Is a health career right for you?

When choosing a career in the field of health care, or deciding whether a health career is appropriate for you, you should consider the following:

Do You Wish To Deal With People?

One of the first questions you should ask is how much you wish to deal with people as contrasted to objects. For professions such as nurses, pediatricians, or occupational therapists, a warm and caring personality is one of the most desirable attributes. Others, such as medical laboratory technologists, pathologists, or medical illustrators, have little or no contact with patients.

Are You Comfortable With Science?

You do not need to be a science "whiz" for all health care areas. Some programs demand much more science study than others, but preparation for all health care careers involves laboratory science study.

Are You Prepared To Keep Up With Developments In Your Field?

Competent practitioners have an obligation to their patients to give the best care available. If you are not willing to continue studying throughout your career, you may lose your patients, your malpractice insurance, and/or your license.

Are You Comfortable In A Health Care Setting?

Are you emotionally able to deal with a wide variety of people? Some students fail to anticipate the effect of spending much of their life in the company of sick, disabled, or dying people. With the aging of the American population, much of your work may be geriatric. Many students assume that they will be working in a comfortable, middle-class setting. However, the greatest health care needs are in chaotic inner-city neighborhoods and isolated, impoverished rural areas.

Are You A Team Player?

Health care is increasingly a group activity where a successful outcome depends upon each member of a medical team performing his or her specific function. Even in dentistry, where 70% of practitioners are in a solo private practice, the dentist usually supervises and works with about four staff members.

What Lifestyle Do You Envision?

Some health care careers include many emergencies and long hours. Different specialties have varying levels of responsibility. Do you wish to deal with life-and-death situations? A career that involves long hours or high stress leaves you less time and energy for family life and leisure activities.

Entering a health care field requires great commitment. You'll work for many years to obtain the credentials needed for licensing. Your commitment to your patients will be deeper than the obligation many other professionals have to their clients. You will be wise to take the time to get a clear picture of the realities of your chosen profession and of your own abilities, needs, and aspirations.