Over the past few years, nurses have demonstrated resolve, compassion, and positive impact. Nurses have earned their position as the most trusted profession for the 20th consecutive year by helping patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and working long shifts to meet patient demands in their hour of need. Healthcare staff have seen many tools to help them over the last few years including private duty home care software and staff rostering systems, which has allowed a more streamlined approach to their roles.
It seems that nursing is a profession that is booming in every respect. Diversity in the nursing profession is growing, and the demand for nurses is surging. As a result, salaries in the field are also rising. Due to these inflection points, a celebration of Nurses Month will be underway in May 2022. Nurses Month is an annual initiative of the American Nurses Association (ANA) to honor nurses for the tremendous work they do to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. As prescient as evergreen, their theme for this year is Nurses Make A Difference.
The nursing profession has played a critical role in the nation’s fight against COVID-19 across all health care settings. As of 2014, there were more than 4.2 million registered nurses and over 325,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the nursing profession.
A shortage of qualified professionals and good job prospects makes the nursing field a ripe field for career growth. Therefore, if you’re a nursing professional looking for more career growth opportunities, we recommend that you upgrade your qualification. In addition, continuing education has become a breeze as the ongoing pandemic has urged almost every field to offer online courses. So, if you want, you can get enrolled in the bachelor of nursing online degree and upgrade yourself to a full-fledged nurse while working.
Even if you don’t want to continue your career as a nursing professional, there are various other options that you can consider. Some of them are:
Hygienists in Dental Health
The dental hygienist works in a dental office, cleaning patients’ teeth before, during, and after dental treatments. The dental hygienist works alongside orthodontists, dentists, and other dental professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 38% growth in this profession. That is 38,500 job openings.
- The annual salary is $74,820, and the hourly wage is $35.97
- Education: An associate’s degree in dental hygiene or equivalent training
- The United States has 219,800 jobs
Technologist in Health Information
Those who maintain records for health care facilities are called HITs or medical records specialists. Their job is to ensure that health information is accessible, accurate, and easy to understand. Medical workers must adapt to new technologies and software programs as the industry transitions to electronic record keeping. In addition, information technologists must be familiar with several classification systems for coding and organizing patient records. The expected job growth for this profession is 9% as per BLS in the coming years.
- An annual salary of $40,350 and an hourly wage of $19.40 are earned by them
- Training at a technical college or trade school is recommended
- There are currently 215 500 jobs in the United States
SLP (Specialist in Speech-Language Pathology)
A speech-language pathologist treats people who have communication problems, including stutters and lisps.
They can also assist patients with swallowing disorders by helping them identify and utilize their oral muscles. In addition to working in schools and daycare centers, these workers can also be found in clinics and hospitals that offer speech therapy.
- The annual salary for this position is 77,510 USD or $37.26/ hour
- Education recommended: Master’s or Doctorate in Speech Pathology
- In the U.S., there are 153,700 jobs in this field.
Occupational Therapist
By using everyday activities, occupational therapists help patients heal from injuries and overcome disabilities. By using their daily movements, occupational therapists help patients become faster, stronger, and better over a short amount of time. Additionally, job openings for this profession will increase by 33% in the coming years. Most occupational therapists are employed by physical therapy clinics, while others are employed by schools, nursing homes, and in-home care agencies.
- A salary of $84,270/year and an hourly rate of $40.51
- A Master’s degree in OT or a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy is suggested
- The job market in the United States is 133,000 at the moment.
Technologists in the Field of Surgery
Operating room technicians, or OR techs, assist with surgical operations. They work with other surgical staff members and surgeons to ensure surgery runs smoothly. They prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and provide assistance during surgeries when needed. They may also be asked to provide minor patient care, as nurses’ assistants or home health aides do.
- Hourly wage: $22.74 per hour, $47,300 per year
- A degree in surgical studies would be recommended, or a training program at a technical college or trade school
- 112,100 jobs are available in the U.S.
Cardiovascular Technician
Imaging technology is used to examine patients’ hearts and blood vessels by cardiovascular technologists. Although they cannot diagnose, they can assist cardiologists by providing them with images. There will be a 29% increase in jobs available between 2010 and 2030 for this career. The training required to become a cardiothoracic technician is minimal.
- The annual salary is $67,080 a year, while the hourly rate is $32.25
- A bachelor’s degree in cardiology is recommended
- The U.S. has 130,700 jobs for them.
Technician in Emergency Medicine (EMT)
EMTs usually work in emergency rooms, ambulances, and other fast-paced medical settings to care for injured and sick patients. EMTs must be knowledgeable about various medical conditions to assist patients properly. A member of the team must be available at any moment to respond to an emergency. Many EMTs work for emergency medical clinics and hospitals. Others work for health care equipment distributors and fire departments. EMT positions are experiencing staggering job growth of 33%.
- Hourly wage: $14.50 an hour; average annual salary: $34,320
- Training at a technical college or trade school is recommended
- The job count in the United States is 262,100
Final Words
Overall, these are just a few of the jobs in the healthcare field that you can opt for if you’re no longer interested in pursuing your career as a nursing practitioner. All of these jobs are high-paying and have good growth potential. So, choose the most suitable one per your passion and liking. .
