The healthcare industry is one of the best sources of high-quality jobs in existence, with dozens of specialties and niche fields that provide an abundance of employment opportunities at all times. Regardless of which healthcare career you choose, you can be sure that you’ll enjoy a relatively low rate of an unemployment, as well as admirable starting wages. However, not all health careers are the same in terms of the pay, benefits, and inherent responsibilities, so it’s a good idea to conduct a thorough comparison and do your own research before deciding on and committing to a definitive career path. With that said, here are five excellent career options in healthcare that you may want to consider first:
1. Phlebotomist
As a phlebotomist, you’ll be responsible for drawing patients’ blood so that it can be tested by medical laboratories. This job is available in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, but you can also work it on a freelance basis as well if you’d prefer. The path to entry is also relatively fast and easy, with most phlebotomy training course lasting only about 4 to 8 months, and you can use geo-targeted search phrases like “phlebotomy training in Alaska” to find the best courses in your area. After the initial training you may want to obtain licensing and certification to make yourself a more appealing job candidate, but being a certified tech is not a mandatory requirement for landing a job in the field.
2. Nurse
As a registered nurse, you should be able to find a well-paying job in almost any developed nation, so it’s a great option for anyone who thinks they might want to relocate at some point in the future. You also have the option serving as a traveling nurse if settling down into a stable long-term position doesn’t seem appealing.
3. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists have some of the best salaries in healthcare and yet they don’t have nearly as many responsibilities or duties as physicians or surgeons. However, the burden of the one responsibility that you will have is going to be rather heavy, as you’ll be responsible for ensuring the proper dosage and administration when putting a patient to sleep for medical procedures. Thus, the schooling and training for this career are a bit more intense than what you’d experience when studying to become a nurse or phlebotomist.
4. Therapist
Behavioural and mental health therapists are in high demand and can find work at a variety of facility types within the healthcare, education, military, and corporate sectors. If you enjoy providing positive guidance and helping others heal, this may be an ideal career path to consider.
5. Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians receive desirable salaries and all the benefits that come with a long-term healthcare job. Although the schooling required to become a pharmacy tech will require an initial investment of quite a bit of time and effort, once you’ve gained entry into the field and have some experience, you’ll find it to be a very lucrative career, especially considering the lack of difficult labor involved.
Choosing a Career that Suits Your Personality and Interests
In closing, it doesn’t make sense to opt for a job that you’re not going to fully enjoy. Although every healthcare career is going to come with its challenges, you might as well choose something that’s going to fit well with your personal preferences.
