Choosing a career in healthcare can be a daunting task. There are many different specialties to choose from, and it can be difficult to know which one is the right fit for you. But with careful consideration, you can make an informed decision that will set you up for success. Here are eight things to consider before choosing a career. So, read on to learn more about what factors to consider before you make your decision.
1. Education
When choosing a career, you have to start by considering your education. It all begins with deciding what degree you will need to achieve your career goals. There are many different paths you can take, each of which leads to a different profession in healthcare. There are Master of Healthcare Leadership courses found online, Bachelor’s of Science degrees in nursing, and more. Consider what you want from your career and what education is necessary to achieve those goals. Also, consider whether you want to attend a traditional school, online school, or if you want to further your education with an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. If continuing your education is part of the career path you choose, then spending time researching what kind of degree or additional certification will be required is important.
2. Cost of Education
Next, consider the cost of your education. Will you need to take out loans? How much? Can your employer help you pay off student loans if you join their organization? Do you have to take out loans at all, or is there a scholarship for students in your field? There are so many ways to find money to help with the cost of education, but it’s important to consider what you would be able to afford before deciding on a career.
3. Salary
Salary is always an important factor in choosing a career. It’s great to love what you do, but if you can’t afford it, then it doesn’t matter that much! Research the average salary for your chosen profession so that you know what you can expect when looking into entry-level jobs or advanced positions within your field. Luckily, healthcare careers carry a pretty good salary. Take nursing, for example; the median annual wage for registered nurses is $75,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, consider that many doctors are self-employed, and thus their earnings fluctuate depending on how busy they are with patients.
4. Job Opportunities
The next thing to consider is job opportunities. There are a lot of different career paths in healthcare and they each have their own unique job opportunities. For example, take registered nurses or physicians’ assistants; these are broad categories that encompass numerous other specialties. Research what careers are available for your chosen profession before diving into the details. Also, you have to consider how much availability there is for your profession in the area you want to work. Jobs in rural areas can be very limited, so you need to consider if you are willing to relocate if your chosen profession is not widely available.
5. Lifestyle
Healthcare careers don’t always have the best lifestyle reputation, but this doesn’t mean that it’s all bad! Once again, there are plenty of different specialties within healthcare and the lifestyle for each varies. For example, a physician can expect to work long hours and weekends while a pediatric nurse will be working regular business hours. Think about the conditions you want to work under and what kind of schedule you want so that you know what kinds of careers to look into. Also, consider whether or not your chosen career requires any additional training since that can also affect your lifestyle.
6. Personal Motivation
Motivation is an important factor in choosing a career because if you don’t care about what you’re doing then it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to do it well, nor will you excel at it. You should consider what motivates you before deciding on a healthcare career. Working in this field can be very rewarding, but it also requires a lot of sacrifices, especially if you’re working with sick people. Make sure that the sacrifices are worth it to you before committing to this career.
7. Skills Needed for the Job
Once again, each specialty within healthcare is different, so it’s important to research what types of skills are needed for the job. Take the surgeon, for example, it’s important to have a steady hand and good manual dexterity for this type of work. You’ll also need to be able to focus, as surgeons often don’t get breaks throughout an operation, so you should only consider a career in surgery if you can handle being still and quiet for long periods of time. Assess your own skills to see which ones will translate well into your chosen profession.
8. Downsides of the Job
Finally, consider what kind of downsides go along with a career in healthcare. For example, consider if you will be required to work long hours or weekends. Also, think about the risk of injury at work and whether or not you’re willing to accept this kind of risk. Lastly, consider stress levels; many healthcare careers are heavily stress-based, so make sure that taking on this type of career is worth it to you. However, if you love helping others, then you’ll find that it’s worth the risk and that the downsides are often outweighed by the benefits.
Choosing a healthcare career can be overwhelming, especially if it is your first job. You should know that this is not an exhaustive list, but it can be a helpful way to get started when considering your healthcare career. It’s important to make the right choice if you want to go into this field, so take some time to do some research before deciding on a course of action. This article has just touched on some considerations that need to be made, such as education, cost of education, salary, and opportunities for jobs. Also, make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks before committing to a healthcare career.
