The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for qualified medical professionals and the significance of the services medical professionals provide. If you are preparing to enter the job market or considering a career change, you may be wondering if you should consider a medical field career. You may also be unsure if you have the right temperament for a medical career, and you may also have concerns about future opportunities after the pandemic.
Fortunately, numerous healthcare professions utilize a wide range of skills. There are also many excellent reasons to consider a medical career.
1. Job Security
Healthcare is the largest industry in the United States, employing more people than the automotive, tech, and entertainment industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identified healthcare as one of two career fields that would lead job growth from 2019 to 2029. While the BLS reported the average job growth rate for all occupations would be 5% from 2018 to 2028, many medical careers are experiencing higher job growth.
The BLS also reported opportunities for occupational therapy assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, medical and health service managers, and physical therapists would increase by 35%, 52%, 19%, 32%, and 18%, respectively. With job growth in the healthcare industry outpacing the average for all occupations, people who prepare for a medical career can anticipate more enjoying more work opportunities when they’ve completed their training.
2. Advancement Opportunities
It’s possible to enter the medical field and continue studies to advance your career. For example, you could obtain your certified nursing assistant (CNA) qualifications within a few months. Once you have work experience, you may decide to advance to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse.
You can complete your pediatric advanced life support (PALS) certification through PALS online training with eMedCert. Paramedics, physicians, and nurses must have advanced life support certification to work in their field. With online training options, you can ensure you have the skills and credentials you need and complete your studies at your convenience from your own home.
You can also enter the nursing field with a diploma or associate’s degree. If you continue your studies, you can advance to become a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist.
3. Making a Difference
People who require medical needs may live with chronic pain or be unable to perform routine tasks themselves. These patients may be frustrated and depressed. Medical professionals play a vital role in caring for their physical and emotional needs. Whether you’re working with someone receiving orofacial pain treatment or enduring chemotherapy, you can provide reassurance and comfort to those you care for or treat. You may also serve in a role that enables you to teach patients to use assistive devices or help patients regain their skills to care for themselves again. This can help restore their sense of purpose and dignity.
4. Financial Stability
Healthcare professionals typically earn healthy salaries. As of 2019, the BLS reported that the median annual income for all occupations was $39,810. Many medical careers pay higher salaries. As of 2019, the BLS reported nurse practitioners earned $109,820 per year, while audiologists took home $77,600. The median annual income for registered nurses was $73,300, and occupational therapy assistants earned $61,510 annually. Salary.com indicated radiation therapists took home median annual incomes of $86,700 in 2020. Earning a healthy salary will enable you to pay off student loans, finance your continuing education, and support your family.
5. Academic Compatability
It can take ten years or more to become a fully qualified medical doctor, but qualifications for many other medical careers can be completed in three years or less. Phlebotomists and CNAs can obtain their qualifications with a few months of post-secondary studies. It typically takes one to two years to become a dental assistant, medical assistant, or medical records and health information technician.
Occupational therapy assistants, physical therapy assistants, radiation therapists, and nuclear medicine technologists can begin their careers with an associate’s degree. You do not have to commit yourself to half a decade or more of college to enter a lucrative, stable career field. However, if you do wish to continue your studies, you can expand your career opportunities.