Do you want to work in a job where you feel you can make a difference? Many industries can help to change people’s lives for the better. Tech jobs can help improve the way the world communicates with one another and produces all kinds of gadgets and apps that can make specific tasks easier. Teaching jobs or other roles in education help to shape new, innovative ideas and help people understand each other better. Yes, there are many things you can choose to do in life that can contribute to a better world, but if you’re interested in health and well-being, then a healthcare career should be a natural fit. Here are eight exciting healthcare careers you might be interested in.
- Doctor
One of the first groups of people that come to mind when thinking about healthcare professionals is doctors. In this role, you will be working directly with members of the public to provide them quality health advice, analyze their symptoms, prescribe them the right medication, or refer them to specialists that can give them the right treatment. It can be a very stressful job, particularly if you’re working in hospitals or the ER wards, as these are fast-paced environments. However, there are many different working environments you can choose from as a doctor, including establishing a private practice or working at a local healthcare clinic, as well as a hospital. If this is something that sounds appealing to you as a career choice, be prepared to dedicate years to studying medicine as well as doing work placements as part of your education before you can practice as a qualified doctor.
- Nurse
Another very popular career choice in healthcare following the path of a registered nurse. RN’s are essential to making a healthcare center of any kind run smoothly, and they work hard every day to make sure the whole team of healthcare professionals and patients get the right support and care. You will need to study to become an RN and complete the right exams to get your license to practice. Once you have completed these qualifications, you might want to look at learning a specialist subject such as pediatrics or a family nurse practitioner to advance your career.
- Occupational Therapist
If you’re not interested in the most obvious healthcare career paths, don’t worry – there are plenty of possibilities! You could become an occupational therapist, and in this role, you would be there to support people after surgeries to recover and regain their mobility and independence. You will also be working closely with the elderly to help them stay strong or with individuals with physical or learning difficulties manage their daily lives. It’s a great choice for a healthcare career as you will be working with different people every day, and there are many different kinds of therapy you will be providing.
- Counseling
Working in mental health is another option for those interested in working in healthcare. You can pursue various roles within this particular sector, one of which is becoming a counselor. This can be a challenging job, as mental health issues affect everyone differently, and listening to people’s traumas or seeing them in anguish can be upsetting. However, this is an incredibly rewarding job because you can help someone rebuild their life by supporting them through their crisis, and teaching them constructively, healthy coping mechanisms that they can begin to use themselves if they start to feel low or overwhelmed again. Counselling has helped to change many people’s lives, and if you’re a good listener, compassionate, and good problem-solving skills, you might be interested to learn more about this as a career.
- Healthcare Management
If you’re not sure you want a patient-facing job but want to contribute to the healthcare sector, consider a role within healthcare management. These job roles are more behind the scenes, and you will be responsible for helping with a health centers budget, recruitment, PR, administration, and other tasks that revolve around the overall management of these establishments. This could be a great role for someone with a background in business management or is highly organized with great leadership skills.
- Dentist
Oral hygiene is just as important as everything else, and if you’re not put off by looking into someone’s mouth each day, or having to deal with bad breath on occasion, perhaps dentistry is the right job for you? Many dentists open private practices, and they can make fantastic salaries, especially if you practice in certain states or cities. It’s also a great way to give back to your local community and make sure people are taking care of their pearly whites properly! It’s also a job that can offer great job security, like most on this list, because there will always be a demand for quality, reliable dentists.
- Virologist
If you’re passionate about scientific research and want to utilize that to help the healthcare industry, consider a career as a virologist. In this role, you will be responsible for analyzing the behavior and genetic make-up of viruses and developing cures for them based on your research. Right now, virologists are working on creating a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus that has caused havoc across this globe this year – imagine being a part of something so life-changing? If this sounds thrilling to you, explore the idea of making virology a career.
- Nutritionist
Do you love eating well and staying fit and healthy? There has been a lot more focus on healthier lifestyles and eating habits in recent years, with many people becoming more aware of what they’re buying at the grocery store and serving up for dinner. If you have a passion for food, but also the science behind it, what makes certain things better for us than others, a career as a nutritionist could be a great choice for you. You will help people to understand their eating habits better, and inform them of how to make better choices, as well as developing diet plans with them to get them back into better health.
These are just a few of the cool healthcare career options available; why not take some time to explore other roles to discover if there’s something in the healthcare sector for you?
