A Presentation for Instructors/Career Counselors on Healthcare Careers
Introduction: It probably will not surprise you to learn that healthcare is predicted to remain the largest source of job growth in the coming years. According to the Department of Labor, we can expect 3.5 million new jobs across the sector by 2016. So, if you are a caring person looking for a “recession-proof” career path, you will want to explore the exciting and varied healthcare opportunities available. While doctors and nurses are the two careers we immediately connect with healthcare, they comprise less than 40% of healthcare professionals. There are hundreds of jobs/careers in healthcare that suit a variety of people with a host of different skills, talents, and interests. Let’s watch this 3-minute video to learn more about healthcare opportunities.
Discussion: While there are many healthcare careers, how many do you know about?
- Instruct students to work with a couple of students sitting around them and list healthcare careers they know about.
- Give students a few minutes and then get their responses and list the careers they named on your whiteboard.
- Show this site and work as a class to complete at least the first five questions. (It will give you a better idea of what the students know about healthcare careers.)
Exercise: Now that we have identified different healthcare jobs, what kind of education do you need and what salaries you can expect from these jobs? Virtually all healthcare professions require some post secondary education. To be a home healthcare aide, you can earn certification in a few months, but if you choose to be a surgeon, you are looking at over ten additional years of education. For most of these jobs, the salaries are commensurate with the education and training. However, that is not always the case. (Distribute the Healthcare Opportunities activity) Look at the 17 careers outlined in this exercise and use the information to answer the true/false questions. (Answers: [1. T] [2. T] [3. T] [4. F] [5. F] [6. F] [7. T] [8. T] [9. T] [10. T] After students finish the activity, ask them what surprised them about the information. Review students’ responses. Remind students that this is time-sensitive, general information and will vary accordingly.)
Additional Activities: Today we introduced and discussed some of the possibilities and opportunities in the healthcare profession. If this career path interests you, here are some things you can DO to learn more. Take this seven-question self-assessment to see what healthcare careers might be right for you. Then try the “Find Your Healthcare Niche” quizzes on AllHealthcare.Monster.Com site. At the ExploreHealthCareers.Org site you can insert your minimum salary requirement and maximum education level to come up with some exciting healthcare career options. In addition, visit the career center to find out what healthcare educational opportunities are available on this campus. As you zero in on a healthcare career, you will want to meet with your counselor to complete an academic plan to help you reach your career goal.
Quick Career Counseling Tip: Career Voyages offers students great information with over 50 short video clips with closed captions, about different healthcare careers. If students want to get a better idea of the jobs available for a healthcare career for them, have them go to Expanded Job Listings. At the bottom of this page they can see if and where specific healthcare jobs are available in their location.