Gene therapy, drug breakthroughs, better technology, an aging population that needs increasing care? given factors like these, it's no wonder that the health industry offers a rosier career outlook than almost any other industry in America.
According to the US Labor Department, 10 of the 20 fastest growing careers are focused on healing people or animals. Here's a brief summary of some of the health job choices, with links to appropriate medical education:
Medical Technician
Medical technician knowledge is a skill set in high demand. Choose among several specialties. Emergency Medical Technicians can make a life-or-death difference responding to accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and more. Or work at a more relaxed pace as a home health aide. You'll assist elderly, convalescent, or disabled persons so they can stay in their own homes instead of in a health facility.
If you're drawn to laboratory analysis, a medical lab tech performs a full range of tests, from a simple blood test to complex battery of tests used to diagnose diseases such as cancer. If you like being meticulous, a medical records technician organizes and evaluates medical records.
Nursing
"Nursing..." says the National Student Nurse Association, "is the largest health care profession with 2.6 million RNs in the US. A nursing job is both an art and a science. It lets you blend a scientific mind, technological know-how, a compassionate heart, and healing hands."You can train for many different nurse-related occupations through an online nursing degree.
Physical Therapist
As a physical therapist you'll use your hands to examine, diagnose and treat a patient's pain or problem. You'll also teach self care. PT's in America treat more than one million people every day.
As an occupational therapist (OT), you'll help impaired or disabled people develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Both PT's and OT's are in high demand.
Dentist School
There's a big need for two types of specialists who support dentists. As a hygienist, you'll train in a dental hygiene program to remove deposits from teeth and teach good oral hygiene, as well as take and develop X-rays or apply fluorides.
You may choose to train as a dental aide. As a dental aide, you'll learn to take and develop x-rays, make patients feel comfortable, prepare and sterilize instruments, and take a patient's medical history. Both types of programs are usually offered at a dentist school.
Veterinary School
Are you interested in helping to heal animals? One of the fastest paths is to become a veterinary technician. It takes about two years of study after high school to prepare for your state's vet tech exam. Compare this to the four-year bachelor degree plus four years of veterinary school it takes to become a veterinarian.
As a vet tech, you'll support a veterinarian much the same way a nurse supports a doctor. Vet tech training programs are typically available at a quality veterinary school and also are taught online.
Pharmacy School
Prepare at Pharmacy School to be a Pharmacy Technician. Help licensed pharmacists by doing tasks such as counting tablets and labelling bottles. The job outlook for pharmacy techs is outstanding.
About the Author
Alan Drummer is a writer and video producer based in Burlingame, California. His specialties include outdoor adventure, travel, technology and advertising and marketing. Trained as an ad agency copywriter, his TV spots for children won some of the industry's major awards. His features have appeared in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Magazine, and online at playstation.com.
Sources
General- United States National Library of Medicine: Medical Education and Career Information http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/medicaled.html
- Ten of the twenty fastest growing occupations are health-related http://stats.bls.gov/oco/images/ocotjc07.gif
- Health Careers Resource Center http://library.thinkquest.org/15569
Med Tech
- Emergency Med Tech http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm
- American Medical Technologists http://www.amt1.com/site/epage/15307_315.htm
- Medical Records Tech http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm
Nursing
- ANA Nursing World http://www.nursingworld.org/about/careerlt.htm
- Nursing: the Ultimate Adventure http://www.nsna.org/career/nsna_web.pdf
Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapists: Occupational Outlook Handbook http://bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm
- American Physical Therapy Association http://www.apta.org/Consumer/whatisPT
- Occupational Therapists: Occupational Outlook Handbook http://bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm
Dental Hygienist and Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist http://bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm
- Dental Assistant http://www.ada.org/public/education/careers/assistant_bro.asp
Vet Techs
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians http://bls.gov/oco/ocos183.htm
- American Veterinary Medicine Associaton http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/veterinarian/veterinarian_faq.asp
- Frequently Asked Questions About Vet Tech Careers http://www.navta.net/faqs.htm#five
Pharmacy Technician
- http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos252.htm
