When thinking of a career in the medical field, you likely envision certain ideals and rewards that go along with it. You may want to find a career in which you help others. You may want to make a lot of money. You may not care anything about money but want to have flexible hours or be able to work in a variety of environments.
Choosing a career requires having a large amount of information. The more you know, the more confident you will be in deciding if it is right for you. If you have an interest in getting into the medical field, keep reading.
The information provided here should help you determine if the medical field is a career choice that will help you reach your personal and professional goals.
Medical Field Job Options
If you want to work in the medical field, you will have many job options. Medical assisting is usually listed as a good career to seek in the medical field. You can also choose a nursing career, which can range from vocational nursing to registered nurse to nurse practitioner.
Other careers include dentistry, physician, surgeon, occupational therapist, physical therapist, pharmacy technician, and medical administration.
You can work in a lab, research facility, or family practice. Or, you may want to work in a high paced emergency room helping patients or working on the budget with administration and no contact with patients.
Out of the numerous jobs in the medical field, there is likely one to meet your career goals.
Making Money
Just like the job options vary, so do the salaries within the medical field. For example, according to global rankings, a clinical lab technician earns an average of $25 an hour. Licensed vocational nurses earn an average of over $21 an hour.
On the administrative side, working in medical records can average someone around $20 an hour.
There are ample opportunities within the medical field to make a good salary.
Salary is not guaranteed and will vary depending on the location of the job, the amount of education you have acquired, the years of experience you have accumulated, and your employer.
In the medical field, demand can play a big role in salaries. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is an expected demand increase for all medical jobs through the year 2026.
Different Day, Different Experiences
Working in the medical field is not like working in other fields where you repeat the same routine day after day. Most jobs in the medical field will offer new experiences each day. This can mean your job duties may change each day also.
Having a variety each day can make working in the medical field attractive. Not many people like to go to work and feel bored. This boredom can lead to someone searching for a more exciting job. Medical field jobs are anything but boring.
Even those working on the administrative side of the medical field will face new and different issues each day. Some days they may be working with insurance companies, and other days they may need to work with physicians, staff members or policies.
If you enjoy not knowing what to expect each day at work, and appreciate variety, the medical field may be a good fit for you.
Jobs for Every Educational Level
The medical field has a career opportunity for everyone, no matter what your educational status. If you have an associate degree, you can work as a medical assistant, vocational nurse, lab technician, pharmacy technician, and as a medical administrator.
If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can work in the same jobs listed above, but at a higher level. You would likely be a registered nurse, and supervisor or manager of a department.
Those in the medical field can choose to go on and receive a master’s degree, doctoral degree, and medical degree. Each of these have their own job opportunity qualifications.
The quickest way to enter the medical field is with a fast-track training certificate from your local college. This certificate allows you to apply for entry-level positions in an area you desire. Examples include technicians, assistants, and support staff.
Continued Learning
The medical field is one of the best for offering continued learning opportunities for employees at all levels. Continued learning can take place through on-site training provided by your employer. Many times, these learning opportunities are offered to employees at no cost.
They may also grant you approval to attend conferences geared toward learning new trends and information in your area.
Other opportunities can include online webinars and courses. For those of you wanting to earn additional college credits, some medical agencies help with tuition.
By starting your college experience at your local college, it may be easy for you to advance to a higher degree program at that college. If you complete an associate degree, those credits may likely transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. Those credits will then transfer to a master’s program, and so on. Check with your local college for options on advanced degrees.
Because it is so important that everyone in the medical field keep up with new technology and other advancements, continued learning is considered a must.
Flexibility in Shift Work
Your personal life should not have to suffer because of your work hours. In the medical field, there are many jobs that offer flexibility in scheduling. If you need to be home in the evening to take care of your family, you can apply for daytime shifts.
If you need to work at night, there are evening and overnight shifts available. Some agencies allow you to work longer hours for fewer days a week.
These details are what you and your agency will work on together.
In conclusion, the medical field is worth getting into. You can grow within the company, work with a diverse group of staff, and be given career benefit packages. But most importantly, working in the medical field can help you feel satisfied and rewarded because you truly are helping people each day.
