If you are looking for a career in the medical field, you have made a wise choice! The medical field has so many options that all require helping others and providing reliable benefits for healthcare workers.
At one point, the medical field was something that I wanted to major in. However, I found a different journey and other courses that interested me. Because I know it is a great field, and many people are interested, I am passionate about helping you find different types of careers in the medical field that pay well. In addition, I know several people with these careers that have successful lives, provide for their families, and love what they do!
The types of careers you will find in the medical field require different medical care. With most careers in the medical field, you can save people’s lives or even help them survive troubles that they have been through. You may help them learn to walk, talk, or fight cancer. It takes a big heart to work in the medical field. Some of your experiences can even be tough on your heart because most people invest in helping and saving their patients.
List of Careers in the Medical Field
Before really deciding on your career, I recommend reaching out to someone you know or that can direct you to someone that has the career you are interested in.
Because there is so much to learn, you want to make sure the career you have is the one you love. There are many ways to help people in general and in this field.
Most health care careers require a lot of knowledge, experience, and patience. You are working with many different people who constantly need something from you and of all different ages. It is important to consider which type of way and the age group you are looking to help.
There are so many types of careers in the medical field for you to choose from and the ones listed below pay a great salary for you to provide for your family.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists help treat physically injured patients. Most patients need to regain the strength they have lost for some reason, such as a car accident. Physical therapists are now required to have their doctorate, which can take 7-8 years to complete. They may open up their practice and work in hospitals and treatment centers. A PT’s responsibility is to assess their patients, create and design physical treatment plans for their patients. Every patient will have different needs and reasons why they need therapy. The PT will also work alongside their PTAs.
Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
Physical therapy assistants assist patients alongside a physical therapist. The program is typically around two years and requires an associate’s degree. You will need to complete prerequisites beforehand. Your day will consist of working hands-on with patients with different physical exercises to help gain strength in the desired area of need. PTAs record and document their work and take the information to the Physical Therapist that designs treatment exercises.
Registered Nurse (RN)
A registered nurse helps patients in several different settings, which include: hospitals, clinics, in-home care, and more. It is recommended to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which can take 4-5 years. Registered nurses need to complete prerequisites and apply to a two-year nursing program, so everyone’s journey may look different as to how long it takes to complete. RNs can work with newborns, adults, and elderly patients.
They work in several settings such as trauma, intensive care unit, neonatal (with babies), surgical centers, and much more. RNs also have the opportunity to move up in the field with a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, physician assistant, or to obtain their doctorate. Some nurses can become charge nurses at their hospitals. Or, the manager of their units to create and run schedules for all nurses in their unit.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
As a Nurse Practitioner, you are required to have a BS in Nursing (BSN). After, there is an additional program that may take up to another two years to complete. Nurse practitioners have a wide range in the ability to assist patients. They can open up their practice in some states and have a wider variety of knowledge.
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse anesthetists work under the supervision of an anesthesiologist who provides anesthesia to patients before surgeries. They are seen in operating rooms and can administer anesthesia to patients. For example, one may need anesthesia before delivering a child, which the epidural and numbs their pain. After a BSN, nurse anesthetist programs range between another 2-3 years. Some may require a year’s worth of experience as an RN.
Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists have a doctorate in anesthesiology. It requires a bachelor’s degree. Once completed, you must complete four years of medical school and an additional four years of residency, which is practicing as an anesthesiologist without all of the pay benefits. Anesthesiologists specialize in Internal medicine, pediatric anesthesiology, cardiac anesthesiology, and more. These doctors prepare for major surgeries and are constant learners in their field with multiple pieces of training a year to stay up to date on administering anesthesia for medical purposes.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Physician assistants work along the side of a physician. They are required to have a master’s degree after a Bachelor of Science in their preferred area with prerequisites required. Typically, PAs have a bachelor’s in biological sciences. An additional 3 years after a bachelor’s degree is required to complete the PA program. PA’s are in hospital settings and clinics with a wide variety of knowledge to treat their patients. You may often think you are talking to a doctor that is a PA.
Radiologic Technologist (RT)
Radiologic technologists specialize in radiologic sciences and may identify as X-ray tech. When you break your arm or leg, these are the technologists that take your X-ray and present the images to a radiologist who then examines your images. Radiologic technologists work around a lot of radiation because of the images that they take. However, this is a great field, and protection is used through vests and suits. RT’s can make a great living with pre-requisites and an associate degree program. However, a bachelor’s or a master’s will increase your knowledge which enhances your pay scale. A doctorate in radiology would make one a Radiologist.
Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
Speech and Language Pathologists study speech and language. They can work in schools, hospital settings, and a wide variety of settings. Their goal is to help patients learn to articulate their speech, sounds, and using their voice. To become an SLP, you will need a bachelor’s degree in speech and move forward to a master’s degree. SLP programs are typically around at least 2 years and require a master’s degree in most states.
Firefighter
If you want to have a career that requires saving lives, a firefighter is one. Their job is to travel and rescue individuals trapped in a fire and put out the fire. These incidents can happen in various settings from the desert to the inside of a building. The fire technology program is just shy of a year with a required EMT training certificate. Firefighters climb tall buildings, run in and out of burning areas with people in their arms, and a hose in their hands. Every firefighter has a captain that comes up with a plan, and it is the firefighter’s job to follow it.
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Registered dental hygienists typically have a bachelor’s in science of some sort. However, some programs allow you to have a few prerequisites and obtain an associate’s degree. More schooling may increase your pay depending on the state. The RDH program takes around 2 years to complete with a lot of hands-on learning. RDH’s clean teeth and work in a dental office to assist with patients that the dentist brings in. They specifically work on the hygiene of the mouth and teeth cleanings, not working alongside the dentist to hand tools or take x-rays. That would be a dental assistant position.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians work indoors at a pharmacy, which may or may not be at the hospital. They have an associate’s degree and take orders from the pharmacists to prepare prescriptions that are picked up from patients. Each technician may either look at an order, complete a refill, or call the pharmacist when needed. Pharmacy technicians learn every name of medication administered, dosages, and medication terminology.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are doctors that have more knowledge of medications than pharmacy technicians. They plan out patients’ medications and make sure that each technician is completing various tasks. The technician properly prepares the medication. When you pick up your prescription, the pharmacist meets with you and explains how much medication you will take and when.
I hope these careers have helped you find a lead for the career that might best suit your interest for what you want to learn and how you want to help people with these different types of careers in the medical field!
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