4 Healthcare Careers to Consider

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(Photo : Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash)

Do you have a love for helping people? Is it your mission to help improve lives? Are you looking for an in-demand job with good pay and stability? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to consider a career in healthcare.

Now comes the even bigger question. What type of job within the healthcare system is best for you?

1. Medical Assistant

Medical assistants (MAs) work alongside physicians, generally in medical offices or outpatient centers. They perform a combination of clinical and administrative duties. Some of which include taking medical information, performing diagnostic tests, preparing patients for their exam, and performing and administering laboratory tests.

One of the main advantages of this career path is that it takes less than a year to become an MA. It can be a short-term solution for a stable career, with plenty of job opportunities. If you want to explore the country, you might even consider working for a medical assistant travel agency.

For some medical assistants, the job may be a stepping stone to another career in healthcare. Since you'll be working alongside other healthcare workers, it can give you a taste of what you might want to do in the future.

2. Nurse

Are you looking for a rewarding career that allows you to help people? If so, then becoming a nurse might be for you. They work in hospitals, physicians' offices, schools, nursing homes, and other medical settings. They assess patients' health, update their medical files, administer medications, help educate patients and their families, and so much more.

There are two different types of nurses: Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs).

Becoming an LPN takes about a year to earn a certificate. Some LPNs choose to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS). Registered Nurses need to complete a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor's Degree of Nursing (BSN). 

RNs earn more than LPNs due to this difference in education. RNs also have more job duties. No matter which path you decide to take, there's a big demand for both.

Although nursing can be a stressful career, there are ways to help reduce burnout. For example, some nurses might consider taking travel assignments to explore the country while helping others. Travel nurses get their housing, travel expenses, and even food covered by the company they work for, making this an ideal career path for jetsetters.

3. Nurse Practitioner

If you're looking for a more advanced career in healthcare, then look no further. A nurse practitioner (NP) might be just the thing for you. Unlike nurses, NPs can order diagnostic tests, diagnose diseases, and prescribe treatments.

There are many career opportunities for nurse practitioners. They can work in emergency rooms and urgent cares, physicians' offices, and colleges. They might work in mental health or community health facilities. NPs can also take travel assignments.

4. Nurse Anesthetist

Business Insider lists nurse anesthetist as the third best job in healthcare - surpassed only by dentist and orthodontist. Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia drugs to help doctors perform surgical procedures. People in this career have an average annual salary of $158,900.

So, what's the difference between a nurse anesthetist and a nurse anesthesiologist? Education. Nurse anesthesiologists are physicians. Nurse anesthetists are RNs. They must get a master's degree and have at least one year of critical care experience.

These are just a few of the many healthcare careers out there to choose from. No matter which one you decide to pursue, you'll be choosing a meaningful career that allows you to help others.