Knowing you want a career in healthcare is a great starting point. However, too often, people get stuck on doctors or nurses as their two options when there is a wide range of careers you can pursue under the umbrella of healthcare.
Audiologist
An audiologist is a medical professional trained to diagnose and treat hearing, as well as balance problems. To practice in the United States, you will need to earn a Doctorate in Audiology or a postgraduate degree from a university with an audiology graduate program.
Audiologists offer specialized treatment, so the jobs are not as widespread as other careers in healthcare. However, this doesn’t mean you will have difficulty finding employment. You may work with a medical group, hospital system, or within a private practice.
First Responder
The category of the first responder can include EMS, EMT, fireman, law enforcement, and others. They are the people that are the first to respond to emergencies. They need to be trained and certified in a wide range of different areas due to not knowing what skills they’ll need before arriving on the scene. Needed skills will include first aid, CPR, and ACLS certification.
While there are in-person classes you will need for initial certification, there are online ACLS recertification options that allow first responders to stay up to date on their needed skills. The recertification process will also allow them to learn changes or new best practices. There is a demand for first responders in every region and city, so you can find a job regardless of where you live.
Additionally, because there are so many different first responders, you can choose your exact profession based on other skills and goals. Regardless of the profession chosen, all first responders need to respond well under pressure and make effective decisions quickly.
Ultrasound Technician
An ultrasound technician is an individual that conducts the ultrasound and provides the physicians with the ultrasound results. The tech is not a physician, but they are a critical part of the healthcare system, and talented ultrasound techs are highly valuable.
The training for certification is approximately 18 months, and similar to several other careers within healthcare, they are needed everywhere, so you can find employment regardless of where you live. You can work in a doctor’s office, hospital, or other medical facilities.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist works with patients following an injury or illness to help them regain function and mobility. To work as a physical therapist in the United States, you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE-accredited PT education program, as well as pass your state’s licensure exam. Education includes an overview of several areas of medicine to gain a holistic understanding of where physical therapy fits into a patient’s overall health plan. You can choose to work in a hospital, rehabilitation center, private practice, or educational facility, among others. There is a widespread need for PTs, so jobs are not limited to specific geographic areas.
Hematologist
A hematologist focuses on the health of blood, blood-forming organs, and treats blood diseases. Disorders such as hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle-cell anemia all fall under the umbrella of hematology. It is considered a form of internal medicine, and similarly to other internal medicine specialties, it requires seven years or more years of medical school and postgraduate work.
They must also pass a board certification exam for internal medicine. There is a wide range of different employment options for hematologists, and they are needed anywhere, so geographic location is flexible.
Hematologists can choose to work with patients or in the field of research. Hematology is an ideal profession for some intrigued by blood and internal medicine and is driven by solving mysteries. Often, hematologists are tasked with finding the problem by studying the blood.
