Whether you always knew you wanted to go into healthcare when
you grew up or are just now realizing how stable a career in healthcare can be,
there’s a certain progression that most healthcare students must follow.
Preparation begins as early as high school – that’s when many
students realize they must prepare for college or their career by taking
certain classes - and continues
through higher education. How much higher education you need depends on your
ultimate career goals.
High School
Keep in mind that almost every healthcare profession requires
some higher education, so this won’t be your last time in the classroom. And
your college courses will be heavy in the math and sciences, so it stands to
reason that those same sorts of classes are important in high school. Load up
on biology, chemistry and anatomy classes, when they are offered, and don’t
forget to sprinkle in some algebra or calculus.
Also, think about what a healthcare professional does
day-to-day. Aside from the technical components of the profession, healthcare
careers require a lot of interpersonal communication and computer skills.
Communication, psychology and computer classes are recommended to prepare you
for the logistical and personal sides of healthcare.
College
College requirements are largely based on your career goals. If
you want to be a dental hygienist, occupational therapy assistant or a
vocational nurse, an associates degree will fast track you to your goal. On the
other hand, if you want to be a dietician, a registered nurse, a physician’s
assistant or an EMT, you’ll need a bachelors degree in healthcare.
No matter what your ultimate goal, you’ll need to pick a
corresponding specialty or major while in college. Many students who seek to
continue their educations after college, pick biology, biochemistry or pre-med
as a major. Students who want to be nurses often go to, well, nursing school, which most of the
time includes two years of regular classes then two years of nursing school
classes.
Healthcare associates degree specialties are much more specific. At
community colleges, technical colleges and vocational schools, you can get a
degree in areas like nursing, occupational therapy assistant, radiography or
medical assistant. You can also get certified to become a phlebotomist, coding
specialist or community health worker, among others.
Graduate School
Of
course the highest paying jobs – healthcare administrators, healthcare
educators, doctors and healthcare managers – require advanced degrees. Masters
and doctoral degrees are popular among healthcare professionals and are offered
at colleges throughout the country.
Source: blog.campusexplorer.com/2012/02/09/timeline-healthcare-student/
No comments:
Post a Comment