It comes as no surprise that today every hospital worldwide is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic with limited healthcare workers. There is no lie that the virus is to remain for a longer time. At the same time, it brings light to the fact that healthcare professionals' demand will continue to grow over time. Thus, many students find it inspiring to see healthcare workers serving on the front line and consequently planning to make a career in the industry.
As we move forward in 2021, the healthcare system is refining and improving its care treatments and strategies. For this reason, more jobs in the healthcare industry will grow. Below are a few top in-demand healthcare occupations in 2021:
1. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Physician assistants are medical practitioners that every individual must have seen in their lives. Though they are not doctors, they assess the patient's condition, study the medical reports, and diagnose any illness or disease signs. Some of their everyday tasks include:
- Interpret test results and provide treatments
- Prescribe medication and guide patients about preventive care
- Give regular updates to the medical team and assist the surgeons
- Manage records and documentation for insurance corporations
- Treat children and provide vaccinations
These practitioners require a master's degree from an accredited educational institution to practice in the healthcare setting. The job outlook of physician assistants is worth-noticing. According to BLS, this field is more likely to grow by 31% by 2029, a very significant increase. The growing demand for medical care from the elderly population and to control the cost of doctor's services are the key factors impacting this rate.
2. NURSE PRACTITIONERS (NP)
Nurse Practitioners are in charge of providing primary and specialty care to the patients. To become a nurse practitioner, students must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. However, graduates must earn an online DNP to advance in their careers and grab a leading role in the healthcare industry. These professionals can work in hospitals, private clinics, or even independently. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NP's demand would grow by 52% from 2019 to 2029. The average salary of these professionals is $111,840 per year as of May 2019. Below are the Nurse Practitioner job responsibilities:
- Taking records of patient history
- Observing patient's symptoms and prescribing medications
- Working together with other healthcare workers and design patient care plans
- Educating patients and their families about the medical condition
3. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Due to physical disabilities, mental health problems, accidents, or aging, many people find it hard to perform their routine tasks. Occupational therapists assist such people and empower them to do what they want to do in their lives. They help people fight these challenges with full confidence and live an independent life. These professionals provide their services to people of all ages, from kids, adults, to older people. Their job responsibilities include:
- Study the medical records of patients and assess their conditions
- Make the patients perform daily exercises
- Devise a care plan and setting targets for positive results
- Teach patients how to use special equipment
- Evaluate the progress from time to time
To become a part of this fulfilling career, individuals should earn a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy, which might take three years to complete. For a more advanced role, a master's degree and a license to practice is necessary. The BLS projects this profession's growth by 16% from 2019 to 2029, indicating one of the highest demand jobs.
4. ORTHOTIST OR PROSTHETIST
Many people suffer from orthopedic disabilities due to congenital disabilities, accidents, or any other injuries. The O&P professionals are responsible for helping these sufferers by providing artificial limbs or braces. They must earn a master's degree and complete an internship before start practicing. These professionals work in different settings such as hospitals, doctors' clinics, manufacturing, health, and personal care stores. As per the BLS, this profession's demand would grow by 17% from 2019 to 2029. Moreover, the average salary for O&P was $68,410 in May 2019. Their daily responsibilities are:
- Assess patients to determine their needs
- Take measurements of body parts that require fitting
- Consult with a physician for designing and fabrication of O&P device
- Explain to the patient how to use the appliances
5. DENTIST
When it comes to healthcare jobs, most people have a misconception that dentists are not a part of it. However, dentists qualify for this industry and play a vital role in keeping the mouth, tooth system, and smiles of people intact. They are responsible for providing oral treatment, filling cavities, and educating people about taking care of gums and teeth. Also, dentists are the ones that repair and extract teeth if they get damaged. They usually perform the following duties:
- Examine teeth and diagnose the problem
- Protect teeth using whitening agents
- Look after budgets and manage inventory from suppliers
- Make use of anesthetics during surgeries to avoid pain
The median salary of dentists is $159,200 per year. BLS projects the growth of dentists from 2019 to 2029 by 3%.
6. DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHERS
Individuals passionate about diagnosing and assessing medical conditions can pursue a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer. To become a diagnostic sonographer, students must have a minimum of an associate degree and professional certification. These healthcare professionals can specialize in various areas such as breast, abdomen, pediatric, neuro, gynecologic, and many others. They primarily work in hospital settings; however, they can find employment in clinics or diagnostic labs. According to BLS, the average salary for this profession is $72,790. The typical day-to-day duties include:
- Operating imaging apparatuses to review diagnostic images
- Preparing patients for the sonography process and educating them about the procedure
- Analyzing image results and communicating them to other healthcare professionals
CONCLUSION
The Covid-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the increasing need for healthcare professionals in the industry. Although a small fraction of employees have suffered layoffs in this epidemic, many workers will still be a part of this industry in the next few years. Today, several healthcare organizations are offering significant salaries to these frontline workers. However, the path to begin the journey in this high demanding career starts with education. Individuals need to earn a master's, doctorate level degree, or license to practice these jobs.
