Chapter 1: Introduction to Health Careers
Anita Hedlund
Choosing Healthcare as a Career
For those who are considering a career in healthcare, there are many compelling reasons to choose this field over others. Many gravitate toward careers in healthcare due to its mission and values. The healthcare system strives to prevent, diagnose, and treat all manner of disease and illness, and it takes a diverse group of trained professionals in various settings to serve the patients that rely on them.
The care a patient receives varies in approach and intensity depending on their needs and health conditions. Patient care can be as personal as helping a patient with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and walking. More broadly, patient care consists of services rendered by health professionals, or non-professionals under their supervision, for the benefit of patients (FXB Center, 2014).
Many people pursue healthcare as a career out of a desire to help others. Changing another person’s life by positively impacting their health is highly fulfilling on both a personal and professional level, and values and traits such as compassion and empathy can be an integral part of serving patients daily. Healthcare professionals can save lives, improve health conditions, and support patients in maintaining their health or dying with dignity.
In addition to helping others, there is a great deal of job security in healthcare. Demand for most healthcare roles is increasing as the population ages and expands, and salaries are rising due to this demand. Once a person learns some medical terminology and develops familiarity with healthcare systems and processes, they will have opportunities to advance in responsibility, pursue new interests within healthcare, and continue with further education and training.
This book contains chapters that go into detail about each type of healthcare career, such as nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, office, and administrator positions. In addition, there are chapters on law and ethics in healthcare, applying and interviewing for healthcare jobs, and professionalism in healthcare, among other topics.
Introducing Career Pathways in Healthcare
There are many options for serving others in a healthcare role. Some people have an aversion to dealing with human body fluids, such as blood, but would find fulfillment in an administrative capacity, such as billing or management of health records. Other options include counseling, social work, or another non-direct patient care role. If you know another language, medical interpreting is an in-demand role.
It is important to note that not all care is focused on illness; a critical part of healthcare is disease prevention through wellness promotion. This includes promoting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and providing education on other lifestyle choices such as tobacco use. Another element of healthcare with a wellness focus is helping people who are recovering from injury