There is a variety of health and wellness careers, ranging from working with patients to working in healthcare management. From the health care specialist, who works with individuals and families as a primary caregiver, to the medical office manager, who oversees the entire organization of a health center.
Even within the health care professional realm, there are different job titles and functions.
A clinical associate becomes certified after completing a two-year Associate’s degree program or a four-year Bachelor’s degree program specializing in the field of medicine or healthcare. Some people choose this career path because they enjoy helping others, while others want a more stable position in the field that allows them to help people on a more personal level. The health and wellness careers of these individuals range from working as a medical technician to a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, or even an x-ray technician.
The health care specialist is usually a doctor, a nurse, or a medical technician specializing in one particular area of health care. A doctor’s main focus is on diagnosing diseases and treating them. The healthcare specialist helps patients deal with the side effects of their disease through drug therapy and consulting with them on other health care options, such as diet and exercise. The health care specialist can also prescribe medications and perform physical examinations.
As previously mentioned, there are many health and wellness careers in the health care industry. The health care administrator is a key player in a health care center or facility. This individual is ultimately responsible for running the day to day activities in a health care facility. Their duties include ordering supplies and providing information to patients about their disease as well as interacting with doctors and other staff.
Another type of health and wellness careers is that of a registered nurse or APRN. These individuals work in health care facilities to provide basic nursing care, administer medication, and provide therapeutic care to patients. RNs are required to have at least a master’s degree in nursing before working in a health care facility. They must also pass a licensing exam, in order to become a nurse. Some of the common RN positions include being an assistant to a nurse, a clinical nurse specialist, and a nurse practitioner.
The final type of health and wellness careers is that of a medical assistant. Medical assistants perform routine tasks that help in the administering of medications as well as patient care within a health care facility. Some of the most common tasks or responsibilities of a medical assistant include preparing patients for examinations and helping to maintain their health. Individuals that are interested in entering into one of these health care careers should familiarize themselves with the various health care careers to get a better understanding of what each job entails.