Medical Jobs That Require No Experience

Medical jobs are among the most secure available. After all, people will always get sick and need medical attention. While many health care jobs require training and education, you can land some positions with no previous experience.

Home Health Aide

Home health aides help elderly and disabled people with the activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, etc. They may act as a sitter to ensure the patient's safety and provide companionship, and they can provide respite care for a regular caregiver to run errands or simply to relax.

Many home health aides are hired without training and work in private homes or in small group homes. These jobs generally pay minimum wage and offer no benefits. Similar jobs in nursing homes, hospitals and home-care agencies require nurse-aide training to learn about vital signs, patient care regulations and proper hygiene. Such training is available at community colleges and vocational schools.

Dietary Aide

Dietary aides work in the kitchens of nursing homes and hospitals and assist the cooks in preparing and serving healthy, appetizing meals for patients. They also clean and sanitize dishes and stock the kitchen storerooms. Patient contact is minimal, as nurse aides feed patients who need help. As with home health aides, dietary aide pay is generally minimum wage.

Vocational schools and community colleges offer courses in food service that teach safe food handling in institutional settings. While such courses are not required, employers prefer to hire those who have had such training.

Pharmacy and Medical Supply Delivery

Many pharmacies offer delivery services for homebound patients to provide them with medications and medical supplies such as hospital beds, commodes, wheelchairs and oxygen. Delivery staff receive on-the-job training on proper set-up and use of the equipment. These positions pay slightly better than minimum wage, and those who use their own vehicles may receive a mileage allowance. You will need to have a good driving record, vehicle insurance and a reliable vehicle.

Volunteer Coordinator

Hospitals and hospice agencies often have a group of volunteers who perform many duties such as operating the hospital gift shop, delivering patient mail and reading and visiting with patients. A paid staff member coordinates these activities and makes sure that the volunteers complete their tasks correctly. This position requires no direct experience, but candidates should have a compassionate demeanor and demonstrate an ability to coordinate activities.

Housekeeping, Laundry, Maintenance

Hospitals require sterile conditions and thus need many housekeepers, laundry aides and maintenance personnel. Entry-level positions in these departments usually require no previous experience. Again, these positions generally pay minimum wage, and openings tend to be during afternoon or late-night shifts.

Considerations

Applicants for these and other health care positions often must undergo a criminal background check.

Private-duty situations usually offer no health insurance or other benefits. Because patients rely on these employees for their health and safety, candidates for these positions must be reliable and should not take time off without notifying their employer in advance.

References

• Health Care jobs overview; U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics