5 Professions a Student Can Pursue While in College

Written by  //  2013/12/04  //  Career Planning  //  1 Comment

If you’re going to college for a medical-related career, you can certainly benefit from working in the healthcare industry while attending school. These types of jobs can really provide you with a lot of valuable experience and provide you with a lot of contacts in the medical community – both of which can help when you’re ready to apply for your dream job.

Certified Medical Assistant

A certified medical assistant works with a team of healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. They often take patient vital signs, weight and height, and discuss various topics the registered nurses or doctors need to be made aware of. They also perform administrative duties in healthcare settings; it’s often said that the medical assistant is the most versatile person on a healthcare team. Students who work as a certified medical assistant during college gain valuable experience that will serve them throughout their career.

Home Health Aide

A home health aide is a professional who works with elderly individuals or disabled individuals and assists them with a variety of tasks, from daily duties like dressing to taking medication. This is a job for a very compassionate and patient individual, and the rewards are wonderful. The need for qualified home health aides is great, and the industry needs individuals who are caring, kind and understanding. Students can learn how best to deal with patients that need additional care, and they get hands-on experience with a variety of different situations and circumstances.

Certified Nursing Assistant

A certified nursing assistant provides support and assistance to registered nurses and patients. They often handle patient care procedures like taking vital signs, prepping the patients to receive medications or treatments, taking medical history information and more. They get a lot of interaction with patients who are sick or those who are being proactive about their health, which gives the CNA a lot of opportunity to learn. The amount of experience one can gain through this job is huge, and it’s the perfect starter career for a future registered nurse.

Medical Transcriptionist

A medical transcriptionist records certain types of healthcare data, from patient information to treatment provided, medical history, emergency room visits and much more. This is a fantastic way to learn medical terminology and industry-related information that can really help during school and in a future career. These professionals often work in an office environment in healthcare settings like private clinics and hospitals. They are a valuable part of any healthcare team, and the industry is in need of qualified and skilled medical transcriptionists.

Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is a growing industry, and will continue to grow as more and more people learn the benefits. These professionals use massage to help ease tension and pain in clients, especially in those who are unable to turn to other methods or those who can’t find relief in other methods. Massage therapists often go on to become occupational therapists or physical therapists that help patients work through injuries or trauma to improve their range of motion or physical strength and fine motor skills.

Most of the careers above do not require any special education, although some employers may prefer to hire individuals who have been through professional training programs. The great thing about these programs is that many of them are available online and can be completed in less than a year. These careers are fantastic ones to have as you attend college to gain a higher-level healthcare degree.

One Comment on "5 Professions a Student Can Pursue While in College"

  1. Kuldeep 2014/09/02 at 6:50 am ·

    If you are looking for CNA then i think these points should be considered.
    Observing residents.
    Reporting any health issues to the supervising nurse.
    Taking care of a resident’s personal hygiene, including bed bath, shaving, nail care etc.
    Toileting residents.
    Emptying catheter bags.
    Monitoring vital signs including temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
    Setting up of meal trays, and documenting food / fluid intake.
    Feeding residents.

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