There is no perfect career. There are many excellent career choices, but each will have positive and negative attributes. You can research various occupations through career information resources, job shadowing, volunteer work, or personal interviews of employees working in an occupation.
Be sure you know and meet the career prerequisites. Students interested in a health care career should take all the math and science possible. Follow this link to a very helpful Health Sciences Career Plan of Study that lists high school courses which will help you prepare for a future in health care, and will also point you to educational institutions that offer the training necessary to reach your career goals.
Math and science aren't your strong suit? There are many health care career options available to students who do not have strong math and science skills, so don't be discouraged if your interest is health care, but you are not skilled in math or science. There is a place for virtually every skill in the health care industry.
A Health Care Career may be right for you, if you like ...
... working with people; activities of a scientific and technical nature; working with processes, machines, and techniques; and helping people.
To be successful in a health care profession, you should be able to ...
... communicate well; work effectively with others; evaluate information based on personal judgment and/or measurable standards; perform a variety of duties that may change frequently; use logical, clear, step-by-step procedures in their work; and work with precise limits or standards of accuracy.
Physically, you need to ...
... see well, either naturally or with correction; hear well, either naturally
or with correction; possess manual dexterity and use of fingers, hands and
arms; have good perception of depth and color; have the ability to assist in
lifting patients and/or equipment; and possess the ability to stand for long periods
of time.
Sources of Preparation
On-the-job training, technology centers, junior/community colleges, universities, graduate schools, and military training.
Know How to Find Financial Resources for School
There's a wealth of scholarship and funding sources for health care education, if you know where to look. The above link can get you started in the search. In addition, many hospitals provide financial aid for employees or potential employees in the form of internships, externships, apprenticeships, etc. Contact Oklahoma hospitals by following this link.
It is just as important for you to know what you do NOT want to be as it is to know what you WANT to be.
You can determine from practical experience whether you like the work and the hospital environment. You may discover that you want to focus on a certain area of health care, or find that a different direction in health care is more appealing.
If you think you're interested in the health care profession, it's a good idea to get work experience that will expose you to the type of career you are considering. Possibilities include volunteer work, job shadowing, externship, summer or part-time work. The Internet also allows you the opportunity for virtual job shadowing. And there are some amazing opportunities to view surgeries over live links between hospital operating rooms and classrooms, during which the surgeon describes the procedure and responds to questions from the class. Some hospitals also offer virtual Internet tours of each department.
In addition, Oklahoma Area Health Education Centers located in the four corners of the state offer a wide variety of programs for students to "try out" health care careers from one day programs to week-long camps. Contact your regional AHEC for more information.
Know How to Find Financial Resources for School
There's a wealth of scholarship and funding sources for health care education, if you know where to look. The above link can get you started in the search. In addition, many hospitals provide support for students, employees or potential employees in the form of job shadowing, internships, externships, apprenticeships, etc. Contact Oklahoma hospitals about these possibilities by following this link.
Check out the potential in Oklahoma health care jobs.
Go to: http://www.okhealthjobs.com
