With the increase in the aging population, the healthcare industry will grow further as we progress into 2021. There will be a more critical healthcare service requirement, primarily since COVID-19 has led to more demand for healthcare workers. A large portion of the population is reaching old age, and families are starting to grow, so healthcare professionals will have to increase their spectrum. Not everyone may have to spend a fortune on tuition fees, earn a doctorate, go to med school, or spend time completing a residency to land a high-paying job in the health care field.
There are several reasons why people choose to earn a medical degree. Some do it due to a personal calling, and the lucrative opportunities attract others. A medical degree gives way to diverse career options, and you have the chance to work anywhere in the world. Medical professionals get the opportunity to bring personal satisfaction and joy. Apart from high demand, healthcare workers enjoy job security and high salaries, which is worth the years of hard work. Medical research is making breakthroughs every day, and healthcare professionals get to be a part of these life-altering discoveries.
An essential aspect of every industry is innovation, and the healthcare industry is no different. The health sciences thrive on innovation. Advancement in healthcare creates improved outcomes for patients. It is in the interest of most of the population as everyone faces some health problems in their lifetime. Medical breakthroughs result from merging technology and science, so many healthcare jobs require some technical skills. An example of such jobs can be a medical writer who uses clinical research basics to develop clinical trial documents that explain research results and accompanying medical information. The average medical writer salary comes around to $102,603 a year.
CAREERS IN THE FIELD OF HEALTHCARE
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist is one of the highest-ranking positions in the healthcare industry. This job has tremendous space for growth, and the opportunities in this field are very lucrative. Another advantage of this position is that the timings are more flexible to create a comfortable lifestyle, rare for someone working as a healthcare professional. The approximate annual wage for a physical therapist is $89,440, keeping the demand for healthcare services; the amount may increase by 18 percent by 2029.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners are similar to registered nurses, and they have additional education due to extra schooling. These nurses are qualified to record patient histories, carry out physical examinations, analyze lab results, and prescribe treatments and medicine. Nurse practitioners train to specialize according to patient population like pediatrics or women's health. They can even work in academia or research fields. Suppose you decide to complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. In that case, you can enter various healthcare fields, including a pediatric nurse practitioner. The program focuses on leadership and nursing techniques. You can easily earn an online master of science in nursing degree, which has a comparatively lower tuition fee and flexible schedule. The approximate annual wage of a nurse practitioner is $109,820.
Physician assistants
Physician assistants are commonly known as Pas, and they assist surgeons and physicians in patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Sometimes they are asked to review a patient's medical history or counsel patient and their family members about treatment or post-surgery care. Their primary responsibility is to provide medical care at clinics where physicians are consulting only a few days a week. To be a PA, you have to earn a master's degree from an accredited institution. It usually takes up to two years to finish. PAs earn an annual wage of $108,610.
Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA)
OTAs play a vital role in assisting occupational therapists, and they supervise treatment operations to ensure smooth execution. OTAs help occupational therapists to offer treatment and carry out procedures for patient recovery, development, and maintenance to continue living a healthy life. OTAs can also create treatment plans, record patient progress, and overlook routine processes. To be an OTA, you require an associate degree from a recognized occupational therapy program. An OTAs average annual salary is $61,880.
Nuclear medicine technologist
Nuclear medicine technologists arrange radioactive medication for patients for therapeutic purposes and imaging reports. These professionals are in charge of functioning imaging equipment for patient diagnosis and treatment. They can also assist in radioactive drug research. Nuclear medicine technologists need an associate's degree from a nuclear medicine technology program institution. However, some technologists can earn a linked degree in the health field through a 12-month certificate program. The approximate annual wage of a Nuclear medicine technologist is $76,820.
CONCLUSION
Working as a healthcare professional can seem challenging in the beginning. However, not all jobs in the field require a packed schedule with rigid timings. Healthcare professionals have lucrative and stable careers, so it is a smart decision to enter this field.
