Its no secret that our nations population is aging, and when you combine that with the fact that many nurses are reaching retirement age, its easy to see why there are so many health care employment opportunities available today. As a result, more and more working adults are heading back to school to train for a health care career.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care industry will be responsible for 20 percent of all new jobs nationwide within the coming decade. Nurses and emergency medical technicians are expected to see some of the most dramatic growth through 2016, making either of those professions a great choice for those interested in health care careers.
Nursing as a Career
Nurses serve as advocates and educators, observers and recorders. They help prevent disease, promote health, and assist patients and their families in coping with illness. They help examine patients, administer medications and provide care to those who need rehabilitation.
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On The Fast Track
Some in the health care industry estimate that there will be more jobs created for nurses than for any other profession in the coming decade. Nurses rank number one on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' list of occupations with the largest employment growth, with a 24 percent increase predicted through 2016. Registered nurses earned an average salary of $62,480 in 2007.
Due to the high demand, many schools are offering accelerated nursing programs. These 'fast track' programs shorten the time required to get a nursing associate degree ADN from 2 years to 16 months. Increasingly popular, these programs are available at community colleges and universities across the country. Those who have successfully participated in a fast track program are just as qualified for nursing jobs as those who have taken the full two years to complete their studies.
Another route to a nursing career is a bachelor's of science degree in nursing. The additional two years pays off in terms of broader job opportunities and responsibilities. For working adults who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, a BSN can be completed in as little as two years. Many schools offer special 'bachelor's to BSN' programs, which skip directly to the applied nursing training.
Medical Technicians
In addition to the staggering need for nurses, there's a growing demand for qualified medical technicians. The best-known medical technicians are emergency medical technicians, also known as EMTs. EMTs can expect approximately 19 percent growth through 2016, according to the Department of Labor. This makes EMTs among the top five fastest growing occupations requiring under two years of postsecondary education. In fact, EMT training programs require only a high school diploma and 100 to 140 classroom hours. EMT earnings in 2007 averaged $30,870.
EMTs try to determine the extent and nature of a persons illness or injuries and provide immediate care during transportation to a medical facility. Depending on their training level, EMTs may open airways and restore breathing, treat patients for a heart attack or stroke, control bleeding, assist in childbirth and more. If theres an emergency, the EMTs job is to stabilize the patient's condition immediately and provide the appropriate care until a full medical team can take over.
Training the Technician
Medical technician training is based around providing immediate medical care. Courses train EMTs to manage respiratory, trauma and cardiac emergencies. EMT students practice using a range of life support and emergency care equipment, such as a backboard, a defibrillator, suction devices, splints, oxygen delivery systems and stretchers. The training provides would-be technicians with the knowledge needed to take the National Registry exam. The more training you have, the more pay and job opportunities you will have.
Health Care Education Online
Many new nurses and EMTs are making their health care career ambitions a reality by taking some or all of their coursework online. Online certificate and degree programs offer a convenient and flexible alternative to campus education. The option of self-paced learning is especially important for working adults, many of whom already juggle a full-time job and family responsibilities. Online programs offer both 'classroom' instructioninternet lectures, audio-video demonstrations and chat room discussionsand hands-on training. With the support of the online program, students arrange clinical internships with local medical facilities.
Health care careers are booming just as the rest of the economy is experiencing the pinch of recession. As a result, working adults are turning to online education to retrain for a secure, well-paid career in the medical profession. In many cases, the fastest-growing medical careers are accessible with minimal post-secondary education. If you enjoy caring for people and are looking for excellent job prospects, then a career as a nurse or a medical technician is a great choice for you.
