5 Great Reasons to Work in Healthcare

The healthcare industry can offer a wealth of amazing benefits including excellent job satisfaction, high earning potential, and plenty of career advancement opportunities. Working in healthcare is not easy and most healthcare roles are demanding. However, healthcare can offer a highly rewarding career path for anyone with the drive and passion to succeed. If you’re considering a healthcare career, then here are five great reasons to join the industry.

1. Diverse job roles

One of the best things about working in healthcare is that the industry is incredibly diverse with a massive variety of job roles on offer. Many roles in healthcare involve working directly with patients. For instance, doctors and nurses are responsible for diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions and helping patients overcome health issues. There are also plenty of behind-the-scenes roles in healthcare that do not involve working directly with patients i.e. administration staff and medical researchers. There are job roles to suit different levels of qualification. Some healthcare roles(e.g. a surgeon) require several years of formal education whereas other roles only require a high school diploma and relevant work experience. Having such a wide variety of job opportunities makes it easy for people to find a role that will suit their skills and interests. To inspire you, here are some of the most popular jobs in healthcare:

• Physician – A physician is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats patients. They often work in hospitals, although they may also be employed in private practices or other medical facilities. To become a qualified physician you must earn a medical degree at an accredited college before completing a residency program at a hospital.
• Nurse – Similar to doctors, nurses provide medical care to patients and help them recover from illnesses and injuries. Nurses must complete an accredited nursing program and apply for state licensure before being able to practice nursing.
• Pharmacist – A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who is responsible for prescribing and supplying medication to patients. They also advise patients on how to take medication correctly. Most pharmacists complete a degree in pharmacy followed by a residency program to gain hands-on experience.
• Medical assistant – Medical assistants are responsible for completing clinical and administrative tasks within hospitals and doctor surgeries. Job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow by 19% in the next 10 years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is much higher than the average for other occupations.

2. High job satisfaction

Healthcare professionals have the opportunity to help people and have a positive impact on the lives of others. Healthcare professionals often gain a great sense of satisfaction from seeing a seriously ill patient make a full recovery, for example. This makes healthcare one of the most rewarding job sectors and many healthcare professionals report high job satisfaction. According to thebalance.com, the average retirement age for men is 65 while the average woman retires at 63 in the US. Therefore, you are likely to be working most of your adult life, so you must gain a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from your career. Choosing a rewarding industry like healthcare means that you’re likely to enjoy higher job satisfaction and fulfillment from your working life.

3. Advanced medical technology

Medical technology has evolved rapidly over the years and resulted in significant improvements in the healthcare industry. Modern technology enables medical professionals like doctors and nurses to diagnose and treat health conditions more effectively. For example, advanced x-raying and MRI machinery helps medical professionals identify cancerous tumors at an early stage and provide life-saving treatment. Hospitals and other medical facilities are also implementing technology to make healthcare professionals’ jobs easier and more efficient. For instance, centralized electronic databases allow nurses and other healthcare workers to locate patient information from anywhere instantly. This eliminates the need to spend time searching through physical filing cabinets. Advancing medical technology means that now is an exciting time to join the healthcare industry. There are plenty of blogs and articles offering further information on how technology has improved healthcare.

4. Career advancement opportunities

Healthcare professionals have plenty of opportunities to improve their job prospects and advance in their careers. Online qualifications and training courses have made it easy for healthcare professionals to broaden their skills and advance their medical knowledge. Additional certifications prepare healthcare professionals for senior roles and improve patient care. Earning online qualifications also enables healthcare professionals to boost their earning potential while gaining a competitive edge in the industry. People hoping to join the healthcare industry can also take advantage of online qualifications to complete training faster and more efficiently. For instance, there is a fantastic selection of online schools with accelerated nursing programs. These schools offer flexible online learning that can fit around work or family commitments. An accelerated nursing program allows students to complete the required training and become qualified much quicker than traditional training routes.

5. Job security

Healthcare professionals are in high demand across the board and there is a huge demand for skilled medical professionals like doctors and nurses. People are living longer and an aging population means that there is a growing need for healthcare services. For that reason, healthcare professionals enjoy high job security, quality training, and plenty of career advancement opportunities. The growing need for skilled healthcare professionals means that employees can often negotiate job perks such as flexible working hours or a salary increase. TheBLS anticipates that 2.4 million healthcare jobs will be added to the industry by 2029. This is far higher than the expected average job growth across all other occupations. With that in mind, the healthcare sector may be the ideal industry if you are looking for job security and long-term stability in your working life.

Conclusion

Working in healthcare can be hugely rewarding and the industry offers an exciting and fulfilling career path for many people. Healthcare roles can be demanding, but they also provide dozens of potential benefits including high earning potential, job satisfaction, and diverse career opportunities. If you’re considering a healthcare career, do plenty of research and find a job role that will suit your skills and interests.