Short Medical Careers
Introduction
Medical careers can be a great way to make a difference in the lives of others. Medical careers are also very rewarding, but they can take years to complete. Not everyone is interested in spending so much time in school and working as an intern before they start seeing patients on their own. If you’re looking for an alternative route to medical school or just want to find out what your options are when it comes time for school, here’s a list of short-term medical careers:
Surgical technologist
As a surgical technologist, you will work as part of the surgical team alongside doctors and nurses to ensure that the operating room is ready for each procedure. You’ll also help prepare patients for surgery by cleaning them up and making sure they are safe from harm.
After graduating from an accredited surgical tech school, you must take an exam to become licensed by the state in which you wish to practice. After getting your license, many hospitals will hire new grads into their training programs while they study to pass their boards exams so they can go into private practice on their own or work at another hospital.
If you have any desire or inclination towards science or medicine but aren’t quite sure if it’s right for you yet, becoming a surgical technician is a great way to see whether or not this career path would be interesting enough for you—and if it isn’t then there’s no harm done!
Phlebotomist
- What Is Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy is the practice of blood collection. In this career, you will be responsible for obtaining a sample of blood from patients, with the aid of medical equipment. You may also have some duties related to lab research and patient education.
- What Do Phlebotomists Do?
Phlebotomists are responsible for obtaining samples of blood from patients at clinics, hospitals and other facilities. This can include anything from drawing blood samples to maintaining inventory levels or completing paperwork associated with testing results. They are often required to assist with emergency care situations as well as general health screenings and diagnostic procedures that require taking blood samples.
- How Much Does a Phlebotomist Make?
The average salary for phlebotomists was $35,000 in 2016 according to Payscale (as reported by Indeed). The top earners made more than $48k per year while those on bottom end made less than $26k annually – so there’s room for growth if you’re willing work hard!
Optometrist
Optometrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat eye diseases, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and perform surgery. They can also administer medications to patients with eye conditions.
In order to become an optometrist you must receive a doctorate in Optometry from an accredited college or university program.
Physical therapy assistant
Physical therapy assistants are another medical career that is expected to grow in the future. They work closely with physical therapists and help patients with their exercises and range of motion treatment, as well as assist in other aspects of care such as providing supplies and maintaining equipment. They may also take notes during appointments, complete forms when necessary, and assist the patient after treatment has ended.
Physical therapy assistants should be comfortable working with people who have injuries or disabilities that affect their movement and ability to perform daily tasks like walking or lifting heavy objects. It is important for physical therapy assistants to have an outgoing personality; they will spend a lot of time interacting with patients both inside and outside of the clinic setting so it’s important that they enjoy being around others!
Medical assistant
Medical assistant training programs are shorter than medical school and typically last about a year. Job duties can vary depending on the position, but medical assistants perform a variety of tasks including:
- Taking patient vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate
- Collecting samples for lab analysis
- Helping physicians with procedures such as taking x-rays or administering injections and intravenous fluids
Medical assistants may work in hospitals, clinics or private practices.
Physician assistant
If you’re interested in the health care field, becoming a physician assistant might be just what you’re looking for. A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a doctor. Duties may include diagnosing and treating patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, counseling patients on disease prevention, performing surgery and other advanced procedures, managing chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure), providing patient education and assisting with administrative duties in the office setting.
The first step to becoming a PA is to earn your bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. After graduating from college, you will have to take at least one test: either the National Council Licensure EXamination® (NCLEX-PN) exam or the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam® (PANCE). You can find out more about these exams here: https://www.aapa.org/ed_fastlane_courseware/fastlane_ceus_details?id=12286
Some medical careers take less time to complete than others.
The length of training for a medical career varies by profession. For example, some careers take less time than others to complete. Some careers require a bachelor’s degree while others require a master’s degree and still others require certification or even licensure to practice in your state. This is why it is important that you know what you want to do before deciding on the right medical career for your future.
The following table indicates how long each career takes to complete:
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different medical careers that require less than four years of education. If you have the passion and desire to help people, these jobs may be right up your alley. If you’re looking for a career that fits your lifestyle, then this list might give you some insight into which path would be best suited for you!