Wanted: Future Healthcare Professionals

When nursing student Darcy Chenowith graduated last fall, she knew she would not have any trouble finding a job.

Formerly an administrative employee with the federal government, Chenowith wanted a more meaningful career path. She carefully researched job options before choosing a 12-month, accelerated bachelor's degree program in Colorado to become a registered nurse.

"Nursing was a way I could help fulfill a fundamental need in society," she said. "And I went into school with more confidence, knowing I was going to be hired right away."

Available industry data supports Chenowith's career choice. Service industries are expected to be the future of the American economy -- almost four out of every five jobs in the United States are expected to be service-related in the coming decade, according to government research.

Within a wide spectrum of service careers, the healthcare industry stands out as the fastest growing sector. According to the U.S. Department of Labor 2005 Employment Report, which projects how many new jobs will be created through the year 2014, over half of the 30 fastest growing occupations will be in health-related fields.

That list of promising healthcare professions includes a wide range of career options. Although nursing comes to mind when prospective students think of available opportunities in healthcare, there are many more growing fields that will need dedicated professionals.

Those fast-growing occupations on the federal employment report include home health aides, medical assistants, physician assistants, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants and aides, dental assistants, medical sonographers, forensic scientists, and cardiovascular technologists.

In total, over 4.3 million new jobs in healthcare fields are expected to be created in the next decade, according to the Labor Department's report. That growth equals great opportunity, particularly for individuals looking to change careers or boost their income potential.

Part of the rise in healthcare jobs is caused by an aging population in the United States. By 2014, approximately 83 million people will be over 55 years old. This represents an increase of almost 20 million older Americans since 2004.

A graying America, combined with a wealthier population that can afford top-rate healthcare, and improved medical technology that has allowed healthcare professionals to treat previously untreatable conditions, put the healthcare sector front and center for employment growth.

Some health-related positions are growing faster than others: A majority of new jobs will be assistant positions, including technicians, aides, and assistants, as industry executives seek to control spiraling costs in coming decades.

Jobs as physical therapy assistants, medical and physician assistants will grow faster than the overall healthcare economy, as lower-paid occupation professionals take on an increasing array of more challenging duties.

Overall, the fastest growing careers are also in home-based healthcare, including nursing, home health aides and physical therapy. As the U.S. population ages, many senior citizens are facing health issues, but want to maintain their independence and remain in their homes. Hospitals are also discharging patients more quickly than in the past, and many of those will need ongoing treatment in a home setting.

While private hospitals will also experience modest growth, health practitioners outside of the traditional hospital setting are growing twice as fast, according to labor statistics. Assisted living services and residential care facilities are growing at an average annual rate of 4 percent--the fourth fastest among all U.S. employment sectors.

Among career opportunities in healthcare, the nursing shortage has received the most media attention. And, with good reason. The demand for new nurses shows no signs of slowing down in coming decades. Two-fifths of the new healthcare jobs will be in nursing. The nursing shortage is also not a problem that will come in the future; it is on the nation's doorstep. The American Hospital Association reports that 126,000 nurses are needed right now to fill vacancies at our nation's hospitals.

The first decision for anyone hoping to receive training to become a nurse is what type of degree program meets their needs and educational background. There are a wide variety of nursing schools and colleges to fit all types of undergraduate and returning students.

Accelerated nursing programs, with schooling lasting between 12 and 18 months long, are growing in popularity. Today, 168 accelerated programs are available nationally. According to American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 46 new accelerated programs are now in the planning stages. This is the fastest growing type of nurse education, providing intensive training for students who already have a bachelor's degree but have chosen nursing as their future career.

Also available are Master's and PhD programs, for students who want more specialized and advanced training in a particular field.

For a broad list of nursing schools, visit http://www.nursingschools.com/usa. To research nursing school scholarships, visit the AACN Web site at www.aacn.edu.

There is a broad range of career choices in healthcare beyond nursing. To learn more about other healthcare careers and educational opportunities, visit www.allalliedhealthschools.com, which provides a searchable database of schools, degrees, programs and career resources.

Within a month after graduation, Chenowith had been offered a nursing position in a hospital cardiac unit, her chosen field of specialty.

The new healthcare professional is happy that her final choice was to enter a career that will allow her to help others and secure her own future.

Nursing is a challenging career, Chenowith said. On the job, I'm learning something new every day. But I really was able to come out of school and step right away into the position that was right for me.