Healthcare careers are a popular choice for people who are looking to pivot into a new line of work. Healthcare careers feature above-average pay and allow people to do work that they find fulfilling. Under certain circumstances, the work can also be flexible and highly varied. There are dozens of different jobs you can do as a registered nurse.
If you are going to pivot into healthcare, you probably want to do it in a way that is efficient but also comfortable for your existing lifestyle. What that looks like will be a little bit different for everyone.
In this article, we take a look at the most efficient methods for pivoting into a healthcare career.
Step 1: Decide What a Healthcare Career Looks Like for You
Not everyone is cut out for patient care. It’s difficult. Physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing. It can even be dangerous. Studies have shown that most nurses will experience physical and verbal abuse at some point in their careers. Most nurses encounter some form of it every single year. Psychiatric nurses are particularly prone to experiencing violent behavior from patients.
Administrative careers or health coaching positions allow you to work in healthcare while avoiding some of the more difficult aspects of the work. Once you decide on what you would like to do, it becomes much easier to determine where you should direct your energy when it comes to earning certification.
Step 2: Pick a Timeline
You don’t have to stick to it. However, having a rough idea of when you would like to earn your degree will make it easier to select the right program. Accelerated curriculums allow you to become a nurse in twelve months instead of four years.
These are usually only available to people who already have college degrees. Part of what makes the program accelerated is that you get to skip all of the gen-eds.
These curriculums are naturally very intensive with all of the characteristics of a full-time job. Because they are so time-consuming, they aren’t always a good fit for people who are currently working a job, or raising a family. Still, if you can make it work, this is the fastest way to orchestrate your “pivot.”
Note that even if you don’t want to go the accelerated route, having a rough completion timeline can be beneficial. While you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew, it can help to commit to a finish date and work deliberately toward that goal.
Step 3: Decide on How You Want to Get Your Degree
Online school can be a great way to get your healthcare degree. Online universities are fully licensed and reputable. You do, of course, need to do your research before you write any five-figure tuition checks. However, assuming that the school you pick is fully legitimate, it will give you just as many opportunities as a degree earned in a traditional classroom environment would.
In fact, online schools have several advantages that are worth keeping in mind.
- Online degrees are usually more flexible. Many remote learning curriculums utilize pre-recorded lectures that allow you to work through course materials at your own pace. This is great for people who are trying to get their degree while also raising a family or working a full-time job.
- Online degrees are more affordable. Usually, anyway. It depends on the school of course, but credit hour to credit hour, online schools are often half the price of traditional brick-and-mortar universities.
- Online schools give you more options. If you are 38 years old, you probably don’t want to drop everything and move across the country to pursue your degree. Formerly, that meant you would need to settle for whatever school was within driving distance. With online options available, you can instead look for programs with professors you really like, or resources that you look forward to taking advantage of. When you are not geographically restricted, many more options open up.
There are, of course, limitations. Online schools don’t come with physical perks like libraries or lab environments. If you are interested in those things, you may need to choose a traditional learning environment or work with online colleges that have reciprocity arrangements with colleges in your area.
Step 4: Commit
Healthcare careers are difficult. Getting the qualifications to work in one of these careers is also hard. That’s ok. Putting in the work prepares you for the challenges that are ahead and helps ensure that you are the best person for the job.
Know that the work will be difficult. If you are interested in becoming a nurse you will need to do all of the class/desk work, but you will also need to log many hours of clinical experience. To that end, make sure that the program you choose will be able to cooperate for clinical rotations with hospitals within your area. You don’t want to reach that stage of the process only to find that there are no places available for you to complete your final requirements.
After graduation, you will still need to pass a big test known as the NCLEX before you can begin working as a nurse. While most people pass it on their first try (around 80%) it is still a monster of a test that stands between you and official certification.
Work with your college to find out what resources they offer graduates and current students who want to take a proactive approach to preparing for the NCLEX. Many will provide study materials, or even practice exams that will get you ready for the real deal.
Are You Ready?
Healthcare careers have an incredibly high turnover rate. People leave the job for many reasons, but the most basic is this: Working in patient care is hard, often thankless work. It takes a special kind of person to go in and do it every day—or night, as the case may be.
Are you ready?
If the challenges of the job don’t scare you off, start taking steps now to begin an exciting career in healthcare.
Photo Credit
Image by Darko Stojanovic from Pixabay
Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren
With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.
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