When it comes to jobs, most of us hope to find a career that is fulfilling in addition to paying the bills. One avenue to explore in this regard is roles that involve helping other people. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, healthcare is perhaps the most obvious field to start with. The good news is that there are all sorts of different roles available within the medical industry, so you’re sure to find a position that suits your interests, skills, and personality. Being a doctor is not the only choice! To get you inspired, here are six very different healthcare jobs that you could choose to retrain in. Hopefully one will catch your eye!
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Registered Nurse
For many people, nursing is the career that immediately springs to mind when they think of jobs that involve caring for others. The role sees you working as part of a healthcare team, providing primary care to patients of all ages and with a wide range of medical conditions. Although the specific duties you have will vary depending on where you work, you can expect to administer medication, conduct physical examinations, dress wounds, take blood, update medical records, assist with medical procedures, and educate patients about relevant healthcare issues.
As you progress in your career, you’ll have the option to specialize in an area of nursing that’s of particular interest to you. For example, there are courses in midwifery, gerontology, and pediatric nurse practitioner online programs, as well as opportunities to move into indirect patient care roles. These could include nursing informatics, educating the next generation of nurses, working in healthcare policy, or moving into a management role. Additionally, there are certifications one must hold and renew from time to time, like online PALS certification courses, to be able to work in certain healthcare facilities.
Paramedic
For those who excel at working under pressure in a fast-paced environment, becoming a paramedic is definitely a career worth looking into. You’ll act as an emergency responder in a wide variety of situations, from heart attacks and road collisions to mass casualty incidents. A key aspect of being a paramedic is providing advanced medical care directly to patients in the field. This could be anything from treating wounds, administering medication, and inserting IVs to providing breathing support and even resuscitating people.
To succeed as a paramedic, you’ll need the ability to remain calm under stress, be able to think on your feet in unpredictable situations and exhibit strong communication and decision-making skills. It’s also important to have good levels of physical fitness, and the capacity to cope well with distressing circumstances. Leadership is another key skill, as you are often the most senior member of your team.
Senior Living Facility Assistant
Working in a senior living facility means caring for the most elderly members of society – something that’s becoming ever more important as the country’s population ages. The sort of duties you have will depend on the exact needs of those in your care but could include assisting residents with daily tasks such as washing and dressing, administering medication, preparing and serving meals, running fitness classes and craft activities, and being an important source of companionship.
The overall aim of the role is to enable senior citizens to live as independently as possible, help them enjoy a high quality of life for as long as they can, and ensure they are always treated with dignity and respect. Positivity and patience are vital in this career, particularly when caring for patients with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Mental Health Counselor
Those with an interest in the mind and psychology may well find the role of a mental health counselor to be a fascinating and rewarding one. You’ll take a holistic approach towards mental illness, and use treatments such as medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychotherapy to help patients with a wide range of conditions. These could include eating disorders, PTSD, OCD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, phobias, and much more.
Mental health issues are prevalent in today’s society, so this is an important role. You could work anywhere from specialist clinics to hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and even correctional facilities. Most cases involve assessing and diagnosing your patients, working with them to set goals and identify issues, and then developing a treatment plan to help them recover and succeed. It’s recommended that you study for a master’s degree in mental health counseling in order to work in this field.
Fitness Trainer
If you are a naturally energetic person and love to stay active, why not consider a role as a fitness trainer? This involves working with clients to achieve their personal fitness goals in a safe and effective manner through nutrition and exercise. With obesity rates in the US remaining consistently high, one of the most common cases you’ll deal with is helping people to lose weight. This is important not just for looks, but because obesity is linked to a wide range of harmful medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
In addition to helping people lose weight, you could also assist them with training for specific sports events or returning to an activity they love after suffering an injury. Trainers can choose to work with people in groups, for example hosting exercise classes or running clubs, or to assist clients on an individual basis. You’ll need to be a good motivator in order to ensure people succeed, but also compassionate when they hit a hurdle.
Occupational Therapist
As an occupational therapist, your role will be to help people who are injured, ill or disabled to carry out their daily activities. You’ll also assist them with the recovery, development, or improvement of their physical abilities. For example, you might work with the elderly, children who have disabilities, or people who have had serious accidents.
The most common tasks include reviewing your patient’s medical history, evaluating their condition and individual needs, and then working to develop a bespoke plan for treatment. You’ll assess your patient’s goals and decide how best to help them achieve them, while also consistently evaluating and recording their progress. You may also recommend special equipment, demonstrate the correct way to perform specific physical exercises, and help patients with certain tasks they can’t do alone. The recommended route into this career is to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy. You’ll need patience, creativity, great communication skills, and plenty of compassion.
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