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A: No, that’s not true at all. It can cost a lot of money to go to college and medical school, but many people take advantage of financial aid, grants, scholarships, and loans and loan forgiveness programs to help pay for school.
A. Not exactly. Television and movies can make any profession look more glamorous than it really is. The media also tends to focus on just a few health careers, like doctors and nurses, which is misleading. There are actually more than 100 different health careers. Also, most health professionals spend less time on the job talking about their romantic interests and more time actually helping patients.
A: The shortage is caused by two factors: increased demand for health care, and a shrinking supply of trained professionals. The number of people in older age groups with increasing needs is growing faster than the total population. There are not enough young people training for health professions to meet this growing need. In fact, there are not enough health professions students to replace the health workers who will retire in the next decade.
In addition, many health workers are leaving the field for other reasons. Some jobs are more stressful than others. It can be extremely rewarding yet challenging. EHC aims to make sure that people interested in entering the field are making informed choices about their career decisions. That’s why EHC provides reliable, objective and independent information about health careers.
A. Despite economic downturns, people continue to get sick and need health care. This is why some people call it the “beating heart” of the U.S. economy. By 2016, the government predicts that nearly 2 million new jobs will be created in the health care industry.
A: No job or profession is immune to lay offs. However, there is high demand and growing demand for health profession workers, particularly those on the frontlines of delivering care. Health care is also one industry that can’t be easily outsourced. In fact, many health care employers recruit from other countries because they can’t find enough workers here in America.
A: Nursing and allied health have the most severe shortages. But there are many health careers that are experiencing significant growth as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are in:
BLS categorizes Personal and Homecare Aides under Service – Personal Care and Service Occupations; while Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors, Mental Health Counselors and Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Workers are listed under Professional and related occupations – Community and Social Service occupations.
A: People who work in nursing homes as health aides, as well as certified nursing assistants who work in the patient’s home will be in high demand. In addition, more advanced fields will require specialists in geriatrics. This specialty is offered in numerous fields, including public health, medicine, and nursing to name a few.
A: Well, first of all, you have to genuinely like and want to help people. Compassion, empathy, intellectual curiosity, and excellent communication skills also go along way in helping someone to become an excellent health care provider. After that, you can learn how to perform specific health care duties in a training program at your local community college, college or university. Find out if a health career is right for you.
A: That’s a good question. Not all schools are accredited. Call and ask if the school is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or another authority. Accreditation is important, because many employers will not recognize a diploma or degree granted by a non-accredited school.
Even if a school is accredited, that doesn’t necessarily make it a “good” school for you. A good school is one that meets your educational goals. Is there academic support? Are the teachers engaged and enthusiastic about their topics? Do you feel comfortable on campus when you visit? Is the school’s lab well-equipped and the library fully stocked? If the educational program is online, make sure it also offers clinical experience and a way to connect directly with students and instructors. Do your homework before you pay your tuition.
A: Yes, yes, and yes! Some health fields offer greater flexibility than others for managing work/life and family balance. Many health careers offer “regular” 9-to-5 work hours, while others let you choose work hours that fit your family’s needs. English as a Second Language (ESL) workers are especially needed because of today’s diverse patient population. If you can speak English reasonably well and can translate for a patient who speaks your native language, you are in high demand! Workers who are disabled will find health employers willing to make accommodations and offer many rewarding job opportunities.
A: Absolutely! To name a few, health administration, teaching (nurse educators are in especially high demand), health education, and research. Read through the career profiles on EHC and you’ll find many opportunities that don’t involve working directly with patients.
A: There are serious health hazards in the health field. Health workers can be exposed to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis. Another potential hazard is exposure to radiation and caustic chemicals. The healthcare industry has adopted safety procedures to minimize risks associated with these hazards. However, one hazard that people often don’t think of is stress and burn out. The healthcare field is very demanding and stressful. In order to help others, a health care professional must be patient, calm, relaxed and compassionate. It is important to take wellness breaks/vacations when needed.
A: The more specialized or advanced training you receive, the greater your earning potential. This training doesn’t have to be completed before you start working – you can continue to learn and increase your earnings throughout your career. Professionals and managers in health fields also tend to earn more than other workers. You may be surprised to know that registered nurses are paid one of the highest hourly rates among health workers.
A: A specialized career requires advanced training beyond the minimum requirements. Many health careers offer opportunities for specialization. The most common known specialties are in the medical field. For example, a pediatrician is a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy who specializes in caring for children. Nurses can specialize too. There are pediatric nurse specialists, clinical nurse specialists, geriatric nurses, etc. In fact, there are more than 150 nursing specialties – but most nurses don’t specialize until they’ve spent several years working as a registered nurse.
A: EHC is committed to promoting and supporting diversity in all of its expressions. Diversity encompasses not only race and ethnicity but socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, education, age, etc. Increasing the number of health care professionals who are from underrepresented minority and low-income backgrounds and who are culturally competent, will improve access and quality to care for everyone. Ultimately, increasing the number and diversity of health care professionals will save lives.
A: Healthcare disparities occur when certain ethnic groups receive inadequate or poor healthcare, based on their race, ethnicity or social economic status. Studies have shown that even when members of minority groups have the same incomes, insurance coverage and medical conditions as whites, they receive poorer or inadequate care. By encouraging more people from diverse backgrounds to explore careers in health, we are creating a workforce that is sensitive to the cultural needs of a diverse and aging patient population.
A: The term “medically underserved” is a Federal designation based on a very complex formula created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (also known as HRSA). The Federal government designates “Health Professional Shortage Areas” (HPSAs) and “Medically Underserved Areas” (MUAs) based on:
1. the ratio of primary medical care physicians or dentists per 1,000 population
2. infant mortality rate
3. the percentage of the population with incomes below the poverty level, and
4. the percentage of the population age 65 and older.
All of the above factors can occur in rural and even specific urban areas. Members of Federally recognized Native American tribes are automatically designated as medically underserved for dentistry. These groups often don’t get the care they need and may have to travel far to see a doctor or dentist.
A: The number and location of HPSAs and MUAs changes frequently. You can find current information on the HRSA website.
A: Health workers are employed in a wide variety of settings. Nursing and residential care facilities – like nursing homes, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers, home health services, offices of other health practitioners such as dentists, optometrists, podiatrists; outpatient care centers (like kidney dialysis centers, outpatient mental health clinics) other ambulatory care centers (blood and organ banks, pacemaker monitoring services); medical and diagnostic laboratories, such as x-ray labs. Many health workers also work for government agencies, schools, and correctional facilities. Others work in industry or as consultants. Depending on which health profession you choose, the number of potential work settings is almost unlimited.
A: Not at all! Many health care jobs require less than 4 years of college. These careers include opportunities in the allied health professions. EHC can help you Find a Health Career based on your educational goals.
A. Health workers are needed in every community, from the inner city to the most rural areas. The variety of jobs and the pay vary depending on geography, but chances are you will be able to find work in health care almost anywhere.
A: Software development to support some of the technological advances in healthcare is creating new opportunities. People who write the computer programs and design the software to monitor pacemakers, track surgical operation schedules, and record notes on patients in a hand-held device are in demand. In addition, advances in bioengineering that help create knee and hip implants, artificial hearts and robots that assist with surgery is providing expanded and new career opportunities in these fields. Advances in technology are improving the quality of life for many patients and helping to save lives. Check out the EHC article “Good with computers? Consider a Health Career.”
A: Someone who has been working in the same field for many years may grow impatient; want more of a challenge or desire a change of pace. This happens often with mid-career changers. Just as your skills, knowledge and ability may change over time, so too can your career interests. Fortunately, in health care you can build a varied and ever-changing career by taking classes to learn new skills, or changing work settings. Some health care employers will help pay for school and give you time off to earn the qualifications for promotion, while others offer “career ladder” programs that let you learn new skills on the job.
A: Of course you can! Contrary to popular belief, there is no one right path to enter the health field. Many health workers started their careers in frontline jobs that require only a high school diploma. On the job, they learned about other health career opportunities and they pursued additional training to qualify for promotion – often with their original employer. Starting out as an orderly, a general aide or even working in the housekeeping or food service department of a health facility is a terrific way to “get your foot in the door” toward a higher-paying health career.
A: EHC is free because the mission of EHC is to provide easy access to all students seeking information about health careers. Low-income and minority students are least likely to have resources available to them to inspire and motivate them to succeed. We believe everyone can be successful in whatever career they choose. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but with the right tools and FREE resources the playing-field can be leveled so that all students receive an equal opportunity.
EHC is able to provide valuable information at no cost thanks in part to generous support by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The American Dental Education Association also contributes resources, talent and expertise to ensure that the project is successful.
A: Unfortunately, yes. There is unreliable information on the Web. EHC is unique because the career information on this site is peer-reviewed by national associations representing the careers or an accrediting body. We ask others who are experts in the field to review what we write before it is posted and periodically to ensure that the information remains accurate.
A: A Pre-Health Enrichment Program is a catch-all term for a wide range of programs that help enrich, expose, and enhance your preparation for entry in health profession programs. Most of the programs listed in the EHC Pre-Health Enrichment Program database are for college students, and most occur during the summer, although there are some offered during the academic year. A good example of a pre-health enrichment program is one that offers some type of academic enrichment, i.e., coursework to supplement, enhance and advance your understanding of science and medical-related courses, or an experiential program that involves shadowing health professionals to see what they do. Participating in a pre-health enrichment program is not essential, but it can help you narrow your career focus and make valuable contacts who can serve as mentors and provide references throughout your career.
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Last updated: May 17, 2012
©2012 American Dental Education Association ExploreHealthCareers is sponsored in part, by the Institute for Oral Health.
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