Top 16 Medical Related Careers

The health sector or industry is among one of the fastest-growing segments of the nations; however, healthcare is a diverse group of individuals who diagnose, treat and prevent physical and mental abnormalities in humans or these are individuals who have a license to diagnose and correct the abnormal function of the human body. Medical related careers are of diverse fields that include a variety of health-related courses that adds support of humanity in relation to health. According to the Bureau of labour statistics (BLS), Jobs in the healthcare are expected to have a growth rate of astonishing 23% growth over the next decade, having an estimated employment rate of about 974,000 new jobs expected, and health care being one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States.

 

There is a need to have a qualified clinician and ancillary personnel, which brings on the need for quality education in various universities and colleges, also checking for good and enjoyable medical related career needs a good website (www.college-universities.com) that can give you the best choice of career. There are various criteria for an individual to become a medical personnel or have a career in the field, this includes obtaining a college degree, Bachelor, Masters, Doctor of philosophy (PhD) or Professor. However, the salary scale and checking of the employment rate are also important when choosing a medical career.

The various field in the healthcare is delivered in a wide range of humans of different ages in Pharmacist, Nursing, Dentistry, Chiropractor, Psychiatrists, Medical Laboratory Assisting, Audiology, Anesthesiology Technology, Medical Physiology, Radiologist, Prosthetist, Optometrist, Physician’s Assistant, Phlebotomist, Healthcare Management, Certified Nurses Aid-CAN, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Medical Transcription, Dialysis patient Care Technician, Pediatrician, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Anesthesiologist, Cardiologist, Neurosurgeon, Endocrinologist.

These professionals listed above in the healthcare or medical related job work tirelessly to ensure lives are being saved, and give the best care; their hard work does not go unnoticed in the public. So let’s consider some of these high paid medical related career, qualification, salary, employment rates, what the career is all about, and also nature of the job, as this could help choose a decent career for several individuals who has the interest in a medical related career.

1. Pharmacist: This is a type of medical career in which individuals who are in this practice are responsible for drugs prescribed to patients and teaching them how to use their medications properly. They keep a watchful eye on their patients to make sure they use their prescription in the right mode and time; they have a proper understanding of pharmacokinetics and dynamics of each drug administered as well as its clinical effects. Pharmacists have a wide knowledge about drugs and this call for patients to have a chat about their prescriptions was given to them, including the dangers of taking an overdose and also their potential side effect. Find pharmacy tehncian schools to begin your new career.

The precise minimum qualification to become a pharmacist is usually a Pharm. D. degree, which requires a minimum of four-year studies from the university and must have a complete pass score on the State board of pharmacy licensing examination. Before acquiring this certificate, a minimum of two years of college must be completed and thereafter four years in the university to complete the program (4). In addition to Pharm D, there is a higher qualification (Masters and PhD program) that would enable a pharmacist to become a full-time researcher in his field, which would provide solutions to scientific problems.

The salary scale of Pharm-D (Doctor of Pharmacy) varies on the qualification and ranges from about $75,000 - $135, 230 annually for Pharmacist; Clinical Pharmacist ($119, 904), Pharmacy Manager ($133, 000), Staff Pharmacist ($99, 180), Clinical Staff pharmacist ($107, 899) and Hospital Pharmacy Manager ($147, 395) annually paid. The employment rate of the pharmacist has a projected growth rate of about 3% from 2014 to 2024; however, the career is all about drug dispensation, guiding the patients oh how the drug works, and also it involves research in a laboratory.

2. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Emergency Medical Technician is a healthcare career, which provides care first to injured or ill individuals or persons during medical emergencies. However, EMT relies on quick reaction time and can work under pressure in order to save lives. EMT personnel respond immediately to emergency call via ambulance and provide great care during transportation of patients to a nearby hospital or clinic. These groups of medical personnel work for specific companies, thereby responding to calls through 911 service.

The minimum educational requirement for this program is a high school diploma or its equivalents. However, this program ensures that all students enrol in the program must have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out the duties associated with the job, as well as having an in-depth understanding of the course material, it also requires additional skills such as customer service and communication skills that are important when working with patients. However, high school diploma is a requirement for entrance into the certificate program.

The take-home median pay annually for EMT is roughly about $31,980, with the top 10 percent earning wages over $55,000. The pay depends generally on the level of experience acquired by the staff; this is usually a full-time employment with standard benefits (1). The employment rate of this field has been estimated to rise by 24% between 2014 and 2024, which shows that, there should be a variety of opportunities for individuals who choose to work within this field.

EMT is generally considered as a stressful occupation with great demands from staff as it comprises of life-or-death or death decision making. It is a bit of a roller-coaster ride coaster ride between crisis and calm periods and also the type of response given, such as working both indoors and outdoors and thus can be exposed to all kinds of weather .

3. Chiropractor: This is a healthcare profession that involves the management of patients with health problems of the neuro-musculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chiropractors use spinal adjustments and manipulation with other techniques to manage patients’ health concerns such as neck and back pains. They assess a patient’s medical condition with the review of their medical history, listening to patient’s concerns and performing a physical examination on a patient, analysing the patient’s posture, spine, and reflexes. They also provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy that involves adjustment of a patient’s spinal column and other joints by hand.

The minimum educational qualification for a chiropractor as a healthcare requires at least 3 years of undergraduate college education for admission and another 4 years for completion of the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C) degree and also a state license. Prospective Chiropractic requires a postgraduate professional degree, which takes 4 years to be completed.

The median annual wage for chiropractors is between the ranges of about $31,310 to $140,580. The normal median wage is $31,310. They earn more in the building a client base and become owners in practice and earn less early in their careers. The employment rate of chiropractors’ jobs is at a projected growth rate of 17% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Generally, the nature of the jobs of chiropractors is usually the treatment for the back, neck, limbs and joints and has become more accepted as a result of research and changing attitudes about additional approaches to health care. They use non-surgical methods of treatment and do not prescribe drugs.

4. Nursing: This is a healthcare profession with emotionally fulfilling and personally rewarding career with excellent job prospects and a wide range of areas of specialization and strong salaries. Nursing is a diverse and lucrative field, having many benefits, including health and medical coverage, vacation time and excellent annual wages. Nurses provide hands-on assistance to patients by administering medicines, monitoring and observing patient’s condition, providing care and support to patients, educating patients about health conditions, medical regimens, medications or other instructions. Become a nurse with the right training.

The educational qualification for the requirement of being a nurse is an associate degree which is usually the minimum required certification, taking about two years to complete. A bachelor’s degree, which takes four years, will include additional medical training and potential clinical training programs in non-hospital environments, but for higher-level job qualifications or credentials in medical research, a master’s degree is required. One of the most beneficial accelerated master’s degrees to obtain to work in such fields is a Bachelor of Science/Nursing credential, bundled with health/medicine-related master’s certifications.

The salary of this profession is based upon the area of specialization, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors with Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) had an annual salary of $42,490, Registered Nurse (RN) annual salary scale is $67,490, while Advance Practice Nurse (CRNA ($157, 140), Certified Nurse Midwife ($92, 510), Clinical Nurse Specialist ($102, 670) and NP & FNP ($98, 190). The employment rate for this profession according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth of about 16% for the nursing profession between the years 2014-2024.The profession is all about taking care of patients and also assisting other medical personnel in hospital and clinics; with its diverse specialties, one can fully consider this profession as a career.

5. Phlebotomist: These are professionals who work to carefully conduct blood draw procedures and lab testing in a patient. They secure blood samples via various methods, such as pricking the finger or using needles to collect blood directly from a patient's vein (10). However, they prepare the blood-collecting equipment; their duties also involve verifying a patient's medical records, and also store blood samples for a future lab test.

The qualification required for phlebotomists is a high school diploma, with a further completion of phlebotomist certificate programs to be eligible for state licensing exams, which requires three months. The educational requirement for phlebotomists differs from each state, but many students are required to complete training programs specific to the career. The training program can range from a one-week process for entry-level phlebotomy tech jobs to one year after passage of a vocational training program, community college or technical school certification.
The average annual salary of phlebotomist can expect ranges from $20,000 to $48,000. The most common phlebotomist wages across the US are between from $25,177 to $30,470 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median hourly pay across the US for phlebotomy work is roughly $14.29. The employment rate is projected at a 10-year growth for phlebotomy jobs is 27%. This means that the number of employment opportunities projected to be made available across America within the field is expected to grow by roughly 101,300 in the next 10 years.

Phlebotomists carry out tasks involving home care visits or transportation of fluid and blood samples between laboratories. Sometimes, phlebotomists are responsible for carrying out certain functions to process or analyze blood samples with attending physicians and medical professionals. Phlebotomists who work in a laboratory setting have the added responsibility of ensuring each sample is correctly analyzed while reinforcing safety measures and quality control regulations to prevent any skewing or contamination of samples.

 

6. Healthcare Management: These are health care professionals who are behind the scenes support system of any health care facility, from small clinics to large hospitals. They give assists to doctors, nurses and other medical personnel with tools and support to provide patients with the best healthcare services. This profession enables a better working environment for healthcare facilities to operate and delivery of quality service to the community.

The minimum educational qualification for Healthcare management is holding a Bachelor Degree in any related medical field or Administrative courses, however; some employers require a master’s degree in any of the health related courses such as; business, nursing or liberal arts degrees are also acceptable. Graduate degree programs in business and public administration with a specialization in health services management are also acceptable. Students may opt for a joint degree in both business administration and public health or law and health care management.

The median salary scale for Healthcare management is about $64, 162 per annum, the possible employment paths for this profession is Front desk administrator (These are staffs that gather information and get you to the proper place as quickly as possible, from individuals who are coming to the hospital or clinics), Back office administration (these are individuals who make sure things run smoothly and profitable are your back office managers. They are responsible for things like payroll, computer systems, billing and code and even transcription roles) and hiring manager (this staff ensures that the facilities is in properly compliance with both state and federal rules. It has an employment rate of 17% much faster than average from 2014-2024.

On a general note, Healthcare management career is about giving supports to business hospitals and clinics, and other medical organizations that need supervisors, administrators, and other management personnel. These professionals manage supportive operations, such as insurance and managed care companies. They also ensure that the facility is providing safe and comfortable medical services to anyone in the community who needs them.

7. Certified Nurse Aids: Certified Nursing Aids are health personnel that provides patients with a basic level of care under the direction and supervision of other nursing staffs. They provide to assist with feeding and bathing of the patient and also moving and transport of patients, with other duties assigned to them.

This profession requires proper hygiene and safety and is the primary source of care for patients. The minimum educational requirement for Certified Nursing Aids is having some college degree or High school diploma that will serve as an entrance to the training or certificate program, but post-secondary schooling is usually also required in some form of nursing specialized courses.

The salary per annum of certified nursing aid is approximate $28, 300 with a median hourly average rate of $11.46 and this depends on the location, as well as education and experience in the field. The employment rate for this career is anticipated in demand, will increase by approximately 11%, with a pace that is faster than the average for all potential occupations, however; the growth rate over the next decade for a certified nursing assistant shows an estimate of 21% according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 2012 showed a surge of over one million jobs in this field.

The primary job duty as certified Nursing Aids is working as nursing assistants that include a broad range of patient care. They may help with daily tasks, such as bathing and dressing, while also assisting those with mobility issues. CNAs often maintain patient records, listing and concerns or changes that may have occurred. Taking vital signs, such as temperature and blood pressure, are standard duties, as well as assisting with meal service.

8. Orthotics & Prosthetist: Prosthetist as a career is quite cool, as it deals with designing, creating and fitting of artificial limbs on patients who are missing a part or all of a limb, while an orthotics is involved fits braces and other devices in enhancing the movement and function of a patient's limbs. In respective of their separate duties, they are considered to work as “Orthotics & Prosthetist practitioners”.

The minimum qualification of Orthotics & Prosthetist practitioners, is a bachelor degree program; however, a master’s degree is required for a further study in an accredited Orthotics & Prosthetist practitioners program and completion of a 1 year residency, after which a licensed certificate is awarded in Orthotics & Prosthetics in both fields.

The salary scale of Orthotics & Prosthetist according to the U.S Bureau of labor statistics, 2015; has a mean annual salary of $69, 960 (14), and ranges from $33, 908 -$95,332 which is according to the level of certificate and experience & location (15). It has an employment rate of 23% rise between 2014 and 2024.

The career opportunity of this profession is to perform a detailed assessment to determine the patient’s needs, assess the patient’s functional status, including muscle development, gait, sensory function, the range of motion, joint stability and skin integrity. They are also involved in developing a plan that addresses the patient’s needs and goals, including pain reduction, comfort, stability, and mobility, as well as aesthetics. Selection of the appropriate design, materials and components for optimum strength, durability and function. Discussing the treatment plan, including benefits, risks and time involved, Prepare the patient for the device, with the use of splints or compression garments, as needed..

9. Medical Transcriptionist: This is a medical profession that is the responsible for transforming all the healthcare providers' oral dictation into written text for the purpose of print or electronic storage. This healthcare professional are responsible for the transcription of dictated recordings from healthcare specialists and physicians and makes reports, correspondence, or other materials regarding administration. This is done using a headset to hear the recordings and a foot pedal for any necessary pauses. As they listen, the medical transcriptionist types the information on a computer or word processor while editing and clarifying any grammatical errors.

The educational qualification for this profession is a post-secondary training through vocational schools, community colleges, and distance e-learning programs. It is also required for a completion of a 1 year certificate program or 2 years associate degree that covers anatomy, medical terminology, legality in healthcare documentation, and grammar and punctuation in English language.The salary for this profession is based on geographical location, with a median annually pay of $34, 890 and average range of $21, 600 to $50,230. It has an hourly pay range of about $10.38 to $24.15, the employment rate for this job is rising from 2.4% between 2014 and 2024.

Medical transcriptionists as career must have understanding in terms related to medicine, procedures used in diagnoses, comprehending assessment of treatments and also a knowledge in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. However, they must be able to translate terms into their full forms that are abbreviated or being said in medical language. They can access standard healthcare references for assistance in understanding the terminology, which can be found electronically or printed out.

10. Dialysis patient Care Technician: This set of healthcare professionals’ works in the large healthcare industry that is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. They focused on patients care and interact with people requiring treatment throughout their work day, and are have high technical skills. They take care of patients that have dialysis as a result of severe kidney issues. It could be related to a particular disease, such as diabetes or organ failure associated with another condition. Working in the dialysis center means you are providing a life-giving service to those in need.

The educational qualification for this profession is having a high school diploma and must be at least 18 years of age, however; depending on the state you wish to work as some state requires additional restrictions based on issues presented in a background check. Additional skill may be required such as customer service and communication skills which are critical in providing patient care in any environment, with further acquiring the certificate program that is based on the state level.

The employment rate of this profession is expected to increase approximately 16% between 2014 and 2024 and is considered much faster than an average of all potential occupations. The median annual salary for dialysis patient care technicians is over $36,000 since most of the jobs occur as full-time and come with a comprehensive package.

This career is all about taking care of dialysis patient with a severe kidney condition, Dialysis patient care technicians perform relatively specialized functions for patients experiencing acute or chronic renal failure. This often includes setting patients up on dialysis machines for treatment, as well as drawing blood for required laboratory tests. In some cases, patient care technicians are also responsible for obtaining vital signs and monitoring patients during treatment. The nature of the work can be physically demanding, which can lead to injury.

11. Cardiologist: A cardiologist is physicians of internal medicine who specialized in the heart and blood vessels. They diagnose, prevent and treat cardiovascular disorders such as; hypertension, congenital heart diseases, endocarditis, and myocarditis e.t.c. However, they make use of a variety of medical techniques to examine and treat patients. They both make use of an invasive and non-invasive method in examining of patients.

The educational qualification for this profession is first by completing pre-requisite premedical undergraduate courses, with bachelor’s degrees are not technically required and thereafter a completion of Doctor of medicine. Training for a cardiologist requires going to a residency school for 3 years in internal medicine, and then a fellowship training program for 5 years to become a specialist in the field and also obtaining a pass in the licensing examination. As this will enable him or her to practice.

The median salary scale for an invasive cardiologist is about $389,979 per annum, while that of the non-invasive cardiology physician is about $349,186 per annum. The employment rate of 24% rise from 2014 to 2024 in all types of specialties. On a general note, the career profile of a cardiologist is that; they are involved in the diagnoses and treatment of the heart and blood vessel problems, using a combination of physical examination, symptom review, and medical testing. However, they may also perform procedures like exercise tests, echocardiograms and cardiac catheterization on patients.

12. Optometrist: Optometrist: These are health care professionals who examine clients’ or patient’s eyes to diagnose and provide solutions for vision problems; such as prescription of glasses or contact lenses and drugs. They also diagnose, manage and monitor eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. However, Optometrist does often specialize in work with sports vision, contact lenses and vision therapy.

The qualification required by an optometrist is at least a bachelor degree. However, a pre-optometric study is required which is a minimum of 3 years and then obtaining a doctor of optometry after which obtaining a license from the clinical state board with a good pass scores in the licensing examination. An additional skill required by an optometrist is decision-making skills, detailed oriented, interpersonal and speaking skills.

The average salary scale for an optometrist is based on experienced level, 1-2 years of experience receive $60,000 to $80, 000 per annum while those with higher working experience receive $80,000 to $110,000 per annum. The employment rate for this job is projected to have a growth rate of 27% in 2014 to 2024 and is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Optometrist plays an important role in the healthcare system as the human eyes are very important in vision. They perform vision tests, analyzing results, diagnose eyesight problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and eye diseases, such as glaucoma, prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, and other visual aids, and to correct or treat visual or eye health issues, e.t.c.

13. Psychiatrists: These are healthcare professionals that work with patients with a variety of issues such as trauma, mental illness, and addiction. They are however considered as mental health physicians or medical doctors that specialized in mental health issues.

The minimum qualification for this profession is a bachelor’s degree that depends on both the major and minor in psychology, that is followed by a passing score on medical college admission that is 4 – 5 years and also with a clinical training to complete a Doctor of Medicine, thereafter a Residency program is require, the licensee is required and given by medical license and board certification. One can also look into become a pharmacy technician which requires less schooling.

According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, Psychiatrists has a median annual salary of about $181,880 while the lowest paid in the profession is $61,600 and the highest paid is $187,000. However, the salary is based on location and cost of living. The employment rate for this career will grow by 16.2% from 2012 to 2022. This is attributed to the fact that more attention is being paid to Psychiatrists.

14. Occupational Therapists: This health care professional treats injured, ill or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, however; they help patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for their living and working activities. They help review patients’ medical history, asking questions and observe them performing the task.

The educational requirement for this profession is Bachelors’ degree, with specific course work that includes biology and physiology. However, most occupational therapist requires a Master’s program which usually takes about 2-3 years to completion and also Doctoral programs about 3 years. And a licensed to be gotten from the state board. Along the educational qualification, occupational therapist requires additional skills such as; communication, compassion, flexibility, interpersonal, patience and writing skills.

The median salary scale for occupational therapists is $80,150 and has a range of $53,250 to $116,030 per annum. The employment rate is projected to grow at 27% from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The overview career of Occupational therapists is to development a treatment plan for their patients, identifying specific goals and the types of activities that will be used to help the patient work towards it goals, they also give demonstrative exercises to their patients which help relieve chronic pain in patients with chronic conditions and finally they give education to the patient’s family and employer on how to accommodate and care for the patient.

15. Physical therapists: A physical therapist is healthcare specialist who gives aids to injured or ill individuals to improve their movement and help managed their pain, they give assists in reviewing a patient’s medical history and any referrals from doctors, surgeons or other healthcare workers. They also diagnose patients’ functions and movement by observing them stand or work and also pay attentions to their concerns.

The educational qualification for this field is a bachelor’s degree for admission and also Doctor in a Physical therapist. However, a completion in a one-year clinical residency program after graduation. It also requires a license, certification, and registrations in their state board of physical therapy. The board requires a pass in the exam and at least 2,000 hours of clinical work. They require additional skills such as; physical stamina, resourcefulness, interpersonal skills, e.t.c.

The median annually salary scale for physical therapists is about $84,020 and lowest 10% salary is about $57,060 and the highest 10% earns more than $119,790. The job prospects for this profession is expected to increase by 34% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupation.

Physical therapists job is to have a proper care for patients so as to help them improve their movement, making them stay active in the recovery process from illness and educates patients and their family members about what to expect from the recovery process and how to cope with the challenges in the process.

16. Pediatricians: This profession usually involved in the taking care of children and teenagers, diagnosing of illness and writing prescriptions. They work in hospitals outpatient centers and also do a private practice .

The educational requirement for this career is acquiring a Bachelors’ degree in any related science or basic medical courses after which a Doctor of Medicine degree and then a residency in pediatrics. This will further lead to obtaining a license and specialty certification.

The median salary scale for this filed $183, 180 per annum, while pediatrics working In a physician’s office has a take-home pay of mean salary of $188, 420 per annum and those working in specialty facilities except Psychiatrists have a pay of $228, 440 per annum according to the report from Bureau of labor Statistics. The job opportunities are expected to increase by 14% from 2014 to 2024, with many pediatrics being self-employed.

Resources
www.college-universities.com/certificate-healthcare.php
www.payscale.com/research/US/degree
www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacist.htm