Think Beyond Doctor: 10 Medical Careers to Consider

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The healthcare industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industry today. It is no surprise many people want a medical career.

It is projected that the medical industry, in a few years to come, will add almost 2.4 million new jobs in the U.S and this is due to the increase in population and the demand for better healthcare. This means that it a good idea to join the medical field with one of the following medical careers.

10 Medical Careers to Consider

When we here of a career in medicine, most people tend to think mainly of a job as a physician. This industry has so many other job opportunities to offer than just being a physician. Many jobs like being a clinical documentation specialist remain underutilized because of this misconception.

Are you looking to join the medical industry? Here is a list of medical careers than you can consider:

1. Health Information Technician

Also known as a medical records technician, this job simply means being in charge of all medical records in a healthcare facility. Health records are very important because they contain the history of a patient as well as their visits to the hospital and medication as well.

Basically, health records are all the information that is noted down whenever you seek medical care. This information is kept accurately, easily accessible, and legible too.

To work in this field you must go through proper training to understand the various systems used to classify and code the records as well as the software used.

2. Speech Language Pathologist

Speech therapists work with children and adults who are struggling with speech, language and swallowing disorders. This can be because of autism, brain injury, stroke, and delays in development. This career is predicted to rise significantly because of the rise in demand.

As a speech therapist, you can work in schools or hospitals.

You need a bachelor’s degree to be a speech therapist. This training helps you know how to handle patients and how to help them learn how to speak again. There are different tools and aids that a speech therapist works with.

3. Nursing

Nurses are quite important in the medical field. There are various types of nursing. If you are considering a career in nursing you can either be a:

Registered nurse: this is the general nurse that works in a hospital environment to help administer medication, take and monitor vitals, dress wounds, and more. They work hand in hand with physicians.

Midwife nurse: a midwife does not only take care of expectant mothers and help to deliver babies. With this career, you will be responsible for conducting diagnostic tests, develop treatment plans, assess, and diagnose patient issues, etc.

Midwives also help to provide annual medical exams for women. They also work together with the OB/GYN.

Nurse Anesthetists: a 2-year study in nursing while specializing in anesthesiology and a year of clinical experience will set you on the right path as a nurse anesthetist. This job is all about being responsible for administering anesthesia during any surgical procedure.

Family Nurse Practitioner: this is one of the highest-ranking medical careers. This job entails providing healthcare in various areas like psychiatric, pediatric, geriatric, family, education and public health.

They are also trained to take histories, conduct physical exams and can also order treatments, exams and give prescriptions. This is a career is very marketable.

4. Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are very important in any dental office. Their main role is to clean the patient’s teeth and checks for any signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis or tooth decay. They can also perform x-rays and educate patients on matters of dental hygiene.

This career is predicted to grow significantly in a few years.

The demand for dental hygienists is expected to grow and this, therefore, means that you cannot go wrong if you consider this as your medical career.

5. Orthotic and Prosthetic

This yet another high paying job in the medical field. These professional are responsible for designing and fabricating orthotic and prosthetic devices for all ages.

If you have ever wondered how artificial limbs or braces are made then this is the right career for you. You can choose to work as a manufacturer, in a hospital, or to provide personal care for people with these devices.

The growth rate is predicted to be 22% because of the demand for better orthotics and prosthetics. Being able to give back a patient the ability to walk or carry things again is one of the highlights of this job.

6. Athletics Trainer

With a growth projection of 23%, the demand for athletic trainers is definitely expected to rise. As an athletic trainer, you will be able to evaluate injuries, obesity, provide emergency care, prevent further injuries, and also develop programs for athletes, patients, and industrial workers.

Injuries associated with athletics and fitness are quite common and this has contributed to the demand of this medical profession. With this career, you can work in a hospital, as a consultant, or with a sports club.

7. Dieticians and Nutritionists

These are the experts in the area of food, nutrition, and diets. Their main aim is to promote healthy eating habits and diets as well as recommend the right diet plans when managing specific diseases. Dieticians and nutritionists are very valuable in the healthcare industry because they help in the general health of patients as well as help treat obesity and diabetes.

With this career you can find employment in hospitals, assisted living facilities, education settings and you can also set up your own individual practice.

8. Genetic Counselor

If you have ever been worried about inheriting a certain disease and wondered if you are at risk then a genetic counselor is who you could have seen. They work in different places like in hospitals, medical centers, and diagnostic laboratories.

They help to evaluate someone’s history to determine whether they are at risk of inheriting any of the genetic diseases associated with their families.

This field is rapidly growing and it is predicted to have almost hundreds of new positions by the years 2026 in America alone. This means that you cannot go wrong with this medical career.

9. Home Health Aides

Many senior citizens choose to remain home as they age rather than going to old age homes. This group of people will still need even though at home and that is where home health aides come in. This career has a high-expected growth prediction because of its rising demand.

With this career, you can find a job in skilled nursing facilities, residential homes, assisted living facilities, and home health facilities.

10. Choose A Medical Career As A Therapist

As a therapist, you will need a minimum of a degree and you can work in various places like hospitals, retirement centers, clinics, and physical therapists can work with sports clubs. There is quite an array of therapists in the medical field:

Radiation Therapist: a radiation therapist administers radiation doses to help treat cancer and other diseases that require radiation. They collect and analyze a patient’s data to plan their treatment. This is a full-time well-paying position.

Occupational Therapist: an occupational therapist helps to treat sick, injured, and disabled patients. As an OT you will work with patients to recover, develop and improve the skills they need for every-day living that had been impaired or lost. This career is predicted to rise significantly over the next few years.
Physical Therapist: these therapists help patients to improve motion or manage pain that can result from injury, stroke, or diseases. With a growth prediction of 28%, this is one of the high therapist jobs. They work in hospitals, rehab centers, and individual practices too.
As a PT you will be responsible for creating treatment plans and work with individual patients to reach their full potential.
Respiratory Therapist: they assist patients who experience difficulty in breathing. They treat a wide range of breathing disorders like asthma and emphysema. They work with premature neonates who have underdeveloped lungs to elderly patients with lung diseases.
Massage Therapist: a massage therapist uses touch to manipulate the muscles in the body to help relieve tension and stress and help the patient to relax. They can visit patients at home or work in hospitals as well.

The medical field indeed has a lot to offer there are other careers that you can choose to pursue, like a physician’s assistant, pharmacist, radiologist, medical scientists, and many more.

Consider One of These Medical Careers As Your Career Of Choice

Medical careers are one of the best careers that you can choose to pursue. With the changes and growth expected in the medical industry, it is important to think beyond just being a medical doctor when seeking a medical career. If you are looking to pursue any of these careers, then go to our website and check out the courses we offer.