The Chartiers Valley Source

I never wanted to be a doctor. I loved school, but science was my least-favorite subject, and I could never imagine spending years of my life with my nose buried in biology and chemistry books. Working nights and being on call just dont suit me.

I never wanted to be a nurse. I dressed up as one for Halloween several times sporting my moms jaunty white cap and wool cape from her nursing school graduation. Besides, there are already five nurses in the family and another about to graduate.

But no one ever told me about other careers in medicinewhere you dont spend eight or more years studying or working 36 hours straight, grabbing naps in on-call rooms (or at least thats how it seems on Greys Anatomy).

`If only someone had told me I could enter the medical profession with just two years of education. In fact, job opportunities are extensive for a variety of options requiring less education and still commanding a comfortable salary, such as: Surgical Technology: Learning pre- and post-operative skills, how to create a sterile environment and how to prepare an operating room for surgery are just a few aspects of this exciting career. Working directly with surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, you participate directly in surgery, often anticipating the doctors needs. Long hours on your feet are forgotten at the prospect of saving a life.

Medical Assisting: Responsibilities vary depending on the size of the practice you work for, which often include patient interaction as well as office duties. Since most MAs are employed in doctors offices, the hours are typically more regular than hospital shifts. Knowledge of anatomy, physiology and various clinical techniques are critical but you always work under a doctors supervision, eliminating fears of malpractice.

Medical Office/Coding: Handling bodily fluids not your thing? Dont rule out a medical profession. Professionals with a medical background are needed to fulfill administrative duties in doctors offices. Knowledge of medical terminology and insurance procedures is key and the working hours are more regular.

Therapeutic Massage: So much more than a backrub, a professional therapeutic massage practitioner has an intense background in anatomy and physiology and can manipulate the body to relieve stress and pain from injuries, tension and even cancer. Doctors are recognizing the value and insurance companies are starting to pay attention to the demand for medicinal massage. The majority of massage practitioners are selfemployed allowing them to set their own schedule.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor, the job opportunities in the healthcare industry are expected to grow by more than 25 percent between now and 2016. Part of this is the overall growth of the population; some of it is the aging of the baby boomer generation and technological advances in medicine that introduce treatments and new procedures to a wider segment of patients.

If you or someone you know is considering a career in scrubs, it doesnt mean another 8 or 10 years of schooling beyond high school. Consider all the options and decide what suits your life goals, financial resources, and preferred work environment. Then choose one of the many career avenues the expanding healthcare industry offers students today.