If you've always known you want to work in healthcare, you may still be overwhelmed by the number of available jobs and specialties outside the physician role -- from physician's assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) who are able to perform immediate medical care and prescribe medication and laboratory tests to certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who handle the day-to-day care of patients. How can you get started with your education while you're still deciding which path to pursue? Read on to learn more about the best (and most flexible) paths to a medical career.
What should you ask yourself before enrolling in a program?
While it's not crucial to decide what you want to "be" before enrolling in a nursing certification or college degree program, it is worth thinking about what you want to "do." If you're already certain that you won't want to work in an office all day and want to be able to provide direct, daily patient care, it's unlikely you'll be happy in some of the higher-level nursing specialties that often involve more managing and paperwork than patient contact. On the other hand, someone who is a bit squeamish about bodily fluids but who still wants to make a difference in the healthcare field may want to investigate the degree and career options that can provide a good path toward a management or non-direct-care role (like pharmacy technician).
What programs will give you the most flexibility in pursuing a later education?
You'll have an automatic advantage if you're able to complete any program that allows you to hold down a flexible schedule -- for example, an LPN certification program that allows you to hold down the same schedule as other nurses. Being able to pick up or drop nursing shifts at will (or cram an entire workweek of pay into a weekend overnight shift) can give you a leg up when returning to school to pursue a higher degree. Having this flexibility can allow you to schedule a larger courseload, finishing your degree sooner than you would if faced with scheduling around a 9-to-5 job.
Any college courses you can get under your belt are a benefit as well. While certifications like CNA and LPN can get you in the door at a medical facility, they don't always translate well when attempting to transfer into higher-level courses at a local college, and you may find yourself forced to sit through classes on material you've already encountered in your career in order to fulfill the degree requirements to become an RN, NP, or PA. If you're able to take a few courses at a local community college while working as a CNA or LPN, you'll be able to further your progress once you transfer to a larger school. For more information about healthcare jobs, visit websites like http://soshcs.com/.
Share11 November 2016
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
