Health & Nursing Career Overview

In today�s workforce, properly educated and experienced health care providers are in high demand. If you are looking for a rewarding career that allows you to make a true difference in others� lives and health, and you like to work one-on-one with people, the health care industry is a great fit for you. As the overall population continues to rise and as the elderly population creates a higher demand for qualified health care, medical professional and nursing positions are expanding at a rapid pace. This high demand is unlikely to decrease in the near future. It is projected to require a higher level of educated individuals who choose to specialize in one of the many areas within the nursing and health care fields. Both of these fields encompass a wide variety of career opportunities that range from becoming an RN, to a dental assistant, to a counselor, to pursuing a career in public safety, to so many more opportunities.

Education, Training & Curriculum

Health and nursing degree programs are designed for students who desire a career that allows them to make a difference in not only their own lives, but in the lives of others.
The degree and educational requirements for this wide range of career choices, of course, vary greatly, as do credentials and salary levels. The majority of courses that are offered in these fields of study focus around science, requiring students to possess a great understanding of the basic and detailed science subjects of chemistry, physics, biology and anatomy. All health careers involve some laboratory science, and many degree programs within this field require intensive studies in one or more specialized areas relating to science and the human body. Once a health care or nursing field is pursued and a student graduates and obtains a career position, their education does not end there. When pursued, this career field requires that health care professionals continue to study, learn and take courses and training throughout their careers, in order to keep up with the latest developments in their fields.

Career Opportunities

Job opportunities are endless with a degree or certification in the health care and nursing industries. Employers seek graduates with health and nursing degrees, as well as properly licensed individuals who have completed the mandatory prerequisites and requirements needed to effectively work both indirectly and directly with patients in need of their assistance. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care industry is predicted to add approximately 3.5 million new jobs between 2002 and 2012, resulting in an increase of 30 percent. Ten of the twenty fastest-growing occupations will be concentrated in health services. These positions include medical assistants (59 percent growth), physician assistants (49 percent growth), home health aides (48 percent growth), and medical records and health information technicians (47 percent growth). Additionally, the estimated rates of employment growth for the variety of segments within the industry range from 12.8 percent in hospitals, the largest and slowest-growing industry segment, to 55.8 percent in the much smaller home health care services.

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