Types of Careers in the Medical Field
When most people think of medical careers, they first job that comes to mind is a doctor. Becoming a doctor is one of the most rigorous training programs of any occupation. Most medical school require a four year undergraduate degree. Medical school takes an addition four years and is followed by a residency which can take up to eight years depending on what type of medicine the doctor specializes in. However, there are a number of other careers related to medicine that are often overlooked.
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Pharmacists
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Pharmacists are responsible for distributing medications to patients. Pharmacists can work in hospitals, drug stores or other care facilities. They must understand how different drugs interact with each other so they can advise patients whether any of their medications interact in a negative manner. In order to become a pharmacist, you must have a Pharm. D. degree from a college or university.
Hospital Adminstrators
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Even non-profit hospitals must still make sure the revenue is matching expenses. Hospitals employ administrators to oversee the business aspects of the hospital such as hiring and retaining employees, setting and collecting fees and making sure the hospital equipment is up to date. Administrators will usually have at least a bachelor's degree in heath care management and larger hospitals will usually require an advanced degree.
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Technicians
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Technicians work with a variety of medical equipment to help doctors get a better understanding of what is going on inside the patients body. X-ray technicians use radiation to view bone and tissue forms. Specializations for X-ray technicians include CT scanning and MRIs. Ultrasound technicians help doctors view unborn babies, gallstones and tumors by projecting a high-frequency noise into the body and generating a picture based on the echos. Entry-level technician jobs usually require a two-year training program.
Nurses
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There are three levels of nurses: registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). CNAs interact with patients on a regular basis doing daily checkups and helping patients with basic functions. LPNs are just above CNAs and perform many of the same duties. In addition, the can also assist in creating medical treatment plans with other doctors and the patient to determine the best treatment options. Registered nurses will take samples and perform limited medical procedures like IV treatments as well as monitoring patient recovery. They may also oversee RNs and LPNs.
Public Health Planners
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Public health planners usually work for governments helping them to determine the health care needs of various communities. They will look at population data and surveys to determine what services are needed and where the best location for a hospital would be to serve the community. They also work to create health initiatives that are implemented. Planners also attempt to project how the medical field and the medical needs of a community will change in the future so the hospitals can be ready to provide new services.
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