Are you thinking about a career in healthcare? Working in the medical field can be rewarding and satisfying, both spiritually and financially.
We all know how important our healthcare professionals are. The pandemic showed us that they are often the only barrier between life and death.
If you want to make a career change or start working in the medical field, check out this article.
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How to Become a Nurse
To become a registered nurse, you must have the right amount of specialized education. In the United States, this means getting a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Many programs also encourage or require students to do a clinical internship.
LPNs, or licensed practical nurses, learn how to administer medications, draw blood, and do in-home patient care.
Community colleges or nurse training programs offer the required coursework. States issue LPN licenses, typically after two years of education.
LPNs often work for nursing homes and home health agencies.
RNs, or registered nurses, study for four years at a college or university. They often specialize in neo-natal, ICU, SICU, operating room, emergency room, or other types of care.
RNs make very good salaries but also work long hours. Their shifts typically last for twelve hours, so physical and mental stamina is a must.
RNs make up the core workforce of most hospitals in the country.
RNPs, or registered nurse practitioners, can prescribe medications and treat basic ailments. They take advanced classes at the master’s degree level for this extra responsibility. Taking on a Wilkes MSN course is going to be a huge step for a qualified nurse to take but it’s one of the biggest leg-ups on a nursing career path that someone can take. Taking a step up from day to day nurse to a master course is a big indicator that you would like to do more in your career in a management capacity. Choosing this particular career in healthcare is also an indicator that you have drive and leadership skills that will continue to advance your healthcare career dreams.
Like RNs, they also specialize in certain areas of patient care. RNPs may be primary care providers and work in community healthcare clinics. They always work under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor.
How to Become a Nursing Aid
If you aren’t sure you’re ready to jump right into nursing school, you can still work in the medical field. Nursing aides and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) play an important role in healthcare. They do much of the mundane work required for patient care so the RNs are free to do medical treatments.
Nursing aides must take and pass comprehensive training programs. They study important aspects of patient care.
Typical courses cover medication administration and wound tending. They also learn to deal with different patient age groups, and how to work in different settings.
If you want to take a nurse aid course, check out your local community college or remote training online.
Other Ways to Have a Career in Healthcare
If nursing isn’t your thing, but you still want to have a career in healthcare, you still have options. All healthcare organizations have people working in administration. Without these dedicated team members, they would not be able to function.
Administrative tasks include medical coding, billing, records management, and much more.
To explore whether working in healthcare is right for you, check out your local career center. Community colleges also have great career information resources.
Right now, there’s a nursing shortage in the United States, which is a big problem. So you may be able to study for free or get a nice scholarship to fund your way through school.
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