For many people, a meaningful career is not simply a question of the amount of salary received from employment. Whilst earning a good wage is clearly important to achieve a suitable standard of living, there are a range of other factors that need to be considered. For example, many people want to work in an industry that drives change or improves the lives of others. Some people want a job where no two days are quite the same and there are a wide variety of tasks to be undertaken. In addition, many people with a caring nature want a career where they can help others or make a difference in the health and wellbeing of the wider population. If the last sentence resonates with your values, you may have already considered a career in the healthcare sector. Few other career paths involve roles that directly impact the health of patients and service users, and it can be immensely rewarding to undertake a job where you can improve health outcomes. In this article, three rewarding and stimulating jobs in the healthcare sector will be described.
1. Assisted living nurse
It is estimated that around 810, 000 people live in assisted living facilities in America. These premises serve to promote exceptional standards of senior living for their elderly residents. As an assisted living nurse, you will be responsible for taking care of residents’ health and social care needs, such as creating bespoke care plans for residents, helping them with personal hygiene routines and ensuring that the correct medications are taken. Many assisted living nurses find that their jobs are extremely rewarding. They can improve residents’ daily lives by ensuring that they retain independence whilst still receiving assistance and help when required. It can be incredibly satisfying to know that you are playing a key role in the wellbeing of the elderly generation and ensuring that they enjoy the highest possible standards of care in later life.
2. Healthcare data analyst
If you are highly numerate, enjoy working with computers and like the idea of a non-patient-facing role in the health economy, then the role of healthcare data analyst may be ideal. Analysts in this field will typically take high volumes of healthcare data from multiple sources and use business intelligence platforms to transform the data into actionable and insightful information. This information can then be used to make high-level business decisions that have a significant impact on healthcare practice and the wider healthcare economy. This role also benefits from high levels of pay, with an average salary of approximately $70k per year.
3. Psychologist
Finally, it is important to remember the importance of helping patients with mental health conditions to manage them effectively and lead fulfilling lives. If you have a psychology degree, it may be possible to use this knowledge in the field of healthcare to treat patients with a range of psychological issues. This type of work can be emotionally challenging, but many healthcare psychologists find that helping patients to overcome serious mental issues and damaging life experiences can be exceptionally rewarding, especially when they go on to make a full recovery and begin to lead a stable and pleasurable life once more. Click here to find additional details of what this type of role typically involves.