6 Tips to Break into the Healthcare Field
I remember starting to think about what career field I would pursue in my junior year of high school. I had several nurses in my family, and the healthcare field always interested me. It was a natural fit for me to start directing my career training toward healthcare.
You may be at a point in your life where you are thinking about a career in healthcare. Whether you are just starting out or considering a change in your career, it is helpful to understand some tips to break into the healthcare field.
Healthcare Careers Are in Demand
The healthcare field is dynamic with great opportunities and jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects healthcare to be one of the fastest-growing career fields between 2022-2032 with around 1.8 million job openings expected each year in the field.
What You Need to Know
Know the Basic Coursework
If you are looking to break into the healthcare field, some basic coursework can prepare you for several healthcare professions. For any healthcare career, it is helpful to have fundamental courses as a foundation. Courses of importance include anatomy, medical terminology, and knowledge and understanding of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
Blackstone Career Institute (BCI) offers the Anatomy, Medical Terminology & HIPAA online certificate course, which takes three to six months to complete on average. This course provides students with medical terms that they need to know for several healthcare careers, including body systems (for example, respiratory, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems) and related diseases, medical procedures, and abbreviations. An overview of HIPPA, which addresses legal requirements to protect a patient’s privacy and security and make it easier for a patient to obtain and keep health insurance, is also part of the course.
Do Research
There are many career choices in healthcare like medical billing and coding, pharmacy technician, medical office assistant, home health aide, and others. Researching education options for a specific health career field ahead of time allows you to find out a school’s pre-admission education requirements, time for program completion, school accreditation, and coursework for the program. Since there are numerous organizations and schools that offer healthcare training programs online, make sure that the school or university you choose is accredited. Accreditation means that the institution has met the required educational standards to provide the coursework and correct training and ready students for their chosen careers.
Blackstone is an accredited school with several career training programs in the healthcare field that you can look into as you start your search. BCI’s programs are online, self-paced, and affordable with monthly payment plan options. If you are interested in learning more, you can fill out a form to request additional information here.
Participate in Career Networking
Networking can help you break into the healthcare field. It can also help you to decide if an area of healthcare is the right choice for you. In an article in Live Career, there are 10 tried-and-true suggestions for career networking. Some of these include:
- Ask family, friends, and others in your healthcare career of interest about who you should be talking with regarding connections.
- Become a member of your healthcare career of interest’s professional organization.
- Connect virtually with others in your field on LinkedIn and other networking sites
Volunteer to Break into the Healthcare Field
Becoming a volunteer with an organization allows you to know if that career interests you, and you can also gain experience in a specific healthcare area.
- Request to shadow a healthcare professional or volunteer in a career of interest.
- Volunteer for an organization that supports the healthcare career that you are considering. This can often lead to a job within the company after you complete an accredited program of study.
Explore Current Trends in Your Career Interest Area
Since healthcare procedures, technology, and guidelines are constantly evolving, it is important to keep up to date with the latest research and technological advancements. This is advantageous when you are desiring to break into the healthcare field. According to United Health Care Staffing, “being aware of the latest advancements in the field can help you make informed decisions about your career path.”
Career Assessment Tools
Use career assessment tools to explore and identify your skills and interests. Assessments can help you to evaluate your likes and dislikes as they relate to a career choice.
Remember Self-Care
There is an often-quoted saying, “You cannot pour out of an empty vessel.” So don’t forget to take care of yourself when deciding to break into the healthcare career field. And whatever healthcare field you choose, know that it can be demanding and stressful. Penn-Mar Human Services notes “It’s important to prioritize your own well-being in order to succeed in a career in healthcare. This could involve making time for self-care, getting enough rest and exercise, and finding ways to manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance.”
Written by Jo Gambosi
Disclaimer: Blackstone Career Institute, an accredited school, cannot guarantee employment, job promotion prospects, or income increases.
