A career in health care is one of the best professions.
There are many types of careers in healthcare.
This is a field that is quite stable for jobs and less subjected to economic recessions.
The salaries are generally very high and promising. Further, this field is also one that derives respect from society.
However, the field is a bit stringent concerning rules and laws to be followed.
Since it is a risk to humans directly involved due to negligence or poor quality of service, one has to adhere strictly to the norms and terms of service.
But since most of the procedures are prefixed, and one has to follow standard operating procedures, the risk is minimized greatly.
So it would not be difficult for one to take up health care jobs for his career.
One can get into health care with a professional degree from a recognized university.
Types of Healthcare Careers
1. As a physician (doctor)
To many, the thought of health care brings the idea of a doctor or a physician in the first place.
Many prefer to become physicians if interested in biological sciences.
A physician is one who diagnoses the patient for his disease condition and prescribes a suitable remedy.
He even takes the help of a lab technician to diagnose the symptoms by using the latest tools and decides the condition.
He may even require a nurse to monitor the patient and also see that he takes medicine in time.
The physician can have his own nursing home or clinic or even practice his profession in a government health center.
The physician is an expert with the prognosis and diagnosis of the disease and the available medicine to cure it.
To have a career as a doctor, one has to perceive a degree in medicine. The degree is one of the most expensive ones available.
It is available as an MBBS degree or MD (US) degree. This may be perceived with self-financing or by the support of the government.
It would be easy to get good grades and enroll for admission at a medical school.
Graduate medical education provides exposure to both medicine and surgery. But one needs proper training before he establishes himself as a practitioner.
2. As a surgeon
This is an art more than studies in medicine. Since it involves a direct operation on the human body, one needs to be an expert and conduct it under other supervision.
One gets exposure to surgery during a degree in medicine.
However still, he may need a post-graduation degree for better skills. He can establish himself in a particular section of surgery like cardiologist, oncologist, gynecologist, etc.
The course one can take up after a degree in medicine would be MS in surgery.
3. Veterinary doctors
This, as the name indicates, is a career in the health care of animals.
To be a veterinary physician, one needs to have a degree in veterinary medical sciences.
This is a bit less risky and cumbersome than other physician duties. They treat diseases of pet animals, cattle, zoos, and even forest animals if required.
4. Nurse
This is the one career that many women would like to perceive. It is like a humanitarian service besides being on the job on a regular basis.
One can study a bachelor of science in nursing to move further. For higher education, one may also take up a Master of Science in nursing.
The career involves working in a hospital or a clinic as a medical practitioner (doctor). The job would be to monitor the patients under treatment.
They check for their progress in treatment and also any side effects or untoward health issues.
5. Pharmacist
This is a career in health care that relies on medicines and also the prescribing habits of doctors.
They are involved in drug dispensing and list out any side effects of the drugs. Pharmacists advise both the doctors and also the patients regarding the safety and usability of medicines.
They can work at their own pharmacy store or in a hospital to check what medicines are dispensed. It is their responsibility to advise doctors regarding possible side effects and safety.
On the other hand, they need to advise the patients regarding how to use the medicine.
6. Lab technician
Medical lab technicians are also in good demand due to their ability to diagnose the disease accurately. They need to experience with various diagnostic tools and methods. They can establish their own diagnostic center or work in a hospital. But they will need the assistance of a qualified doctor.
7. As scientists
These are health experts involved in the research of diseases, causative agents, mechanism of pathology, and techniques of diagnosis. Further, they are involved in research for suitable medicine for new diseases.
They make plans on how to control the epidemics and mass therapeutic programs like tuberculosis, malaria, vaccination, etc. They even check how certain treatment methods are effective and even design them for effective control of the diseases.
Anyone with a degree in medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine can opt for scientist posts. They work for the governments and sometimes in the private sector.
8. As industry experts.
These people are involved in the manufacture, testing, and packing of medicines, diagnostic kits. They are also involved in making suitable drug formulations like tablets, syrups, ointment, parenteral (injection) preparation.
They even make a formulation to reach the site of action. They are responsible for meeting the market demand for drugs in the market.
9. Drug regulatory officers
This is a career in health care under the government’s control. The job involves checking if health care professionals comply with the norms and laws regarding the health of the land. In general, they check retail pharmacy stores, the drug manufacturing industries, and also imports and exports. They work as drug inspectors, drug regulatory authorities, and also analysts.
The drug inspector is involved in the inspection of the premises and reports to regulatory authorities, While regulatory authorities frame suitable rules and take action against violations. In comparison, the analysts analyze the samples sent by the drug inspectors. They take the help of courts and also the police in case of requirement to perform their duties.
10. Management
Careers in healthcare management are offered at the post-graduation level. One with a degree in medicine or pharmacy can take up an MBA in health care to study. The job mostly involves monitoring health care units like a big hospital or a drug manufacturing industry.
Thus, there are many types of healthcare careers that are quite diverse and one of the best careers due to its potential.