If there’s one industry that’s immune to economic downturns and other factors that might cause damage, it’s healthcare. As long as there are people, they will get sick or injured, and that means there is always a need for healthcare workers, from doctors and nurses to administrative staff and everything in between. In fact, the healthcare industry is consistently one of the fastest growing in the United States, with no sign of slowing down. You may wonder how you can get into this exciting field with plenty of opportunity. There are several educational options that could get you the education you need. Here are the best healthcare degrees you can pursue to kickstart your career.
Nursing Degree
Nurses are on the very front lines of health care. They are up close and personal with patients and directly provide the care they need. Obtaining an Associate of Science Nursing (ASN) degree will qualify you as a registered nurse (RN). There is always a demand for nurses, since they handle all day-to-day patient care. Being an RN means that you can work in a wide variety of settings, from doctor’s offices, to ERs, to surgery wards. Whatever type of healthcare you enjoy, a nursing degree can get you there.
Master of Health Administration
A master of health administration (MHA) degree is what will help someone advance their career beyond a standard healthcare administration job. Someone with an MHA degree can work in leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, and other facilities. You can be a very educated, and skilled administrator that has detailed knowledge of all aspects of managing a healthcare facility. This includes understanding budgets, staffing, programming, partnerships, and growing a healthcare business.
Psychology Degree
Healthcare is needed for mental health as well, and a psychology degree will allow you to explore that section of the industry. Psychology deals with human behavior, and your degree will help you develop skills in research, theory, and examining data. Along with that, you can become an expert in a wide array of human psychological behavior, including addiction, sexuality, social disorders, and cognition. Having a psychology degree is also the first step into teaching, if that is what you are passionate about. Psychologists can moderate group sessions, provide counselling or do necessary research to improve the lives of those living with cognitive issues.
Physical Therapy
You might be interested in working in a career that involves working closely with patients and helping them recover their mobility and heal from injuries. Being a physical therapist comes with a potential high salary, and the chance to help many people in your community. Physical therapists are experts in human anatomy and physiology, and can use that knowledge to help patients improve their quality of life and overall wellness. Physical therapists are trained to assess mobility issues, diagnose the issue, and create a plan to help the patient not just within the clinic, but also when they are at-home in their daily lives.
Dental Assisting Services
Dental assisting services is a degree or diploma program that will prepare you to be a dental assistant. Dental offices cannot operate with the skills and expertise of dental assistants, so you will be a vital part of any dental clinic. They help both dentists and hygienists, and have a broad knowledge about dentistry and treatments. Assistants are the ones who sit with the dentist during procedures and provide the equipment that they need. They also manage infection control and clean instruments and clinic spaces.
Doctorate in Pharmacy
Getting a doctorate in pharmacy could provide you with one of the most lucrative careers in healthcare. Pharmacists have a great knowledge of chemistry and biology, and how medication can help heal and treat the human body. This degree involves many hours of in-person placement work, as well as a required number of clinical hours. These hours under supervision are necessary to fully learn everything about safely dispensing medication and working with patients. Since pharmacists are responsible for the ethical distribution of drugs that would otherwise be illegal, only the most educated and well-versed in ethics can reach this position.
Radiology Technology
Does working as a radiologist interest you? A radiology technology degree is your path to a career working as a diagnostic technician using x-rays and other more specialized procedures involving using imaging to assess and diagnose health issues. This includes MRIs and CT scanning, and nuclear medicine as well. An associate degree in radiologic technology will get you your start, but a bachelor’s degree will allow you to advance to leadership and specialized positions.
Microbiology
A microbiology degree might be perfect for someone who wants to work in healthcare and help people, but is more comfortable behind the scenes. Microbiologists are concerned with overall wellness and health and how they are affected by the world around us. They study and research bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even parasites, and how they can negatively affect human health. This is a laboratory career. Microbiologists are the ones who provide the data needed to understand the steps people should take to protect themselves against these dangerous and toxic substances. This degree involves a lot of lab work and the courses run the gamut from immunology to parasitology, and virology. It is a growing field with renewed interest due to Covid-19 and a greater awareness of how we get sick and stay healthy.
As you can see, there is a wide range of possible careers you can pursue in healthcare. To get the job you want, you will almost certainly need a degree. The ones listed here are some of the best, but you can do some research and find even more that may interest and excite you.
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