Envisioning a hospital’s image brings patients’ hustle-bustle, nursing pacing towards the ward, and doctors taking rounds. The healthcare industry is dependent on doctors, nurses, technicians, and managers to ensure the timely delivery and quality of services.  When we visit a hospital, seeing young doctors and nurses serving humanity inspires us.  As parents, we want our children to join this profession, or as a student, we want to be a doctor in the future.

The healthcare system is an integral part of every country. It is booming with opportunities for new professionals to satisfy an endless demand or enhance people’s quality of life. 

The healthcare industry is an umbrella term undermining various career pathways, each unique to its own. Many medical students studying to be a doctor get puzzled when choosing the career pathway in this field. Many Medical Universities offer promising careers in healthcare and prepare undergraduates and graduates to master the skills and knowledge essential for their professional growth.

The criteria for recruiting professionals vary in a particular field.  For instance, a general physician cannot work as a cardiologist and vice versa. When we choose a career pathway, we look for the sustainability of our income and professional growth. Healthcare goals and targets get revised or upgraded every year to incorporate modern research and adopt new treatments. 

As an undergraduate, if you do not want to be a doctor and still want to serve the healthcare industry, compare MPH vs. MHA benefits to pick your desired majors. Public health and health administrations are two different domains encompassing various factors and programs leading towards better health care.

Are you still looking for a major’s degree to pick for the upcoming year?  Explore the following options to find your best niche. 

 

  •  Registered nurse 

 

 According to the American bureau of labor statistics, nurses comprise a significant portion of the healthcare industry. The doctors assess a patient’s condition and prescribe medicines but nurses play a substantial role in their recovery, looking after their progress and coordinating with the doctor. The field of nursing ranks at the top in the category of the most honorable and rewarding profession. The nursing field offers many growth opportunities and has a higher job growth ratio than other healthcare jobs. As a registered nurse, you can elect to work with a particular age group like children or the elderly or choose to work outside the hospital setting. A registered nurse can earn more than $75,000 per year, and there are approximately 36,400 job openings in this field.

 

  • Management and Administration 

 

Besides doctors and nurses, managers and administrators play a crucial role in streamlining the day-to-day operations in a healthcare facility. Hospitals or healthcare systems provide means and ways to help the sick, but it is also a booming business. Other than doctors and nurses who have a professional degree in treating and diagnosing patients, it also requires potential managers to ensure quality. The healthcare manager or administrators look after business aspects like finances, planning, public health, or resource availability and allocation. The average salary in this career pathway is around $113,700 per year, with a high job opportunity ratio.

 

  • Research coordinator

 

 Every day there are discoveries in the field of health and medicine that requires extensive research. Be it about finding the cure of a disease, formulating a medicine, or identifying the course of action of contagion, it all demands research. Our doctors prescribe medicines after they get approval and go through multiple trials and research methods to reassure their quality and effectiveness. Students pursuing the clinical research field take courses in research, terminology, pharmacology, research design, and project management. Professionals working in this career pathway earn up to $ 114,600 per year. 

 

  • Physician assistant 

 

We might not see this fact surfacing much on the news or reports, but the healthcare system faces a shortage of nurses and physicians. A study reports that there will be a need for 42,600 to 121,300 new physicians by 2030. Training physician takes around ten years to step into the field, but a physician assistant can acquire a certified license in two to three years. To fill the gap of physicians, a physician assistant can come in handy. Choosing this career path offers a wide area of expertise and learning as these professionals get to work under the supervision of a doctor and can elect a field of their choice.  

 

  • Family nurse practitioner 

 

This career pathway ranked 3rd in the survey of best healthcare jobs in 2018. Even today, Family nurse practitioners are in demand due to their skillset and expertise. Family nurse practitioners are trained individuals who record medical history, conduct physical exams, organize treatments by coordinating with a doctor, or suggest medical tests based on their observations. Family nurse practitioners can work with patients other than hospital settings and nurse them to health. 

 

  •  Anesthesiologist 

 

This pathway requires two years of vocational education in nursing and specialization in anesthesiology. Anesthetists play a vital role in providing quality care to patients undergoing surgeries. They also prepare the patient before surgery to help them relax and ensures the safety of the procedure. To work as a registered nurse anesthetist, you need to acquire the mandatory certification for this field.

 

  • Physical therapist

 

Another burgeoning career in the field of medicine is a physical therapist. At times our injuries require exercise along with medication. A physical therapist helps us move our muscles appropriately without causing further damage. They work with patients having neurological disorders, fractures, and stiff muscles and joints. This field is expecting around 60,000 job opportunities in the coming decade. 

Conclusion

Sustaining our life requires a stable job with a potential income. We choose different careers relevant to our interests and qualifications. The healthcare industry is not only for people with a degree in medicine, but people with business administration can also contribute to the industry’s betterment. Human life is precious ad choosing a career in this field is well-paid. But it is also rewarding to see that you are making a significant positive difference in people’s lives.