You’re a passionate, caring person that is ready to devote yourself to a career helping others. After carefully weighing your options you have decided that the medical field is where you belong.
Congratulations on taking the first step! But now you’re probably wondering, what medical career is right for me?
There are hundreds of professions within the medical field that are worth exploring. Take a look below to learn more about the plentiful opportunities waiting for you and how you can choose the right one.
What Medical Career Is Right for Me?
This is a big question to answer. Do you want to be a doctor, nurse, hospital administrator, pediatric surgeon, or home health care aid? Should you try to get into a reputable medical assistant program or should you look at virtual opportunities? The list goes on and on.
So instead of trying to answer this big question, try starting with a few smaller questions first.
1. Why Do You Want to Be in the Medical Field?
Chances are you have already thought about this question. There is something about providing healthcare that excites you. But now it is time to dig a little deeper.
Why exactly did this profession attract you?
Are you interested in science and medical technology? Do you enjoy connecting with people and offering advice? Or is it the money that is the major motivator?
There is no wrong answer. But if you just want to find out how you’d look in scrubs, maybe reconsider.
Careers in medicine and healthcare often require a rigorous schedule, so you need to be ready to commit serious time and energy. If you don’t have a meaningful motivation, it can be hard to find the wherewithal for the early mornings and late nights.
2. What Are Your Plans for Education and Training?
The education and training required for different medical professions vary. Being a doctor requires years of formal education and training which is not only time-consuming but can be very expensive.
Take time to research the educational requirements for several different professions. Do you have the time needed to complete the schooling? Do you have the funds? Can your education fit with your existing schedule?
If you are interested in practicing medicine and seeing patients but are not sure about the education commitment, consider a career as a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner.
If you have decided on the profession you want to pursue, start looking at different programs that offer the degree or diploma required. You can even look at reviews from students to see what alumni have to say about the programs or check online courses like the NREMT online test prep which will give you a good indication of knowledge and skills needed.
When you are comparing different education options, make sure to consider alternative methods of study, like online learning. Many people are concerned about pursuing their dreams of working in healthcare, especially in later life because they don’t think they can afford to go back into education full-time. However, there are plenty of institutions like Marymount that offer a range of nursing qualifications online. You can complete these qualifications in your own time and once you are working as a nurse, you can even take further courses to improve your career prospects. The benefit of this is that you are able to work while studying, so the financial aspect is much easier to manage. It also allows people with family responsibilities to study from home, so they can balance their education with their other duties. So, don’t write off the idea of getting qualified to work in healthcare until you have explored all of the options.
3. What Is Your Ideal Work Setting?
These days, healthcare is delivered in several settings. Private doctor’s offices, hospitals, urgent care centers, and home visits are just a few popular options. Medical professionals are also needed on college campuses, military bases, and sport’s facilities.
Before you decide on a medical career think about which setting would be best for you. Do you like working in a busy setting with lots of energy and commotion? Or do you prefer a quieter environment where you can take your time? Do you want to work from home? How much interaction within a day would you want? There’s always the option of starting up your own business and using NEMT software to help transport patients to appointments. Something like that wouldn’t need such high barriers to entry (such as starting up your own private practice or pharmacy). But in general, just think about the setting you’d rather work in while still being apart of your passion: the medical field.
Beyond the physical location, you should also consider what types of people you would be working with in each setting. Do you like working with children? Individuals with special needs? New mothers?
What would be your ideal patient profile and how do you anticipate working with them? The setting is a huge factor when making your decision on your profession.
4. What Would Your Day Look Like in Each Potential Role?
When preparing for any new job you want to be able to imagine a typical day in your new role.
Consider what time you would wake up, how you would commute to work, and what tasks would be on your daily to-do list.
Most medical professionals work longer hours than your standard office job. You may be required to work weekends and holidays.
If you are unsure about what certain medical professionals do from day to day you can try to get an informational interview with one. If you have a friend or family member in the medical field, ask them for a few minutes of their time to ask more about what you could expect.
Talking to someone who is doing the job you think you want is one of the best types of research you can do. Talk to a surgeon, an ER nurse, a physical therapist, whoever you think might be able to answer your questions and help you narrow your search.
5. Do You Have the Personality Traits Required?
It’s time to be very honest with yourself. A career in medicine requires certain personality traits to be successful. If you are someone that likes to work alone, there are fewer opportunities than for those that can be part of a team.
Are you someone that can overcome difficult situations emotionally? Can you endure long hours and prioritize your career over other things?
Consider taking a personality test to identify where your strengths and weaknesses are. You may be surprised by what you find.
Ultimately, perseverance, hard work, and fortitude are essential in being successful in the medical field. If you have those traits, you are off to a good start!
Now What?
Once you have answered these questions you should have a better idea of the answer to the question of what medical career is right for me.
Even if you have narrowed down your list to a few possibilities, you are making progress! You can now start to tailor your research to just those careers that you are most interested in.
Schedule interviews with people who have the job you want and ask them pointed questions. Investigate potential opportunities to shadow a medical professional to see what their day is like.
The more you can learn, the better! If you are going to devote significant time, money, and energy towards a new career in medicine, you want to be absolutely sure!
If you want more career and business advice, check out some of our other articles!
