Health Care Career options for Recent Grads

Published on this site: November 20th, 2006 - See more articles from this month

The expansive need for quality health care services was predicted years ago as the baby boomers began to increase in age. Now that we're in the full onslaught of caring for this huge number of senior citizens, health care careers are on the
rise across the country. However, it's not just seniors that have inflated the health care career bubble.

A growing population overall means we must have an increasing number of doctors and dentists as well as massage therapists, occupational therapists, nurses and the like. In addition, there are plenty of support roles including medical office managers, coders, bookkeepers, data processors and much more.

As the population continues to age, the more our society will demand a greater number of health care workers. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics states that many jobs in the health care field don't require advanced medical training.

Depending on your program, after graduation you can pursue careers as a:

• Dental Assistant
  
• Massage Therapist
  
• Personal Home Care Aid
  
• Medical Office Assistant
  
• Health Care Information Technician
  
• and much more

Let's look at three of these healthcare careers in more detail.

Dental Assistant

Dental assistant program graduates can potentially work in dental offices. The dental assistant will help the dentist with procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions and more. These are common tasks performed during the day by a dental assistant. Program graduates may also be suited for careers with orthodontists, periodontists or other specialized dental practices.

Massage Therapist

Proper massage therapist training may position you to work in a variety of settings. Day spas, hospitals, nursing homes and a variety of other health care facilities require the services of those who have completed massage therapist training. From helping clients relax to aiding older patients with regaining
flexibility after a fall, there is a wide range of options you can select from.

Personal Home Care Aid

Those who prefer to travel rather than work in an office may prefer to pursue a career as a personal home care aid. A growing number of senior citizens want to stay in their homes as long as possible. However, an increasing number of those seniors require help with daily tasks. The personal home care aid visits a senior and assists with whatever he or she may need from putting away groceries to helping with daily exercise to administering medications.

If you have a love of people and a desire to help them live their lives to the fullest, a health care career might be for you. These are just a few common, entry-level positions. Take some time to investigate the possibilities and you're sure to find a career path that's a perfect fit for you.

Mike Churchill - provides online marketing for Select Medical Schools, a medical school database that links you to nationwide campuses offering health care training such as dental assistant programs and massage therapy training. Visit them online today at http://www.selectmedicalschools.com.