Careers
Pharmacy technicians and their supervising pharmacists fill out as many as 3 billion prescriptions in the U.S. every year, according to the Federal Drug Administration. As hard as they work to avoid mistakes, even the best doctors and pharmacy professionals are human. Mistakes do happen. If you’re thinking about pursuing pharmacy technician certification, you might be wondering how seriously the profession views its role in the push to keep medication errors to a minimum. The answer: very, very seriously. “I cannot think of a priority that would rank higher … patient safety must come first,” Mike Johnston, chairman and CEO of the...
Here’s a compilation of some of the best blogs and websites that will help keep you up-to-date on health care topics—and possibly keep you a step ahead of your peers when you enroll in a health-care program. The Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ blog is a worthy read by itself, and also links to a collection of additional blogs written by PAs. Health News Review—From the University of Minnesota, a weekly roundup of the best- and lowest-quality media coverage of health topics. PubMed is one of the most comprehensive medical sites on the web, with links to...
If you’re thinking about a career in health care and you want to make sure the field you choose is growing, we have good news for you: Health care tops the latest projections for job growth from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Baby boomers are aging, medical technologies are advancing and there’s an increasing focus on preventive care – all factors that are driving the need for highly-skilled health care workers. There’s another demographic that’s fueling job growth for the fastest-growing profession in allied health: pets. Yes, pets – for many of us, their health is as important as...
From hospitals and insurance companies to clinics and nursing homes, the health care industry as a whole is working feverishly to modernize how they track patients and the care those patients receive. If you’re a tech whiz, there’s an emerging field of study that combines information technology, clinical practice and business management you may want to consider. It’s called health informatics, and it’s all about how technology can improve the way health data are collected, stored, processed and communicated. Right now, health informatics programs are far outnumbered by related programs that have been around longer, such as health information technology or...
Donna Kentley had wanted to be a nurse since she was a girl. In college, her plans changed when she met a physician assistant while working at a teaching hospital in Boston. She became intrigued with the profession and later changed her major from nursing to biology, then started trying to figure out whether PA studies or medical school would be the better fit for her. As she weighed the pros and cons of each, she worried that the work demands she’d face as a doctor might swallow up her personal and family life. “I liked the idea of having...
Jon Lowe’s health care career started out in the Army, when he stitched up wounded soldiers as a paramedic. When he got out of the service, he spent several years working as a licensed practical nurse, then got his physician assistant degree. He spent much of the past 25 years in urgent care centers and emergency rooms, before transitioning to family practice several years ago. Today, he’s part of a primary care team that focuses mostly on geriatric and internal medicine at the Redmond campus of Group Health Cooperative. The Seattle nonprofit, a medical care and insurance coverage provider, has won...
Physician assistants are poised for much faster-than-average job growth over the next several years. How fast? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 30 percent job growth for PAs from 2010 to 2020—more than twice the average for all occupations. Why? With more doctors going into specialty care, the need for primary care providers will continue to grow, and the government predicts that physician assistants will take center stage in filling that gap. But get this: Many PAs—just like the MDs who supervise them—also are opting to specialize instead of pursuing primary care. Primary care vs. specialty care In 2000,...
As online education technology advances, more nurses are turning to the Web to meet their continuing education requirements. The rise in demand has led to a greater variety of options for classes, which range from high-tech interactive variations to those that are decidedly more basic—essentially web-based takes on the old-school magazines that include tests to fill out and mail in. Here’s a look at three quick and affordable ways to brush up on your nursing skills online, whether you’re a tech whiz or still figuring out this whole “Internet” thing: 1. Just the facts, ma’am Since being founded in 1999,...
There’s a reason nursing programs are rigorous. Our health care system would be in serious trouble without the broadly skilled, around-the-clock support that nurses provide daily in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and public health centers. Whether you’re just starting out as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or rising up the ranks to become a nurse practitioner (NP), you’ll likely have continuing education classes throughout your career, including every time you renew your license. Continuing education 101 Licensing laws vary by state, but many require 20 to 30 contact hours every two years. Here is some basic but important continuing education...
The responsibilities of a dental hygienist differ greatly from those of an assistant. Dental hygienists and assistants also fall into significantly different salary ranges and require distinct educational preparation. Check out our comparison charts below for a quick guide to these two careers, both of which are predicted to have solid job growth over the next several years. Dental assistant vs. dental hygienist—job responsibilities Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Administers and processes dental X-rays Instructs patients on proper oral care Prepares patients for treatment Cleans and prepares instruments and equipment for various procedures Assists the dentist during procedures Assists with office...
With health care costs rising year by year, more of us are paying closer attention to the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise–both for our waistlines and our wallets. It pays to eat right. That’s one reason why the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady job growth for nutritionists and dietitians over the next several years: 9 percent from 2008-2018, according to the latest available forecast. Nutritionists vs. dietitians The government lumps nutritionists and dietitians into a single job category, but they’re not one and the same. In the biggest of big-picture terms, nutritionists and dietitians “plan food...
Sonography’s probably best known for its ultrasound technology that enables obstetricians to peek at a developing fetus inside the mother’s womb. But sonography’s applications are far more wide-ranging, providing a closer look at organs, tissues and blood vessels so that abnormalities and potential problems can be detected. It’s definitely not a career for the faint of heart. Do you have what it takes? Three must-have traits for sonographers 1. Tact One of the most rewarding aspects of the sonographer’s job is working directly with patients—but it’s also one of the most challenging. Your patient might be perfectly healthy, but he...
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The All Allied Health Schools blog covers what you need to know about preparing for a career in health care today, whether you’re just starting to think about your new career or you’re ready to enroll in school.
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