Health Care Careers Offer Renewed Opportunities
After a Lay Off Look to the Health Field for a Future
Dec 31, 2008
Although the health care industry may have to scale back somewhat, the fact remains that people continue to need health care services. The population is aging and technology has made it possible to live longer, and to survive illness and disease that in the past would have taken lives at an earlier stage.
That technology has also opened up many new career paths in the health care field.The outlook for health care jobs continues to be good well into the next decade, where as many of the other industries will not see a recovery.
A Stepping Stone Approach
The health care field offers a unique opportunity to many who wish to take a stepping stone approach to attaining their ultimate goals. For instance, beginning a career as a medical assistant, a phlebotomist, or a certified nursing assistant can lead to many diverse roles in the health care field such as nursing, physical, occupational and even speech/language therapy, EMT/paramedic, respiratory therapy, radiology, ultrasound and other diagnostic technologists, etc.
Build on the Foundation
Entry level education and training is a foundation for growing into the next level. For instance, a person wishing to become a nurse may begin his or her career in any of the aforementioned positions (medical assistant, phlebotomist or CNA) and then may study to become a Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse which takes about twelve to eighteen months to complete. (They could also choose to go directly into an RN program as well.)
From there, the nurse has several options. S/he can continue to work as a bedside nurse for an entire career. Licensed Practical or Vocational nurses are much more in demand again these days. In California and Texas the term is Vocational nurse, where as throughout the rest of the US the term is Practical nurse. In other countries, there is often a similar classification equal to the LPN.
The trend in the U.S. has been to try to eliminate this position, and most LPNs have had to seek employment in nursing homes, practitioner’s offices or clinics, but with a shortage of nurses and economic issues, hospitals have begun hiring more LPNs again.
Continue Along the Career Path
Practical nurses can also continue their education and become RNs through a variety of ways. In the past they could challenge the RN boards after securing sufficient work experience, but now they must obtain additional education. Online nursing programs are open to LPNs and offer bridging programs to become an RN or to obtain a BSN or even MSN. Traditional brick and mortar schools also offer the same options.
There are many opportunities in the health care industry. For more information, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S.Department Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Career Options in the Health Field
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