Are you considering a career in the medical field dealing directly with patients? There are some great perks to working in the medical field, but it is also a challenging profession. Here are some of the pros and cons and what to expect if working with patients is your calling.
Job Security
The medical field is among the fastest growing career fields. There are several opportunities when it comes to the best medical jobs available, many of which involve working directly with patients. Nursing is the most substantial portion of the medical workforce. There are also many kinds of nurses including practical nurses, registered nurses, and hospice nurses that provide lots of opportunities after graduation. Think about all of the doctor’s offices, hospitals, urgent cares, and clinics in your local area. There will always be job opportunities available.
Pay
Compensation should not be your driving motivation to enter the field, but medical positions pay handsomely. The average Occupational Therapist Assistant makes about 60 thousand dollars per year. This career is not too shabby with only an Associate’s Degree. Also, many healthcare positions offer lots of opportunities to earn overtime. Other colleagues may get sick or take a vacation. These vacancies can provide a great way to pad your paycheck.
Growth Opportunity
You can start your career in the medical field at the bottom of the totem pole as a Certified Nursing Assistant. An individual has a lot of options and opportunities to advance his or her career. Hard work, advanced education, and persistence can propel your career to the next level, such as one day starting your own healthcare practice with the help of a loan.
Long Hours
Patients require around the clock care, and clinical medical professionals are needed at all times of the day. Nurses usually work 12-hour shifts, and each minute demands their full attention. As an entry-level professional, you will most likely work the graveyard shift. During working hours, you will be on your feet for the majority of the time. Unpredictable work days alter lunch and break times as well. You can never expect a routine schedule in the medical field.
Emotionally Taxing
You want to enter the medical field with the primary purpose of helping others. There’s no doubt that medical positions are noble and garner the respect of others. You must have a strong stomach to realize that not every patient is a success story. Whether you work in hospice care or halfway houses, the emotional roller coaster is unavoidable. Terminal illness, severe injuries, and deaths are common when working with sick people. Medical positions require a strong-willed personality to handle various situations that occur.
Be Prepared to Get Sick
No matter what precautions you take, working with sick people can take a toll on your body. Germs surround the work environment, making you highly susceptible to illness. Also, the constant interaction with ill individuals can play with your emotions. It’s important to take the right steps to improve your health as much as possible. This will boost the strength of your immune system and better prepare your body to do battle with the countless pathogens it will encounter.
Before you consider a career in the medical field, do your homework. Shadow different positions, ask a lot of questions and remain proactive. Some of the best medical jobs in the country are waiting to be filled. Perhaps you can be that person to make a difference in the lives of others.
