as serious. Students must complete a bachelor’s degree in an HIM program and receive coding certifications from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The day-to-day duties of this field are gathering and releasing medical records, analyzing medical records to ensure approved diagnoses, and transcribing necessary medical histories to physicians.
Health information managers can earn anywhere from $30,000 to $80,000 depending on their education and certifications. By 2016, this field is expected to grow by 20-25%, adding 30,000 new jobs to the U.S.
Pharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician is another field that does not require medical school. Depending on the state, most require a Bachelor’s Degree, formal training programs, and certifications through either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association. The formal training programs are similar to mandatory clinical hours and usually last about a year. The duties required are receiving customer or health professional’s prescriptions, measuring medications to fit the prescriptions, packaging, mixing medications, and interacting with customers.
The average salary ranges from $25,000 to $35,000 depending on the place of employment. In the next three years, however, the field is projected to grow by 27%. The need is going to increase significantly, creating a great job market to enter without having to pay for medical school.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist is designed to help patients increase mobility after injuries or surgeries and decrease or manage their pain. Therapists have a great knowledge of the body and use this knowledge to set out exercise routines or treatment plans to get their patients as close to normal as possible. They also must be able to interact and effectively explain the purpose of pain and how to cope or stop it. To achieve the necessary certifications, students must obtain an undergraduate degree and enter into a physical therapy degree program. It is highly suggested that a Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree is obtained to give the pursuer a leg up, this degree generally takes between two and two and a half years. In the last year, clinical hours are required to observe licensed therapists.
Physical therapists earn an average of $76,000 with the highest 10% earning over $105,000. Now the opportunities are numerous and this field is also expected to have a dramatic increase in the future. The field is anticipated to grow by 27%, creating over 47,000 new jobs within the U.S.
The medical profession is steadily rising in almost all areas. Whether the career choice requires and extra six years of school and clinic hours or one basic certification, the opportunities are there. Students should take advantage of these increasing opportunities and not shy away from the prestige of the medical field.
For more information see http://allhealthcare.monster.com/careers/articles/1801-top-10-in-demand-healthcare-occupations