The Most Rewarding Careers in Health Care
Health care is a career field with many job opportunities.The medical profession is at the top of Forbes' list of the 25 best paying jobs in America. Health care was among the largest industries in 2008, providing 14.3 million jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are health care related. Healthcare will generate more than three million new jobs over the next decade, more than any other industry. Most health care related jobs require four years or less of college education.
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Medical Support Staff
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Some medical assistants are trained on the job. Among the fastest growing health care career fields over the next decade are medical assistants and medical records and information technicians, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About 62 percent of medical assistants work in doctor offices. Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but most complete one-year or two-year certification programs.
Medical records technician is one of the few health-related jobs where there is no hands-on patient care. Job prospects are growing for this position, particularly among technicians with strong computer software skills, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Medical Social Workers
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Social workers specializing in senior citizens and substance abuse are a fast growing career field. Jobs for social workers are expected to grow faster than average through 2018 with the biggest growth for people who specialize in the aging population and substance abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Mental health and substance abuse social workers will grow by almost 20 percent over the 2008-18 decade, much faster than the average field. A bachelor's degree is required and a master's degree in social work or a related field is necessary for some positions.
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Professional Medical Careers
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Nuclear medical technicians are expected to see significant job growth in the next decade . Registered nurses are among the most popular and growing career fields, though job opportunities may vary by employment and geographic location, according to the American College of Nursing.
The need for nursing school faculty will only increase as many instructors near retirement. Faster employment growth is projected in doctors' offices and outpatient care centers, but nurses may face greater competition for these jobs which offer regular working hours and comfortable working environments.
Registered nurses hold associates' or bachelors' degrees and a diploma from an approved nursing program; more specialized nurses such as nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners-need a master's degree.
Another growing medical professional field is nuclear medicine technologists, especially those trained in multiple diagnostic methods, such as radiologic technology and diagnostic medical sonography or in nuclear cardiology, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Employment is expected to increase by 16 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all jobs. Growth will result from technological advancement, new nuclear medicine treatments, and an increase in middle-aged and elderly persons, the primary users of diagnostic and treatment procedures.
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