Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing career fields out there today. But why work in healthcare? Or better still, what are the top reasons for working in healthcare. If you’re looking to take the next step in your professional life, you can’t go wrong with looking into healthcare positions!
The industry has seen a huge spike in demand due to the recent pandemic, meaning that there are positions available in pretty much every sector within healthcare to meet this demand.
Furthermore, with the population of the United States growing older and older, there will be an increased demand for care and medical support in the coming years, meaning that healthcare will be a very stable one for years to come.
Why work in healthcare? There are tons of benefits to jobs in healthcare. Read on to learn the 10 top reasons for working in healthcare.
1. Job Security
Job security is a top reason for working In healthcare. One of the biggest draws to jobs in healthcare is the fantastic job security that comes with the territory. While some job availability waxes and wanes with different economic seasons, there are always sick people in need of proper care.
In fact, healthcare is not only steady but growing rapidly. New positions are being created every day. In a field where there are more openings than there are people to fill them, it seems unlikely that a qualified, competent worker would lose their job.
Plus, hospitals are open 24/7, meaning that you always have the chance to pick up an extra shift. If you choose a job in healthcare, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be stuck without a job somewhere.
Even if you do find yourself between jobs in the healthcare field, you’re likely to find another job very quickly. As medicine improves and people live longer and longer, more professionals are needed to help care for the elderly.
2. Variety of Fields
Worried about committing to one specialty for the rest of your life? Well, there’s no need to do so when it comes to healthcare!
There is a huge variety of fields that healthcare professionals can pursue. Doctors alone can specialize in things like cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, oncology, anesthesiology, and many more specialty areas.
Those areas don’t even mention the huge variety of positions available in healthcare, such as nurses, nurse practitioners, volunteers, administrators, physicians, physician assistants, counselors, pastors, and more.
It’s not uncommon to see people within the healthcare sector change from one specialization into another, as the skills obtained in one career path can be easily transferred to another with a little bit of training. This leads to a rewarding and diverse career path that can have you do a wide range of tasks and perform a plethora of different services.
3. Degrees of Education
That same variety of specializations also plays in your favor when it comes to education. Not everybody has the time, patience, or money to go through the extensive (and expensive) training that doctors endure. But even if you aren’t able to go to med school, there are tons of alternatives that will still land you a job in the healthcare field, such as an online DNP program.
For example, nursing degrees are shorter than med school, taking only four years (as opposed to the four years of undergrad plus four years of med school that doctors experience.) PA school, on the other hand, takes four years of undergrad and two years of graduate training, making it a great alternative to med school for those who are ready to get their healthcare careers up and running.
Furthermore, education to get into healthcare can be obtained online, making it a lot more accessible to people already at work or who aren’t capable of traveling to attend an on-campus site. This way of studying can be far more flexible, and you obtain the same degree at the end of it than you would have obtained if you went the traditional route.
4. Workplace Environment
Just like specializations, your workplace environment as a healthcare professional is highly customizable.
Some people prefer to work in fast-paced environments like trauma centers and emergency rooms. Others like checking up on patients in separate offices, away from the chaos of a hospital. Others like to see patients in their own homes, like with a home health care agency.
No matter what your forte is, there’s a workplace environment for you in healthcare to match the way you want to operate. Usually, roles within hospitals are far more fast-paced and varied, which can be great for people looking for a challenge or junior doctors who want to obtain a wide array of knowledge.
Furthermore, there’s also the option of opening up your own medical practice, be it a dental office, psychotherapy clinic, or opticians. This avenue of advancing in healthcare means that you can create a working environment that suits you and your team. Just bear in mind that you’ll have to be very experienced and obtain certain qualifications before you can open your own facility.
5. Location, Location, Location
Diseases and disorders don’t discriminate. No matter where you are in the world, you can’t hide from sickness. And where sickness goes, the healthcare field goes. Location is one of the best reasons for working in healthcare.
This means that you can work in virtually any city or country in the world. As long as you speak the language and are willing to be board-certified in that country, you can move to pretty much any location and still find work.
Or, if you’re looking for a less permanent move, you might look into something like Doctors Without Borders.
This international demand for medical professionals means that you can easily obtain a career as a traveling nurse, which will have you complete short-term residencies in various areas worldwide before moving off somewhere else. This gives you a lot of freedom in terms of where you want to work and can be perfect for people who want to work in healthcare but who also have a nomadic streak to their personality.
With this option, you can see the world while also helping a lot of people. To get this position where you’re in demand enough to facilitate moving frequently, you will first need to get experience working in the field first. As a result of this, you’ll find that this is a good option for nurses and doctors who have already obtained a few years of experience. This makes it a good role to aspire to get.
6. Salary
Of course, one of the most well-known advantages to healthcare positions is the salary. This isn’t true of every single healthcare position, but most of them (especially doctors and physician assistants) are paid extremely well. Salary money is a top reason for working in healthcare.
So, while the educational trail to one of these positions is long, the financial pay off is often worth the extra work.
What can be off-putting is that it might take a significant amount of time toiling away as a nurse or another low-paid position before you get the opportunity to advance up the medical career ladder. However, well-paid roles are waiting for you when you’ve experienced enough, meaning that the hard work will be worth it, as long as you keep progressing and keep learning and developing so that you’ll be a perfect fit to obtain those roles.
When thinking about salary, it’s also important to know that what you can expect will alter depending on the state you are working within, meaning that this can be a factor when deciding where to work.
California has the largest salary for nurses on average; however, the cost of living is also pretty high there, whereas the lowest average salary is within Alabama, with it being nearly half as much as what is offered in California. If you’re open to moving to become a medical professional, be sure to do your research so that you find a state to work and live in that suits you.
7. Flexible Schedules
Since hospitals are open 24/7, there are always shifts that need to be covered. If you’re not really a morning person, there’s a chance that you can take some night shifts instead. Or, if you like to make a little extra cash on the weekend, you’ll likely have the chance to do that as well.
However, when talking about schedules, it’s important to know that an early role in healthcare could have you working a lot of long and unsociable hours that could impact your free time and life outside of work. However, the bonus is that you’re usually given an extra full day off than people who work office jobs, and you might find that you’re so committed to the role that you’ll put in regular overtime to learn more, help out, and get a little extra cash.
8. Never a Dull Day
There’s a reason that so many famous TV dramas are based on hospitals and medical professionals: no two days in the healthcare field are ever the same!
So, if you like having stories to tell your family when you come home or enjoy a change in routine every once in a while, the healthcare field may be for you.
However, the important thing to remember is that with days never being dull and never being the same as the day before, it can mean that building a steady routine will be tough to achieve.
This is great if you want to avoid falling into a rut of complacency; however, it does mean that it’s unlikely that you’ll come across an easy shift where you can ‘phone it in.’ Each shift, each patient, and each task needs and deserves your full effort and concentration.
The days might be demanding, but they’re vibrant and unique, which could really help you love and appreciate your job more.
9. Making a Difference
Along with all of these other benefits comes the feeling of making a difference in the world.
In the healthcare field, all of the work you do (whether that’s as an administrator or a nurse) works toward the goal of keeping people healthy, happy, and alive.
It can be easy to forget when you’re in the role, but for every single one of your patients, you’re likely helping them through a tough time and are significantly affecting how they experience it.
The work you do and the way you treat people will leave a lasting impact on your patients and can also significantly change their life. Aiding in a successful operation can mean that someone is able to live without a chronic ailment. Treating an injured person after a car crash and applying physio can mean that they’re able to live the rest of their life with good mobility and quality of life. Plus, you’re likely to save countless lives in the role as well, which is a noble and magical thing to be involved with.
10. Community Impact
That same feeling of fulfillment in your day-to-day career can also extend to your place in the community. As a healthcare worker, others will be extremely grateful to you for your work. It’s a good feeling to know that you’re helping a community thrive.
Working in a local hospital means that you’re contributing to the well-being of your entire neighborhood, meaning that your hard work is impacting the health of the entire community.
Furthermore, you can help the community even more in a position within healthcare by hosting educational classes and talks or even teaching the next batch of aspiring nurses. There’s a reason that a role in healthcare is viewed with such high regard, and that’s because it’s one that is respected within the community as it plays such a vital role within it.
Why Work In Healthcare? The Big Takeaways
So, why work in healthcare? You’d be hard-pressed to find any other professional field that has all of the benefits listed above. Healthcare is ultimately one of the most flexible career fields available today.
No matter what your lifestyle, education level, or location, there’s a good chance that there’s a job out there for you. Check out our other blog posts to learn more about the next steps towards your dream job.
