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Is there any other fields I should take in to consideration besides medical?
I am Adaline, I’m a mom of 1. I love the rain and snowy days.
As I’m considering medical field for RN, I’d like to have ideas of what other similar fields I could turn to.
#medicine
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Kathleen’s Answer
Hello!
This is a great question! There are many different ways to get involved with the medical community. A couple questions to ask yourself as you make this decision. The first is how long do you want to go to school for. Some programs like Certified Nursing Assistants, Radiology technician, Ultrasound technician, or dental hygienists can have huge impacts on the medical community with about 2 years of schooling. These fields have great job opportunities and can have good salaries as well. You can also work in medical billing or medical coding which allows you to work along side medical professionals while taking a more business approach.
If you are ok with going to school longer RN is a great job with plenty of opportunities in almost all ares of the country. It will require at least a 4 year degree in nursing. A slightly different approach to joining the medical field can be by contributing the the medical research community. With a 4 year degree in science (biology, chemistry, etc) you can work in a lab as a technician assisting in the discovery of new medications and treatments.
With a masters degree (4 years of undergrad and 2 years after), you can work in fields like occupational therapy, physical therapy, sports medicine, and art/music therapy. Also you can add to your nursing degree by becoming a Nurse practitioner or a Physicians assistant. These are awesome jobs that allow a lot of patient interaction without all the years to get a MD. All of these jobs are in great need and will provide for steady income.
Finally, if you want to stay in education for longer (8-9+ years) you can consider fields like MD where you could practice anything from family medicine to surgery. This is an awesome job if you don't mind being in school for a long time and often times requires you to take out loans if you do not receive a scholarship. This would take about 4 years plus residency which can vary from 2-6 years. You could also consider a PhD in medical sciences which takes a different approach to the medical community. The benefit of this is that you are often payed to get your degree and do not have to pay for tuition. With this degree you can work in many fields from medication discovery to consulting.
Consider how long you wish to stay at school
Look at schools in the area you want to live (if this is a consideration)
See what programs are offered and the financial support availble (if any)
Contact the school with any questions
Apply!
This is a great question! There are many different ways to get involved with the medical community. A couple questions to ask yourself as you make this decision. The first is how long do you want to go to school for. Some programs like Certified Nursing Assistants, Radiology technician, Ultrasound technician, or dental hygienists can have huge impacts on the medical community with about 2 years of schooling. These fields have great job opportunities and can have good salaries as well. You can also work in medical billing or medical coding which allows you to work along side medical professionals while taking a more business approach.
If you are ok with going to school longer RN is a great job with plenty of opportunities in almost all ares of the country. It will require at least a 4 year degree in nursing. A slightly different approach to joining the medical field can be by contributing the the medical research community. With a 4 year degree in science (biology, chemistry, etc) you can work in a lab as a technician assisting in the discovery of new medications and treatments.
With a masters degree (4 years of undergrad and 2 years after), you can work in fields like occupational therapy, physical therapy, sports medicine, and art/music therapy. Also you can add to your nursing degree by becoming a Nurse practitioner or a Physicians assistant. These are awesome jobs that allow a lot of patient interaction without all the years to get a MD. All of these jobs are in great need and will provide for steady income.
Finally, if you want to stay in education for longer (8-9+ years) you can consider fields like MD where you could practice anything from family medicine to surgery. This is an awesome job if you don't mind being in school for a long time and often times requires you to take out loans if you do not receive a scholarship. This would take about 4 years plus residency which can vary from 2-6 years. You could also consider a PhD in medical sciences which takes a different approach to the medical community. The benefit of this is that you are often payed to get your degree and do not have to pay for tuition. With this degree you can work in many fields from medication discovery to consulting.
Kathleen recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Nursing would be a great career. Other careers in medicine that are rewarding include: physician, physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, radiology technologist, and surgical technologist. Good luck choosing!
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
Hi Adaline. I'm sure you will make a good choice as far as career, but I would like to encourage you to continue considering healthcare. The nurses that work at our cancer center are essential in the care of the patients. The nurses see the patients regularly, answer phone calls and questions about medications, and overall serve as a huge support for patients undergoing treatment. This is a great job.