The healthcare industry occupies a prominent position in the tertiary sector. Not only is it vast, but it also houses different careers which are all related to the well-being of humankind. According to a statistic, in the US, 19.7 million adults are working in health care settings. However, along with its popularity comes a myriad of myths. Whether you’re a veteran healthcare worker or new to the industry, you may have come across some myths.
Unless we address them, they can create a trail of misconceptions that may hinder your career growth or push you to change your career. It doesn’t matter what position you occupy in the field. If you’re a nurse, physician, or technician, what you do matters.
Through this article, we will bust some common myths surrounding the healthcare industry. Our goal is to pave a clear path for those who wish to work in the industry but feel hesitant. So here’s what you need to know about the healthcare sector:
1. Two Years of College Doesn’t Make You a Nurse
Nursing is a popular career choice for prospective healthcare professionals. However, there are two distinctive paths to become a nurse. The first is the traditional route of going to college for four years and then applying for your license. The second is to look at accelerated programs in nursing. You can get your Bachelor’s in 12 to 16 months through an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) and apply for your license. No matter what route you choose, you are a full-fledged nurse and qualified to care for patients.
2. Are The Jobs Limited In Healthcare?
The healthcare industry is not limited to those who went to medical school. If you obtained an online master of public health, you could still become an essential part of the healthcare sector. As a public health professional, you will attend to the community’s needs and study the trends on diseases. Your comprehensive notes are vital for hospitals for research purposes. Apart from a public health professional, you can work in administration, medical billing, or even a technician. You can be confident that there are numerous jobs you can pursue, and you won’t have to stick to one career path. Such option is knowing opportunities like what is traveling nurse and what they do.
3. You Won’t Have Normal Hours
Even though hospitals are operational around the clock, you won’t necessarily have to stay at work the entire day. If you work as a medical technician, you will most likely perform a 9 to 5 shift over the weekdays and get weekends off. Your working hours depend on what position you occupy in the hospital and how seasoned you are as a professional. Most senior nurses and doctors pull longer hours. However, you can always work your schedule out with your hospital.
4. Technology Will Take Jobs
Hospitals have incorporated technology into their systems, such as AI and telehealth. All technological advancements make it easier to take care of patients without wasting time on smaller tasks such as writing reports. However, human caregivers will remain the crux of the healthcare system.
A machine cannot replace the level of empathy and care that goes into caring for a patient. There are, in fact, more jobs now in the industry after bringing in technology. Professionals are needed to maintain machines, take care of software and teach others how to use them. It has also encouraged health care professionals to go back to school and pick on new skills.
5. Do You Only Work In Hospitals?
Healthcare workers have a variety of workplace options. You can choose to work in a hospital or move to clinics. You may even work in rehab centers if you’re working with patients who are recovering addicts. If you work for the hospital’s administration, you will find yourself in offices away from patients, either creating bills.
You can even be a traveling healthcare professional, such as a traveling nurse, if you want to work in more than one state. After the introduction of telehealth, doctors can also communicate with patients from their homes.
6. Emotionally Distant From Patients
Healthcare providers often assume that they can’t have a friendly relationship with their patients, but this is not the case. Along with routine procedures, you can have a pleasant conversation with your patients. It doesn’t have to breach professional boundaries.
A simple inquiry about their day will make your patients extremely comfortable around you and even makes for an excellent bedside manner. Most hospitals encourage their staff to be more forthcoming since it makes for a better hospital environment.
7. Do You Need Study Too Much?
If you’re aiming to be a doctor, you can’t skip the rigorous education you need to go through. However, there are other career paths you can choose that require much less education. You can choose to be a medical assistant, earn your diploma or degree program in 10 to 20 months, and start work right away. If you hold a Bachelors in some other field or an MBA, you can still go into medicine.
You can become a surgical technology professional and earn your associate degree within 20 months. These are just a few careers for you to explore, but you’ll find an even longer list to help you decide your career path if you search online.
8. Can Shortage in Staff Get Me a Job?
Even though the healthcare sector is vast, that doesn’t mean you’ll get a job right away. You still need to work on your resume and ensure that you stand out from other applicants. That means work in smaller clinics, volunteer, and try achieving academic milestones. Only these make a difference when it comes to applying for a job.
9. Consumers Don’t Carry the Same Expectations
One of the most common myths is to assume the healthcare industry is different from other industries. It means that people assume their expectations for other sectors do not apply to the healthcare industry. However, consumers want to see an advancement in the healthcare system. They want better healthcare, faster services, and more technology.
Wrap Up
The healthcare industry may be vast, but it’s not free from myths. You don’t need to go through 4 years of education to become a nurse. There are limited jobs that may get replaced by technology. You won’t have regular working hours and may have to work in the hospital. You can’t be friends with patients, and if there is a shortage of staff, you may get a job right away.
Your consumers may not have the exact expectations from your sector. However, these are just myths and shouldn’t be paid attention to. The healthcare industry is extremely well established, and you should look towards it for a career.
