An Introduction to Healthcare Education
Pursuing a healthcare degree is one of the smartest career moves an individual can make in today's economic climate. Countless publications – including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – have reported that the healthcare field is one of the fastest growing sectors in the job market. With an aging population, the need for trained professionals for homecare, nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare centers is vital.
The following set of articles attempt to give you a greater understanding of healthcare education. Here you can find information on what sort of degree you may need for you desired career, the pros and cons of online schooling, and how to search for healthcare schools.
Getting the Right Degree for Your Healthcare Career
Healthcare is an amazingly diverse field of study that offers a broad range of specialties and focuses for students. The career paths that come from earning these degrees are equally varied and include administrative work, such as medical billing, in addition to practicing medicine in roles like a nurse practitioner or medical doctor. According to the United States Department of Labor and Statistics, there will be three million new wage and salary jobs in healthcare fields by 2016, making it the fastest growing industry in the country for the near future. The level of education a student completes, ranging from vocational schools to doctorate programs, is the biggest factor in determining their career options. The following is a list of education levels and what careers are available to those who choose to pursue them.
Vocational Schools
Vocational schools focus on teaching job-specific healthcare skills for a particular area and can be either post-secondary programs or, in some cases, a substitute for the final years of high school. These programs more closely resemble job training than a bachelor's or associate's degree, which include a more traditional education as a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Associate's Degree
Associate's degrees usually take two years to complete and include a focus in an area of your choosing along with a more broad education at the college level. These degrees can lead to a career in office administration or in a practice, such as a dental hygienist, or can used as a foundation for further education. Many holders of associate's degrees add a bachelor's or a master's in their field after completion.
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree is a traditional four-year undergraduate program where students receive a general education as well as focusing on a major field of study. Most programs require that a final evaluation, such as a thesis, be passed in the fourth year of study in order to earn the degree. Some students will complete their associate's degree first and then use the courses they have completed as transfer credits for completing a bachelor's degree in two years.
Master's Degree
A master's degree is a two year program that follows the earning of the bachelor's degree. Available degrees include the master's of sciences (MS), master's of arts (MA), and master's of business administration (MBA), and will be determined by your specific field of study and career aspirations. A master's degree can be a terminal degree in your field, or can be used to apply for a doctorate degree program. Whereas in past years a master's was a requirement for doctorate admissions, more recently students have been able to satisfy the master's requirements while working towards their doctorate with only a bachelor's degree.
Doctorate Degree
The doctorate degree is the highest level of academic achievement that can be earned before beginning your career. For those who wish to be a medical doctor, the degree is known as a M.D., whereas all other doctorate degrees are a Ph.D. The amount of time required to complete this degree varies depending on the student, but the average length in the United States is seven years and includes some residency work for medical students.
While selectivity will always vary between institutions, the cost and level of competition for each degree increases depending on the degree you seek, with associate's degrees being the least competitive and doctoral degrees the most. If selectivity is proving to be a hurdle, for-profit and online schools, designed to accommodate more students, may also be a good alternative to traditional schools. Regardless of which degree a student chooses to pursue, healthcare's diverse breadth of fields and strong job market makes it an inviting choice.
Article Resources:
College Board
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The Benefits of a Healthcare Degree
A degree in healthcare brings with it a wide range of opportunities, and people who hold these degrees often find themselves in high demand. In 2006, healthcare accounted for 14 million jobs in The United States with 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product being spent in the field. Due to the sheer size of the industry, people entering it will have many options open to them as to where they would like to work, and in what capacity. Those who do decide to pursue a medical career will need to make many unique decisions as to what field they enter, and at what level. However, despite the diversity of the industry, there are several key aspects that make healthcare a beneficial job option at any level of education: a steadily growing job market, the opportunity to find personally rewarding jobs, and the diversity of training programs and careers available.1. A Steadily Growing Job Market
One of the most compelling reasons to consider a degree in healthcare is the strong job market that is projected for these fields in the coming years. Despite the overall struggles in the recent job market, an aging generation of baby boomers and strong technological advances in multiple medical fields have combined to make jobs in healthcare immune to this downturn. In addition to the vast amount of opportunities already available, 7 of the 20 fastest growing careers in the United States are healthcare related and three million new jobs are expected by 2016, making it the most rapidly expanding career field in the country. The technical nature of many job opportunities in healthcare fields also contributes to the strong growth of the job market, as many new opportunities are being created by previously unavailable technologies. The recent push to digitize medical records for increased accuracy and ease of access is an example of an entire field that did not exist in the past but is now in generating a great demand for well trained staff.
2. Personally Rewarding Jobs
Another aspect of the healthcare field that draws in many students is the fact that careers in medicine are rewarding personally as well as professionally. The strong job market is indicative of the universal necessity of competent medical professionals to aid the unwell, and many specialists in the field were drawn to the opportunity to help people in unfortunate circumstances. Even jobs that do not work directly with patients afford people in administrative roles the opportunity to contribute to their recuperation. Medical coding, for example, is a necessary function of keeping patient's financial and medical records in workable order, while administrative and management positions ensure the sound practices and financial stability that keep institutions afloat and people healthy.
3. A Diverse Training Period and Viable Careers
The opportunity to have a career that helps others brings with it a lot of appeal, and the wide range of specific fields and degrees available at varying levels allow for a diverse field of professionals to find a place in this growing industry. Students who cannot afford or do not wish to devote seven or more years to postgraduate work can find ample job opportunities in healthcare without a doctorate after their name on their resume. Nurses, emergency medical technicians, lab technicians, and dental hygienists, as well as administrative and managerial staff positions, are just a few examples of careers that are available with a combination of a lower degree, such as a bachelor's or a master's, and on the job training.
The diversity of work available at all levels of education is unquestionably a strong benefit of pursuing a career in healthcare, and combined with the rewarding nature of the work and the growing job market in the coming years, healthcare degrees can be an excellent first step toward establishing a meaningful and successful career.
Article Resources:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
University of Maryland Medical Center
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Should I Get an Online Healthcare Degree or a Traditional One?
After deciding to pursue a degree in healthcare, a student is faced with many options about what program is best suited for them. More recently this debate has included whether to travel to a traditional school or to choose from the growing number of online alternatives. Over the past five years, enrollment in higher education online courses has grown 12 per cent each year versus only two percent growth for traditional brick and mortar schools. While this illustrates how popular Internet courses are becoming, E-learning is still in the minority and prospective students will have to determine for themselves if the unique system of online schooling is the right fit for them. Before deciding, there are several advantages and detractors that all students should consider about the online format. The following is a list of things you should consider when enrolling in a school.1. The Flexibility
Without question, one of the primary benefits of getting a healthcare degree online is the flexibility that E-learning affords the student. Without classes that meet regularly and academic buildings to commute to, earning a degree from an online provider will allow you to work when you are best able to and from the comfort of your home. This flexibility is especially beneficial for people who hold jobs or are responsible for taking care of a family and thus do not have the option of dropping everything when it is class time. In a similar vein, online classes are often tackled at the students own pace. While there is always coursework with specific due dates, the schedule for completing this work is left up to the student to best fit their learning style and life outside the online classroom, making for a more tailored work schedule.
However, because coursework is less structured and classes do not meet regularly, the onus for completing all assignments on time and up to standard falls solely on the student. Procrastinators and people who have trouble starting projects on their own may find that the freedom of E-learning is more of an obstacle than they had anticipated in completing their degree on schedule.
2. The Cost
Cost factors can also a significant benefit for the online student. Because higher learning institutions that offer courses over the Internet do not have the same financial overhead without a physical facility to oversee, they are able to offer degrees with a lower bottom line than some traditional institutions. However, this is not always the case so be sure to research your school thoroughly. If an online school is too cheap, you might be dealing with an unaccredited institution. Avoid these at all costs.
3. The Technology
Another advantage of completing coursework online is that, in an increasingly technical work environment, employers can appreciate a candidate who has built their technological competency through their education. Being comfortable with working efficiently online is becoming an invaluable skill in all fields, and healthcare is certainly no exception.
4. Personal Contact
One drawback to bear in mind while researching online schools is that all of them will lack the face to face learning experience that higher education used to be built on. This will separate students not only from their professors but from their peers as well; prospective students should consider how comfortable they are with all communication, including the asking and answering of questions, done electronically.
5. The Reputation
One final thing to consider when evaluating the pros and cons of an online degree in healthcare is how that degree will be perceived by potential employers in the future. While studies have shown in many cases that online classes are just as valuable, if not more so, than traditional schooling, some hiring managers may not be aware of these findings. Instead they may have bought into the stigma that online courses are of a lesser quality than the on-site alternatives. Being aware that this attitude exists, and being prepared to combat it, is something all potential students should take into account before deciding to enroll online.
Article Resources:
Illinois Online Network
GoogoBits.com
Career Advantage
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A Guide to Continuing Healthcare Education
The healthcare industry consists of professionals with a variety of educational backgrounds. Some healthcare careers require many years of training in postsecondary school, graduate school and beyond, while others require less than four years of education. If you are pursuing a career in the healthcare industry, consider the different educational requirements for each profession. You will find that programs are tailored in length and breadth to the specialized training they offer.Treating and Diagnosing Practitioners
Pursuing a career as a treating and diagnosing practitioner—a generalization that includes physicians, surgeons, optometrists, physical therapists, audiologists, etc—requires many years in rigorous education and training programs. Typically, practitioners must complete four years of undergraduate school, in which they will study physics, biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, and math in order to prepare themselves for medical school. During their tenure at a postsecondary institution, prospective medical students are advised to volunteer in local hospitals and clinics to gain some preliminary experience in the field. Once in medical school, students will complete two years studying anatomy, biochemistry, psychology, microbiology, medical ethics, and law governing medical practices in a classroom setting. During the final two years of medical school, however, students will work under the supervision of practicing professionals to gain experience in various medical settings. Finally, M.D.s are required to complete an internship and/or residency in which they receive payment for on-the-job training in the specialization of their choice.
Administrative, Research, Consulting and Teaching Positions
In order to be considered for an administrative, research, consulting, or teaching position in the healthcare industry, you must earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution. Course topics in a bachelor's of science degree program, for instance, will include anatomy, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, physiology, and other behavioral sciences. The program will not only provide clinical experience, but also training in critical thinking, communication, and leadership. Advancement opportunities will be higher for healthcare workers with a bachelor's degree than for those with an associate degree.
Technologists and Technicians
Most technologists and technicians are required to hold a certificate or an associate degree from a two-year program. Typically, the two years consist of a combination of clinical instruction and coursework in chemistry, biological sciences, math, statistics, and microbiology. Some programs also offer specialized courses devoted to knowledge and skills used in clinical laboratory.
Other Healthcare Professionals
Other healthcare positions do not require any specialized training beyond high school. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 47 percent of nursing home and residential care facility employees need only a high school diploma, as do 20 percent of workers in hospitals.
Keep in mind that some healthcare establishments offer on-the-job training, as well as classroom instruction and continuing education programs. Most healthcare employees that do not have postsecondary training receive on-the-job training if they work directly with patients. Positions that typically receive training include nursing aides, orderlies, attendants, home health aides, physical therapist aides, and EKG technicians. They will be taught about sanitation, how to respond in an emergency situation, relevant safety procedures, and other specific tasks and skills depending on the profession.
Hospitals generally have the most resources to provide training and career advancement opportunities. Some even provide tuition reimbursement benefits and/or training in exchange for a promise that the employee will work a set amount of time at the hospital after his or her graduation.
Finally, most healthcare jobs are regulated by the state. Therefore, in order to maintain valid licensure, many healthcare professionals will be required to enroll in continuing education courses at regular intervals after the completion of their initial specialized training.
Article Resources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition
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How to Search Healthcare Schools
If you are unsure about the healthcare field in which you want to study, searching for the right healthcare school can be a daunting task. The ideal course of action for finding the best healthcare education involves determining the following: selecting the type of education, selecting the type of program, and finally, selecting a school.Type of Education
Students react differently to various types of instruction. Some react well to healthcare instruction that is experience-based, with a great deal of on-the-job training or cooperative education. Others prefer focusing more on textbook study or online lessons, where face-to-face time with the teacher is not as important. Determining how you best learn is an important part of gaining the most from your healthcare program.
Type of Program
Once you have decided upon the type of healthcare instruction, the next step is in determining what type of healthcare degree or healthcare training you should select. This is arguably the most difficult part of the education search. Browse through our list of healthcare professions and see if any of the program descriptions spark your interest. If you can come up with a few promising programs, you might want to research the career some more.
Next, try to learn about the career opportunities, the ability for advancement within each career, salary ranges, and more. Often, this process will help highlight some of the lesser known advantages and disadvantages of the career path. Another great source for career information also comes from the schools themselves. As we will point out in the next step, schools will give you even more details about the type of career opportunities that exist for each healthcare program they offer.
Select a School
Now that you have a general sense for how you want to study, and what you would like to study, the last step is in finding schools in which to apply. Based on how you like to learn, you can use our site to locate online healthcare schools, or campus-based schools closer to home. Depending on what type of healthcare field you are interested, you can then choose from the available degrees and certifications. What remains is the list of healthcare schools that fit your criteria. By clicking on a school, you will be sent to a page with additional school-specific information such as school history, degree program details, financial aid information, and more.
To learn more details about the school, you can request to receive an informational packet or brochure from the school directly. Typically, this packet contains more extensive, updated healthcare program information, application forms, financial aid options, and more. Requesting information from schools is completely free, and the information you submit to us is kept strictly confidential; we only send your information to the schools you select. Lastly, when selecting a school, it is important to receive information from more than one source. Having more options will help you make a more informed decision, and ultimately, the best choice for your healthcare education.
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