The opportunities within health employment are staggering. There are four open positions for every one job seeker, and the demand continues to climb. Market analysts predict that the demand for qualified healthcare employees will increase by as much as 14% over the next few years, while almost every other sector will experience sharp decreases in the number of jobs available. So, how can you take advantage of this boon and find health employment?
The answer is, it depends. Many factors come into play when someone decides to enter into health employment. The first consideration is, what field? The healthcare industry has employment available in every nook and cranny, from a CNA (certified nursing assistant) to RN (registered nurse), to physician, with all sorts of technician and technologist positions in between.
When deciding what road to take, consider this: many jobs within the industry do not require advanced degrees in medicine, most jobs within the industry pay above average for any particular area, there are approximately four open positions for every applicant. With statistics like those, who wouldn’t be interested?
Education and Job Requirements:
Most entrants into the healthcare field hold a technical certificate or associate’s degree, which can be earned in two years or less, costing approximately $2000-$3000 to obtain. Most of the cost can be offset by receiving financial aid or by applying for scholarships. Positions that require more advanced degrees can be earned while you work, meaning that an applicant can receive a technical certificate or associate’s degree, begin work and then apply for a bridge degree, which allows the applicant to earn an advanced degree while working and getting work experience credit. Not to mention there are many administrative jobs available as well, both in a hospital setting and in private practice, that does not require special certification or a degree at all.
Job duties for health employment revolve around caring for patients. A great amount of time is spent looking after patients and tending to their needs, both physically and emotionally. Some work may be less than glamorous, but it is generally rewarding.
Careers in Healthcare:
The typical career path of someone interested in pursuing health employment, which is not interested in becoming a doctor, may begin by earning a technical certificate as a certified nursing assistant. They may begin working and then earn an associate’s degree in licensed practical nursing (LPN). As the job duties evolve, so do the opportunities for advancement. The LPN becomes a registered nurse by earning enough work credit to sit for the exam. The RN decides that he or she would like to earn better pay and have more responsibilities, so he or she attends a RN to Bachelor’s degree program.
Nurses are in high demand. Nurses can specialize just as easily as doctors can, and nurses who have experience in specialized fields are being sought now more than ever. Nurses can specialize in geriatrics, pediatrics, surgery, maternity, emergency, and many other fields and can change as often as they like, as specialization for nursing is on-the-job training most of the time. Doctors, on the other hand, require much more focus in the education arena, as most have to have their specialties picked out before they enter medical school.
Health employment prospects are great and are projected to be great for many years to come. With the aging baby boomer population coupled with a decrease in the number of health employment applicants, the pool of qualified healthcare workers is dwindling. This is forcing healthcare establishments to offer more money, better benefits, and great perks to lure more people into the industry.
Compensation:
The salaries for healthcare workers vary widely depending on education level and area of the country, but generally speaking health employment can pay anywhere from $27,500 for an admitting clerk to $250,000 for a cardiac surgeon.
An average LPN nurse can expect to make approximately $35,000 a year as an entry-level healthcare employee in the South. The same nurse will earn $45,000 in Manhattan. A general medicine physician averages approximately $135,000 per year and a specialty surgeon can expect $400,00 a year or more. Administrative positions tend to pay a bit less, with general clerks earning an average of $27,000 to $30,000 per year. Technicians and technologists can expect approximately the same as nurses and other educated support staff.
Future Trends:
The outlook for health employment is staggeringly in the favor of the job seeker, with four open positions for each qualified applicant. Healthcare is the one industry in the market that the current recession has not had an effect on. There is not much difference in the global market either. The demand for skilled healthcare workers is high all across the world.
Where to Find Work:
The typical employers for health employment are hospitals, private practices, schools, and sports teams. Private individuals hire on some nurses and assistants and some may work in nursing homes or in home healthcare. There are a variety of environments from which to choose health employment and high demand for experienced professionals.
Most health employers list open positions with employment databases like Monster.com and Yahoo jobs, but finding health employment through general staffing agencies and health employment specific agencies are also extremely successful.
When looking for health employment, start by looking at the open positions section of the local hospitals’ web pages. There are a plethora of listings here, and an applicant can rest assured that the employment opportunities are legitimate. Secondly, peruse listings with local temp and temp to hire agencies, like Express Personnel and Staffing Solutions. These agencies are well recognized in the health employment field and are known by potential employers to provide qualified applicants, so the best open jobs go to these agencies. There are also many healthcare only staffing agencies that will have listings for open health employment. Schedule an appointment to discuss qualifications and open positions to best determine how one of these agencies can help a job seeker.
Finally, the healthcare industry is booming. It is the only truly recession-proof industry in the market today. Getting into healthcare is easy, too. To get started, check out the healthcare programs at the local technical school or community college and begin the journey to health employment and a better future.
