Choosing Careers In Healthcare
Working in healthcare can be fun, rewarding, and compensated very generously. If you feel that a career in healthcare might be a good fit for you, then your next task is to identify attainable healthcare careers that suit your goals.
Current Financial Situation
One of the most important factors in choosing an educational pathway is your current financial situation. It can determine the school you go to, your lifestyle during those years, and your life well after you’ve completed your education.
Your current financial situation should not only take into account your savings and your ability to earn income while studying, it should also take into account your ability (or willingness) to obtain additional funding through loans and scholarship programs. Can you get loans from family? Are you eligible for student loans, government grants, or a line of credit from a financial institution? More importantly, will you be able to pay off debt in a timely fashion, and will you be eligible for any government debt forgiveness programs after you graduate?
Years of Education
Going to school and working/living off savings is no easy task. How many years of schooling are you willing to undergo? How many years of schooling would you be able to afford? Will you be taking on a full-time or part-time course load?
There are careers in the medical field that only require a high school diploma or a 1 year program of study. There are also professions that require 2 year associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or postgraduate degrees. Failing to make a realistic assessment of your current situation prior to committing to a program of study can be costly.
Online Schools vs. Local
While traditional colleges and technical/vocational schools are stil the preferred educational medium, training programs for many healthcare professions exist online. Online schooling offers a high amount of flexibility and convenience for those who need to juggle work and/or kids along with their continuing education. If you have commitments that command a significant amount of time and attention, choosing an online school can give you the flexibility you need to advance your education while taking care of your other commitments.
Note that – while virtually every program will offer some form of online support – not all programs and professions offer full online distance education programs. Some programs may offer part of their curriculum online, but will still require attendance at a local school for clinical training. If you need the flexibility offered by online schools, it’s a good idea to inquire about these options beforehand.
Earning Potential
Its important that you choose a career that will give you the earning power to achieve your goals. You should not only be looking at entry-level salaries, but what the salaries will look like as you gain seniority. Some careers offer attractive entry-level salaries, but with a lower upper salary range, while other careers may offer lower entry-level salaries, but more room for growth and earning power as you gain experience.
Work/Life Balance & Passion
Finally, it’s important to choose a career that you are passionate about and that allows you time for the things that are most important to you. While compensation is important, it should come second to your happiness. If reading a job description makes you cringe, then you’re probably looking at the wrong career, no matter how attractive it may look on paper. If you have family commitments and/or hobbies that require your time and attention, then choosing a career that offers more flexible hours may be a priority.
Ultimately, you want to choose a career that you find rewarding, that fits your lifestyle, and that is attainable based on your financial and educational situation. Fortunately, there are positions in healthcare that fit all different types. You can find out more about your career options in the medical field right here at ExploreMedicalCareers.com.
Becoming a Nurse
As part of the process of becoming a nurse, you will need to submit forms to the board of nursing in your state, your board of nursing will be your point of contact to get your ATT (Authorization to Test) letter.
With this letter, you will be able to take the NCLEX.