A wide variety of healthcare careers might appeal to you, from working as a Registered Nurse or physician to specialist jobs such as a midwife, speech therapist, ultrasound technician, or radiologist. There are also various support roles in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and jobs in the community supporting the health and well-being of multiple groups and individuals. Regardless of your position, many healthcare jobs have some things in common that tend to make them much more fulfilling than many other jobs.
Job satisfaction
Many healthcare workers find that a major benefit of pursuing a career in health is how satisfying and rewarding it can be. Regardless of your job role or area of specialization, you will be involved in supporting, helping, healing, and comforting patients, often when they are sick, injured, or going through major life transitions, such as pregnancy and childbirth or recovery from major injuries.
Many healthcare workers find it extremely satisfying to realize how much of a positive impact they have on their patients’ lives, both on a day-to-day basis and in the long term. For people with a caring disposition who derive satisfaction from helping others and knowing they played a part in their recovery, working in healthcare can give you a sense of purpose and intense pleasure.
Being appreciated
While healthcare workers may often feel that they work long hours and put a lot of energy and emotion into the job, patients and their families often appreciate this. It can feel wonderful when they express that appreciation, whether with words of thanks, actions, notes, or perhaps even small gifts of appreciation.
There are even days set aside to appreciate some hard-working healthcare workers, such as National Nurses Day, which was established in the 1980s to honor and recognize nurses’ amazing work. Although institutions like Baylor University honor nurses every day by offering them online degree programs that help them advance in this rewarding career path, it is nice to have more widespread acknowledgment; National Nurses Day is held on the first day of National Nurses Week, which takes place from May 6 to May 12 each year and concludes on International Nurses Day, which is the birthday of Florence Nightingale.
Constant growth
Most healthcare professionals do not stop learning when they qualify for their chosen careers. There are many formal and informal training, learning, and professional and personal growth opportunities. It is not unusual for nurses, physician’s assistants, and other healthcare workers to enter the workforce with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree and continue to study while working, perhaps completing a Master’s Degree, Doctorate, or other advanced professional qualification.
Healthcare workers in support roles will often find plenty of opportunities to learn more on the job and through formal education and training, perhaps adding new specialist skills and knowledge areas as they progress. The healthcare industry is fast-paced and dynamic, and it is unlikely that you will be bored at work or feel a lack of challenge as you might in an office job or another familiar environment. You will learn new things and gain new experiences daily in a healthcare career.
Career opportunities
Healthcare is a growing industry, and there are various career opportunities in multiple settings, from hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes to schools and specialized clinics. You may want to work with patients focusing on rehabilitation after injury or recovery after a serious illness, or perhaps in preventative healthcare, administering vaccinations, conducting health screenings, or educating people on avoiding health issues. There is also the chance to specialize in working with children, the elderly, or those with specific chronic illnesses to manage.
An entire segment of the healthcare industry focuses on helping women during conception, pregnancy, and childbirth, and a sector concentrates exclusively on mental health. In short, there is a diverse range of career opportunities and the possibility of working in a similar role in different specialties or sectors.
Many healthcare careers require only a limited amount of re-training to move from one job role to another. There is also the opportunity for geographic mobility. Although many healthcare roles require state certification or licensure, this will often be recognized in a different state, even in a foreign country, if you wish to relocate.
Job security
There is a strong demand for healthcare workers nationwide, and it is generally considered a growth industry, with new jobs always becoming available. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth of 40% between 2021 and 2031 in the job roles of nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, for example. This indicates much faster than average growth, a trend that can also be seen in other areas of the healthcare industry.
Although job security does not always ensure that a career is fulfilling, it can help you enjoy your work if you are secure in your job and aware that plenty of opportunities are available to you within your chosen career field.
Competitive salary and benefits
The salary and benefits available to workers in the healthcare industry vary greatly depending on your job role and the amount of education and experience you have. However, wages and benefits are generally good. Although pay alone does not lead to more fulfillment in your job, it can be very helpful when it comes to focusing on your work and not worrying about the low wages or lack of benefits that are an issue in so many jobs in other sectors.
Working in healthcare can be a highly fulfilling and rewarding career choice that allows workers to feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction in positively impacting the people they serve. It is certainly a sector worth considering if you seek a rewarding career.
