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Would you rather do something else in the same field?

I am thinking of joining the medical field and I'm want to "know what I'm getting myself into" #medicine #healthcare #nurse #hospitaladmin

nurse hospitaladmin
Thank you comment icon If I had not become a nurse I would have become a radiology tech. I have had the opportunity to change careers many times but have stayed in nursing. I’ve been a nurse for 26 years and wouldn’t change it now. There are times I like it and times I want to give up. The key is finding your niche. I’ve worked the majority of my career in the emergency department. Carol Summerville
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Julie’s Answer

Jaycee the medical field covers a lot of careers. Search on how much money you want to make and follow your passion!! I started out as an CNA, LPN, RN and now FNP. I wish I was a CRNA. Look those titles up and go become great!!!
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Tequila’s Answer

There are so many specialties in nursing. I see someone suggested shadowing different nursing specialties, and also other non nursing health care professionals. If you don't have a contact in a hospital or clinic, then contact the HR department to see if they can get you in touch with a manager of a department in which you have some interests. Most specialties within a hospital will be shift work, from 8 to 12 hrs per shift, working either nights or days.
I found radiation oncology technicians' role to be pretty interesting. This is an off shoot from radiology. They only work M-F, during the day. It's pretty high tech and seemed to pay well. Then there are the biotechnicians who troubleshoot and calibrate pacemakers. They seem pretty happy with their job and they get to travel between hospitals. They actually work with cardiologists/electrophysiologists and for the companies which manufacture the pacemakers.

Suggest you do explore the many facets of healthcare professions. There are so many area in which you can work, whether in a hospital or clinic, you owe it to yourself to really to a thorough search before spending money on any one area.

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Megan’s Answer

Hi Jaycee,

I love this question! I would start by shadowing, volunteering in the hospital, also really finding out which part of the medical field interest you. I would start with shadowing in the hospital, and if you really dont know what area you want to go with in medicine, be a medical scribe for now, and let me tell you, that will easily and quickly teach you alot about medicine and you'll not only learn so much on the way, but it will help you decide if you want to go provider route or if something else interest you. I currently work as an NP may go back to some traveling RN temporarily until I get my license credential at Boston, but I will tell you my first year of being an NP I definitely asked myself alot about wow... what did I get myself into. Luckily for me, I truly love medicine, but I will tell you there is alot of hard work and countless hours that goes into healthcare that is unspoken of, so whatever you want to go into or is passionate about, whatever energizes you, go with that! Best of luck my friend!

Megan
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Rachel’s Answer

I perform colon and rectal surgery at a cancer center. I can honestly say "No, I would not want to perform any other job." There is great satisfaction that comes with taking a person from "cancer patient" to "survivor".
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Tomas’s Answer

Hi JayCee,

I agree with Julie, the medical field is large and there are so many career options to consider. When I first stated this journey, I assumed all healthcare professionals were doctors or nurses. This is not true at all. There are many healthcare professions out there and I would recommend looking for ways to gain some insight into the field. I stated out by volunteering at a local hospital and the Red Cross. This allowed me an opportunity to meet all kinds of healthcare providers and gain some first hand knowledge in what that do from day to day. I soon realized there were some big differences between a CNA versus a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Pharmacy Technician and a Phlebotomist. They all worked together but had very different responsibilities and educational requirements. Some deal directly with patients, others do not. Some positions can be a stepping stone toward something much bigger. It really comes down to the best fit for you at the time. I'm currently a Medical Assistant for a primary care doctor. To many, it's an entry level position that does not pay much. However, the certification was fairly quick to get, I didn't need alot of experience to get into the field, and I work side by side with some of the best doctors and nurses in San Diego. I learn so much from them and have decided to become a provider myself. My position as an MA can be used to beef up my resume for PA or Medical School.

One of the things that helped me choose my path was volunteering. I was able to get into a volunteer program with the Armed Forces YMCA that allowed me to shadow Nurses and Physician Assistants at the Naval Hospital. The schedule was flexible and I was able to make it work while I was going to school. I highly recommend looking for these types of volunteer opportunities since they don't cost anything but time. Talk to everyone you meet and ask to hear their story. You might be surprised what you find out about yourself. I thought I wanted to work in a laboratory but I changed my mind after my tour in the hospital. I see you're in Waimānalo. The Waimānalo Health Center is always looking for volunteers. Check it out and look for other similar opportunities in your area. Best of luck!

https://waimanalohealth.org/volunteer-opportunities
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