The popularity of healthcare as a career path is growing steadily recently. The pandemic has impacted the situation to some extent, but there was already a noticeable upward trend even before that. Many people are now interested in helping out those around them, and exploring opportunities to contribute to the healthcare systems of their local communities and the world as a whole.
And there are more opportunities than ever before. Healthcare has grown far beyond what the field looked like just half a century ago, and today, people with all kinds of backgrounds can find a place in the field, and contribute to the greater good. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting to build your professional profile, or if you’ve already been employed for a while – there is no shortage of options to get involved. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones right now.
Research
There is a lot of focus on advanced research at the moment, especially with the introduction of modern solutions like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other fields that can accelerate various parts of the process. If you’ve got a knack for crunching data and like to dig deep into complex datasets, looking for connections and patterns, and trying to identify the big picture, there is a lot you can do at the moment.
The best part is that you don’t even need any specific prior experience with medicine. Various kinds of research can be done in an isolated manner, meaning that you only have to worry about identifying the links in the current data set. Of course, it can help if you can understand what you’re involved in from a top-down perspective, but there are various opportunities that don’t require this.
Technical Specialist
On the topic of technology, there is also a lot of room for those with a knack for working with modern tech – from hardware to software, there are lots of places for various kinds of specialists at the moment. Some of those positions do require some advanced knowledge of the specific medical field you’ll be involved in – especially if you’ll be working in a lab – but it’s not a strict requirement across the board.
This can also tie in well with a research position, and if you’re lucky enough, you could land yourself in an entire team of specialists with diverse backgrounds, which can be an invaluable opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience and progress in your career even faster.
Nurse
Becoming a nurse is also something that’s starting to enjoy a lot of popularity. The increased access to educational options in the field has certainly contributed to that. Obtaining an online nursing degree for non-nurses from an institution like Baylor University is easy to get started with. Attending online classes brings many obvious benefits to the table, compared to their in-person counterparts.
Some people wrongly assume that being a nurse is the “easy track” in healthcare though. That’s quite far from the truth. The job of a nurse is actually incredibly complicated in many ways. It’s true that it requires a different set of skills from those necessary to be a good physician. But you still shouldn’t underestimate the amount of work it takes to become a qualified nurse, and to maintain the necessary skills.
Emergency Response
There is a lot of work on the emergency response side as well. From dispatchers to first responders, if you are the kind of person that thrives in a chaotic environment and can keep a calm head in the face of significant challenges, this is a good option to consider.
Like with nurses though, it’s important to stress the difficulty of being successful in this field. One additional disadvantage that some people don’t consider is the fact that many jobs in this field come with odd working hours, and you may sometimes not even have a constant schedule. If you can’t see yourself alternating between day and night shifts often, this is probably not the right path to consider.
Mental Health
Mental health is a topic that doesn’t get discussed enough in some areas, and that’s unfortunate, because more people than ever need help with this part of their lives. It takes a certain kind of attitude to be a successful mental health specialist, and it starts with a lot of patience and empathy. You’re going to face challenging situations with difficult patients who don’t even want to cooperate, and that can quickly take its toll.
However, if you find this line of work suitable for you, it can be very rewarding and fulfilling. The field is also advancing quite fast at the moment, and new developments keep coming up on a regular basis. If the prospect of being at the forefront of this research excites you, this is definitely something you might want to look into.
Finance
Last but not least, all healthcare institutions need financial experts to handle this aspect of their operation. Good specialists in the world of finances are always welcome, even those that come from different backgrounds. In fact, some hospitals might appreciate someone who can bring in additional experience with a broader perspective than someone who’s worked exclusively in healthcare, so it’s something you might want to consider if you’re thinking about a career change.
A good thing about working in healthcare finances is that you can easily find a good balance between life and work, as some institutions have a lot more going on in this department than others.
As you can see, there is no shortage of options for getting into healthcare if you’re interested in the field, but don’t want to pursue the path of a physician. Many of these options are also open to those coming in from another line of work, and in fact, the additional experience might be appreciated in some cases. Take a look around at what’s available, figure out what kind of education and training you’re going to need to follow that path, and get started – the opportunities are there and waiting for you!