The healthcare industry is booming with new job opportunities every year. As the population ages and medical technology advances, there is growing demand for skilled healthcare workers across many disciplines. If you’re considering a career change or just starting out, healthcare offers stable employment and ample room for advancement.
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory technicians with a Medical lab technician degree assist physicians and scientists by conducting clinical tests on patient samples. Most laboratory techs specialize in areas like blood analysis, microbiology, or genetics. The job involves precision work like collecting and preparing samples, operating automated test equipment, examining cells under microscopes, and analyzing results. Laboratory technicians need an associate degree in medical laboratory technology or a related science. With experience, they can advance to supervisory roles or become technologists with more responsibilities. See what jobs can you do with a MLS, which is a Medical Laboratory Science bachelor’s degree.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct patient care in hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. Their duties include administering medications, monitoring patients, patient education, and coordinating care plans. The aging population and focus on preventative care is driving growth for RNs. RNs can find high-paying jobs without needing an advanced degree. It’s an excellent career choice as RNs can work in diverse healthcare settings and specialize in a specific type of medical care as their career progresses.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants (PAs) provide an array of medical services under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. Their day-to-day duties include conducting physical exams, diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and assisting in surgeries. As demand grows for healthcare services, PAs can help improve provider accessibility and efficiency. Physician’s assistant is also a high-paying profession, but becoming a PA requires completion of an accredited master’s degree program.
Physical Therapist
Physical therapists help patients recovering from chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries to regain their mobility and manage pain. They develop exercise regimens, manual therapy techniques, and specialized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs. Demand for physical therapy is expected to grow in line with rising rates of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity. Top paying states for physical therapists include Nevada, California and Texas.
Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers, also referred to as healthcare administrators oversee the planning, coordination, and delivery of medical services. As accountable care organizations emphasize care coordination and cost efficiency, skilled healthcare administrators are becoming increasingly important.
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide high-level care and fill some similar roles as physicians. Key duties performed by NPs include performing health screenings, diagnosing conditions, creating patient treatment plans, and prescribing medications. NPs deliver care in settings like private practices, community health centers, and hospitals. Due to physician shortages and focus on accessible preventative care services, demand for nurses practitioners is surging. Nurse practitioner jobs are projected to grow significantly. Becoming a nurse practitioner requires the completion of a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
Choosing a path that truly interests you will lead to better outcomes for your patients or clients as well as long-term job satisfaction.
