Is This the Best Career Path in Healthcare?
Posted On September 10,2024
If you love helping others and want a career that offers plenty of options as well as long-term job security, a career in healthcare is a smart choice. The demand for healthcare workers is already high and is projected to grow even more in the coming years, and for those who are ready to step into the field, the opportunities for career stability and continued growth are tempting. 
However, saying you want a career in “healthcare” is like saying you want a career in “business”. There are many different roles in healthcare, and each option comes with its own requirements. Some healthcare careers take years of training, while you can complete training for others in as little as a few months. If you want a career in healthcare but aren’t sure what direction you want to go in, we can help you find the career path that is right for you.
Benefits of a Career in Healthcare
No matter which role you choose, the benefits of a career in healthcare are exceptional. First, no matter the economic state, healthcare professionals will always be in demand. Having job security in an uncertain world is a huge perk of a career in healthcare.
Healthcare workers have a huge variety of positions to choose from, so you can be confident that there will always be a job that fits your needs with plenty of opportunity for advancement. Finally, with a career in healthcare, you will know that you are making a real difference in the lives of your patients. Having a career where you feel valued and fulfilled is a real benefit of working in healthcare.
There Are Many Options for a Career in Healthcare
A career in healthcare doesn’t mean you need to become a doctor or a nurse. There are many options in healthcare that don’t require a doctorate or advanced degree. Some of these options include:
- Medical Assistant
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Rehabilitation
- Medical Imaging
- Pharmacy Technician
Choosing a career can be stressful, and even if you know you want a career in healthcare, you may worry that you are making the wrong choice. However, one of the best reasons to begin your healthcare career with a medical assisting certification is that it can be a great way to begin working in the field, make a good income, and decide how you want to advance your career from there.
Choosing the Right Healthcare Career
A good education or medical training program can prepare you with the skills you need to be successful at your job, but you also need to think about why you are drawn to a career in healthcare to begin with.
Think about personal interests and strengths. Are you always drawn to helping people in need? Can you picture yourself interacting with patients in a hands-on way?
Maybe you are drawn to a career in healthcare because the science of the field fascinates you and you love the idea of becoming a sonographer, respiratory therapist, or imaging technician.
If you aren’t sure what you want your long-term path to be, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Many healthcare workers begin as medical assistants and use that experience as a jumping off point.
Steps to Choosing the Right Path
The first step to choosing the right path is thinking about where you are now, and where you want to be. If you have a high school diploma or GED and want to start working quickly, there are several options that require less class time and training before you begin your on-the-job experience.
If you have your associate’s degree or plan to get one before you begin working, more options open up that may take more time before you can get started, but may be more advanced or technical. You may want to get started in your career quickly with your high school diploma, but with plans to earn further degrees and certifications after you have some real-world experience. The important thing when deciding on your path is to know where you are starting.
After that you can begin to research different roles and what they will require in terms of educational requirements, including the time and financial investment you will have to make. As you consider which roles are interesting to you, research what you will need to do to make that happen. If a bachelor’s or master’s degree isn’t in the cards right now, there are many different roles in healthcare you can pursue with an associate’s degree or training certification.
It’s also important to think about the work environment you want, the work/life balance you need, and how each role will fit into your lifestyle. If you are working in a hospital as a CNA, you will likely have a different schedule from someone who is working in a specialist’s office as a medical assistant. If you are drawn to a career in healthcare because you want to make a difference in patient’s lives, you likely won’t pursue a degree in medical transcription or administration.
A career in healthcare can set you up for long-term success. You’ll have job security, an in-demand career no matter where life takes you, and have plenty of options to advance and specialize once you’ve gained experience. We offer a comprehensive medical assistant training program for dedicated students who want to succeed. Our faculty and staff are here to support you every step of the way. Contact Athena Career Academy to learn more about how you can make a difference in healthcare as a medical assistant.