Are you considering a career in healthcare? There are a plethora of roles to choose from and it can be difficult to know where to begin, but these are five of the careers that people speak most positively about after long years of service. They’re careers that will enable you to make a good living and feel useful at the same time.
Midwife
What could be more rewarding than bringing new lives into the world? Nobody has as much direct contact with expectant parents as the midwife, who helps them through every stage of pregnancy and preparation for birth. Midwives combine a year or more of training with strong interpersonal skills. They oversee home births, dealing with any problems and knowing when to summon help, and they also provide emotional support.
Psychiatric nurse
Mentally ill people are among the most vulnerable in our society and mental health nursing can make the difference between life and death for them. While doctors make diagnoses and prescribe treatments, it’s nurses who really get to know patients and, where it’s possible, help them through the difficult journey to wellness. You might be surprised by how generous the average psychiatric nurse salary is, but the biggest reward lies in being able to turn people’s lives around.
Medical receptionist
Often the first port of call when somebody needs help, a medical receptionist needs excellent communication skills, with the ability to work out what kind of help is required, and how quickly, even when patients themselves are unsure. In local doctors’ offices, they can have extensive administrative responsibilities and they play a vital supporting role, getting to know their communities. In busier settings, they coordinate key aspects of patient care.
Pediatric nurse
Going into hospital can be a scary process for children, even if it’s only for a short appointment. Pediatric nurses play a vital role in providing them with specialized care and making them feel safe and comfortable. In long-stay situations, they help their young patients to cope with the stresses of treatment and ensure that they can still engage in learning and play. It’s an immensely rewarding process to get kids through difficult times and give them a fresh start in life.
Dietitian
Often the work of dietitians is overlooked but it makes a vital difference to people recovering from serious illnesses or living with chronic ones. Whether it’s simply about giving somebody the skills to stick to a healthy diet or about designing a new eating plan for somebody with complex needs, it can vastly improve quality of life. Dietitians have varied and interesting work, including diagnosing and enabling recovery from life-threatening eating disorders.
Each of these careers gives you the chance to do something really meaningful with your life and improve other people’s. They all pay well and are in high demand, so it’s easy to find a position that suits you, and to move around if you want to. Healthcare is full of great opportunities, but these career paths are more rewarding than most.