Choosing Healthcare as a Career

For those who are considering a career in healthcare, there are many compelling reasons to choose this field over others. Many gravitate toward careers in healthcare due to its mission and values. The healthcare system strives to prevent, diagnose, and treat all manner of disease and illness, and it takes a diverse group of trained professionals in various settings to serve the patients that rely on them.

Many people pursue healthcare careers out of a desire to help others. Changing another person’s life by positively impacting their health is highly fulfilling on both a personal and professional level, and values and traits such as compassion and empathy can be an integral part of serving patients daily. The care a patient receives varies in approach and intensity depending on their needs and health conditions. Patient care can be as personal as helping a patient with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and walking. Healthcare professionals can save lives, improve health conditions, and support patients in maintaining their health or dying with dignity.

In addition to helping others, there is a great deal of job security in healthcare. Demand for most healthcare roles is increasing as the population ages and expands, and salaries are rising due to this demand. Once a person learns some medical terminology and develops familiarity with healthcare systems and processes, they will have opportunities to advance in responsibility, pursue new interests within healthcare, and continue with further education and training.

This book contains chapters that go into detail about each type of healthcare career, such as nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, office, and administrator positions. In addition, there are chapters on law and ethics in healthcare, applying and interviewing for healthcare jobs, and professionalism in healthcare, among other topics.

Introducing Career Pathways in Healthcare

There are many options for serving others in a healthcare role. Some people have an aversion to dealing with human body fluids, such as blood, but would find fulfillment in an administrative capacity, such as billing or management of health records. Other options include counseling, social work, or another non-direct patient care role. If you know another language, medical interpreting is an in-demand role.

It is important to note that not all care is focused on illness; a critical part of healthcare is disease prevention through wellness promotion. This includes promoting a healthy diet, encouraging regular exercise, and providing education on other lifestyle choices, such as tobacco use. Another element of healthcare with a wellness focus is helping people who are recovering from injury or surgery regain function. Physical or occupational therapists and therapy assistants help these patients strengthen muscles and increase flexibility with rehabilitation exercises. Massage therapists may work in a physical therapy clinic or in a relaxation-focused environment such as a spa. Additionally, some careers might interact with patients in other capacities, such as in radiology, where imaging technicians might perform ultrasounds to monitor progress during pregnancy or perform X-rays to help identify broken bones following an injury.

Some people may prefer the more hands-on applications of medicine. If so, a role in direct patient care may be appropriate. Examples of direct patient care include taking blood pressure, giving injections,  bathing, assisting with walking, performing CPR, and working with patients undergoing surgery.

Other people may enjoy specializing in a certain part of the body. For example, those interested in oral health might be drawn to dentistry. Those fascinated by the work of the heart and its associated structures may wish to pursue a career as a nurse in a cardiac intensive care unit, caring for people with heart conditions or after heart surgery. There are also roles imaging the heart’s blood vessels in cardiac catheterization labs. Those interested in the lungs or breathing may want to help people with issues such as asthma, the need for oxygen therapy, and managing mechanical ventilation for the most critically ill patients as a respiratory therapist. Alternatively, interest in muscles and bones may lead to professions related to function and injury, such as sports medicine or physical therapy. Someone who is interested in how medication works in the body and enjoys customer service may find a career as a pharmacy technician appealing, as this role involves both aspects.

Healthcare also offers high-adrenaline jobs for those who thrive in fast-paced or intense care roles, such as emergency medical technicians who respond to 911 calls. Working in certain environments, such as an emergency department, can offer busy and challenging shifts interacting with patients who are experiencing cardiac arrest, heart attacks, strokes, or trauma. In healthcare, there is always a specialty where you can explore the subjects that interest you.

Educational Preparation and Licensure

All the careers mentioned thus far are attainable through either a certificate program of 1 month to less than 1 year, or prerequisites plus a specific program of study resulting in a degree. Prerequisites lay a foundation of knowledge that will help the student succeed in the specialized program.

Most healthcare careers require common science prerequisites such as biology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and chemistry courses. If a program is an associate’s degree or higher, there will be general college requirements such as English, psychology, communication, and math courses. A two-year program at a community or technical college would earn the graduate an associate’s degree. There are also four-year programs leading to a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degrees are typically part of four-year colleges and universities but are sometimes offered at community and technical colleges if there is an obvious need.

Some careers in healthcare, such as nursing, can be thought of in terms of steps. For example, someone interested in nursing could start as a nursing assistant, which only requires 1 to 3 months of training, providing basic care to patients such as assistance with eating and bathing. In this example, becoming a nursing assistant is “step one” because it allows for someone to begin working in the field quickly. “Step two” might be to pursue licensure as a practical or registered nurse, each with its own programs and prerequisites. Because the previous step provides valuable experience in the field, and each level of education supports the next, there is room for a person to grow within their profession through higher levels of education. The nurse in our example may choose to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctoral degree, each its own “step” in this nurse’s professional development. These advanced programs might be undertaken to gain advanced education in public health, become a provider such as a nurse practitioner, learn to be a researcher, or work in higher education as an instructor or professor.

The time it takes to finish an education program can be an important consideration when choosing a field but should not be a barrier. All healthcare settings have opportunities that do not require advanced degrees. Pharmacy and physical or occupational therapy offer entry-level positions as pharmacy technicians and physical or occupational therapy assistants. Typically, these entry-level positions require a two-year associate’s degree. Other positions in these same settings, such as pharmacists or physical therapists, require a doctoral degree, which can take 7 to 8 years of college before being able to care for patients. Most areas in healthcare have varying levels of education for roles that work together as a team to provide care. A good example is a dental office, where a receptionist, a billing specialist, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists all work together with differing educational backgrounds to provide different aspects of the patient’s care.

Education cannot be discussed without mentioning recent, exciting advances in technology. Programs preparing the next generation of healthcare practitioners are using technology to simulate what students will experience in the field. There are now high-fidelity manikins that can talk, cry, and cough. Manikins may even have heart and lung sounds and can be made to have wounds or even changes in blood pressure. Simulation, where learners work in a team to practice managing a specific healthcare issue in a realistic setting, is a valuable learning modality and a major underpinning of today’s programs. In some cases, virtual reality tools are used to allow learners to practice what they would do in certain care scenarios.

Certification and Licensure

Every role that entails direct patient care requires some form of professional credential. The type of credential is unique to a particular healthcare profession. The law regulating the profession determines whether the credential needs to be a license, certification, registration, temporary or limited license, or permit. Usually, documentation from an educational program is submitted to the state or organization, and a fee is collected to provide the certification or license. A license or certification is usually required before a person can practice a healthcare profession. The qualifications for specific professions are set in state law. Additionally, some careers require a national board exam after graduation from an educational program to meet qualifications, such as nursing and respiratory therapy. After successfully passing the exam, a fee is normally paid. For example, as of 2023, a registered nurse would pay $120 for their license. Keep in mind that some licenses restrict eligibility. Some examples of barriers to healthcare licensure include certain felony convictions relating to drugs, abuse of a spouse, abuse of a child, or abuse of the elderly or vulnerable. While some programs may do a background check to ensure that you qualify, it is important to be aware and personally check with programs to ensure you are not disqualified from necessary credentials.

Yearly renewal fees are often required to keep licenses active, and many professions also require ongoing additional training or education over a certain period, such as 1 year or 3 years. This is to make sure people are aware of any changes, such as new laws, scope of practice, new scientific evidence, and advances in technology related to their field.

See Appendix 2 for a link to health professions and the associated fees in Washington state.

Advantages of Employment in Healthcare

Job Security

A major draw to the healthcare field is job security. Healthcare is one of the fastest growing fields due to the increasing number of people who need health services. The U.S. population is projected to grow by almost 17 million by 2030, and as individuals age, their healthcare needs tend to increase. As of 2021, people over 50 make up 36% of the U.S. population (USAFacts, 2023). Regardless of age, diseases such as diabetes and conditions such as hypertension are common, with patients needing health education, screenings, and check-ups to maintain their best health. People of all ages need emergency care and preventive health measures, such as immunizations and information about optimal nutrition and exercise, expanding the need for healthcare professionals to provide these important services.

Pay and Salary

Healthcare has some of the highest pay based on level of education compared to other industries. Due to the current shortage of healthcare workers in many roles, there are often hiring bonuses of up to several thousand dollars. Comprehensive healthcare and other benefits, such as retirement savings, are offered in almost all full-time positions and are often available even for part-time workers. If an employee wishes to advance their education, many health organizations offer tuition support for the promise of that employee providing future service with the skills or licensure they earn. This allows healthcare workers to advance further in their field while their organization benefits from the increased level of care their staff can provide.

Settings and Schedules

The schedule of a healthcare worker varies depending on the position. Some jobs, such as those in an office or business department, have the traditional 8-hour, 5-day-a-week, full-time schedule. Hospital workers such as nursing assistants, nurses, and respiratory therapists often work 12-hour shifts, 3 days a week, which is considered full-time. Typical shifts are 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Those who work the overnight shift earn extra pay, called a shift differential. Some positions in clinics may offer four 10-hour shifts per week, allowing for 3 days off. Some nurses visit patients in their own homes, which may change how their schedule looks. Emergency workers such as paramedics may work 24-hour shifts that include waiting to respond. There are also part-time and on-call positions in many departments. Working from home is another possibility in some roles, such as a medical coder working with health information, since they are not working with patients directly. Portions of other jobs can be done over the phone or via video conferencing applications such as Zoom or Teams. There are also temporary and short-term contracted positions that may have a higher level of flexibility than others.

One potential downside of healthcare is that hospitals and emergency services must be staffed 24 hours a day every day of the year, including holidays. Many employment contracts also require people to work every other weekend. Although there is often a pay differential for weekend shifts and holiday work, it can mean time away from family on special occasions. Typically, a workplace has a schedule where holidays are rotated among staff. Employees who wish to maintain a religious observance need to communicate with their employer.

Travel

Once a person is trained for certain in-demand roles and gains some experience, there may be opportunities to travel to fill staffing shortages all over the country. These contracts are typically for 3 months and are usually in high-demand professions. Being trained in certain healthcare roles can also create opportunities to work and explore globally, allowing healthcare professionals to develop an understanding of other cultures and languages. Voluntary and paid positions exist with organizations such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, which send healthcare workers to international destinations to help in a crisis or to offer surgery and other treatment in underserved areas or places where accessing healthcare is difficult. These positions may range from the standard few months to a few years. Groups such as Operation Smile typically go to a region for a few weeks at a time and perform surgeries, such as cleft lip and palate repair, so they need all roles related to surgical care and patient recovery. The surgeries are offered for free or pay-as-able to the community. These travel opportunities are unforgettable and can be life-changing experiences for both the patients and the workers.

Common Themes and Values Across Careers

Patients First

One critical aspect of caring for others is to put the patient and their loved ones first, also known as patient-centered care. This may seem like an obvious priority, but historically, doctors were seen as having great power and knowledge, and patients followed their recommendations without question, creating opportunities for healthcare professionals to take advantage of patients. NEJM Catalyst (2017) defines patient-centered care as a relationship in which “an individual’s specific health needs and desired health outcomes are the driving force behind all healthcare decisions and quality measurements.” Healthcare professionals using this approach view patients as partners in the pursuit of optimal health, considering not only their physical needs but also how emotional, mental, spiritual, social, and financial factors affect their health.

In addition, patient-centered care is provided with sensitivity and respect for the diversity of human experience, taking into account the patient’s values, preferences, and needs. Healthcare workers must be willing to reflect on and examine their own attitudes about working with patients from different ethnic, cultural, political, and social backgrounds, whose values may differ from their own (QSEN Institute, 2023).

Values and Ethics

While there are many roles in healthcare, there are some common attributes of those who serve others that will make healthcare a good fit as a career choice. Compassion, empathy, and patience are necessary when spending your working hours in service positions. Values like honesty, responsibility, and accountability can help to direct an individual’s decision making in the field. Because so many people, from patients to peers, are relying on healthcare professionals to be present to meet patient needs, being reliable and on-time is critical to keep operations running smoothly. In the post-pandemic world, where many people’s ability to work has been affected, staffing healthcare positions is a constant challenge. Healthcare workers are also trusted to work with expensive equipment, and all supplies must be honestly accounted for and cared for properly. An ethical approach is necessary, embodying principles such as “first, do no harm” and offering just and equitable care for all people regardless of background, income, ethnicity, or sexuality/gender expression.

These values extend to the respect of a patient’s individual rights. Each facility typically provides their own version, but the general concepts are based on ethical principles, such as autonomy, and include the following patient rights:

• The right to be treated justly
• The right to receive accurate information about care
• The right to refuse treatment
• The right to have confidential medical care
• The right to continuity of care
• The right to have pain treated to a level of toleration
• The right to be free from physical restraints unless the patient is thought to be likely to hurt themself or others
• The right to view their own medical records
• The right to have clear explanations of costs and bills
• The right to determine and provide advanced directives (Olejarczyk & Young, 2022)

Commitment

Keep in mind that when a healthcare organization hires you, they are investing time and money in your training. By being a part of a healthcare team, you are not only committing your time and energy to your patients but also to your organization and peers. Although every job has some stressful aspects associated with it, coworkers and patients rely on your presence. Gratitude for the opportunity to receive on-the-job training is a positive way to approach a healthcare profession. Be aware that potential employers will evaluate a job candidate’s work history for frequent job changes, which can make it appear as if the candidate lacks commitment. There may be legitimate reasons to change jobs, such as finding a workplace closer to home, but be sure to point out why you left an organization. Resilience and the ability to persevere through difficulties are ways that a healthcare worker might show their commitment. The longer a worker stays in the field the more experience they gain, allowing them to develop professionally and improve their ability to care for patients.

Integrity and Trustworthiness

Healthcare professionals are constantly collecting and interacting with patients’ private health and personal information. Keeping that information confidential is a matter of personal integrity as well as a legal requirement. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA, regulates what information can be shared with other healthcare professionals, and what or when information cannot be shared. Training on patient privacy will occur on the job as well as in the educational preparation for the healthcare role. People who are ill, frightened, or relying on the healthcare worker for vital information are in a vulnerable state. The healthcare worker is placed in a position of trust to provide the appropriate care or information and to help people face challenges and solve problems. You will learn more about the laws and ethics surrounding patient information in Chapter 4. In the meantime, understand that regardless of law, healthcare professionals provide better care when they work with integrity.

Communication, Listening, and Emotional Intelligence

Patients have information, concerns, and stories about their lives that help us understand who they are and what is important to them, so healthcare workers need to listen carefully and give people the time to communicate. Along with being able and willing to speak up when something is not right, these critical elements keep others safe in a healthcare environment. In some instances, healthcare professionals may need to provide tools and resources to ensure patients are informed about the healthcare being provided. For example, healthcare professionals in the United States are typically taught how to communicate and write in English. However, for patients and families who do not speak English fluently, interpreters will be used. In this example, healthcare professionals should address the patient directly, and the interpreter will translate.

Healthcare is also a field where different roles must share information about a patient. This is usually done because different healthcare specialists provide different aspects of care, and the information flowing between them must be accurate to prevent errors and potential harm. This extends to healthcare workers being clear with peers or supervisors about their limitations. If a healthcare worker has not been trained on a new piece of equipment or does not know how to do a procedure, they need to be clear about their current understanding so no mistakes are made that could hurt someone. A willingness to slow down and truly, attentively, listen to people can help individuals feel comfortable discussing these kinds of concerns.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is one of the “soft” or “people” skills needed in healthcare workers. One way to describe EI is the ability to understand and manage emotions, which gives healthcare workers insight into interpersonal relationships. EI is not something people are born with. They learn by example and can gain skills that will help enhance relationships (Cavaness et. al., 2020, p. 197). Some examples of emotional intelligence include:

• An ability to identify and describe what people are feeling
• A strong sense of curiosity, particularly about other people
• Feelings of empathy and concern for other people
• Showing sensitivity to the feelings of other people
• Accepting responsibility for mistakes
• The ability to manage emotions in difficult situations

Showing sensitivity to others may be challenging based on a variety of factors, such as a person’s upbringing, cultural expectations, and neurodiversity. Keep this in mind, as it may require increased effort or support to convey recognition of what others are feeling due to your experience and identity, and the level of effort may vary depending on the situation.

Time Management and Prioritization

Using work time wisely and keeping up with responsibilities can be challenging in any job. It is especially important when patients and others we serve are counting on the healthcare worker’s ability to multitask and keep track of many things at once. Being able to identify what is most important or urgent and then prioritize your attention is a key aspect of a healthcare job.

A checklist or other notes can help ensure you have remembered each thing that needs attention. Many healthcare workers need to open a patient’s electronic health record to document information, such as blood pressure. Finding time to put information in the record, also known as “charting,” can be problematic, but it is critical for others to be able to see what happened while you worked with the patient, both as a method of communication and a guide to planning the next steps of care.

Job Requirements

All healthcare jobs will list requirements to perform the job. These may include educational preparation, certification or licensure, expectations of prior experience, and physical abilities such as lifting a certain amount of weight or meeting other physical aspects of the job. If you have concerns about specific job requirements for a position you have applied for, you can contact human resources (HR) at your place of work or discuss them in your interview for a position. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also has in-depth information on job requirements listed alphabetically in their Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Self-Care

Due to the high stress of working with people who rely on them and juggling multiple priorities, healthcare workers need to have a plan for rest and a way to replenish their energy. The demands of the job can deplete a person’s drive and desire to continue their work. For example, healthcare workers can encounter emotionally difficult and traumatic situations, such as someone working with people who have cancer and are suffering or dying. In addition to time and physical/mental/emotional energy, the role may require that the person be on their feet, moving from person to person or place to place for many hours. This alone can cause physical and mental exhaustion. It is okay to ask for help. Reach out to a coworker or your team leader and let them know you are feeling overwhelmed, need assistance to complete specific tasks, or need a short break to reset.

Resources are available for coping, such as spiritual care, employee assistance programs, and mental health counseling referrals. Planning downtime and having methods for managing stress are all critical to preventing burnout and continuing to find fulfillment in your work. Days off with fun activities, getting together with friends, walking in nature, and regular exercise can help reduce stress and occupy the mind with things other than work. Focused and mindful activities such as meditation, artistic hobbies, or prayer can also lower work-related stress. Part of self-care in healthcare is sometimes saying no to extra commitments or extra shifts, especially when trying to schedule time for family and self-care activities. Some healthcare workers may work odd shifts, and when people do not get adequate sleep, they are not able to perform at their best. Lack of sleep not only contributes to building stress but can lead to making mistakes or causing harm. These concerns are why incorporating adequate self-care is a priority within the field today.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers were fearful of getting the virus and had to take on more work than ever. This caused many workers to examine their life priorities, and some of them left healthcare. Those who stayed faced the additional stressor of working without enough staff. Ultimately, each person must decide what is manageable in their life and what is not.

Self-care extends to how healthcare workers protect themselves against certain risks when interacting with patients. Those working in direct patient care need to know how to protect themselves with proper personal protective equipment or (PPE), such as gloves and masks, and get the appropriate vaccinations against viral and bacterial infections, such as COVID-19 and Hepatitis B. These precautions protect patients, but they also ensure that healthcare workers are staying healthy so they can continue to support those patients to the best of their abilities.

Attributions

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