Jobs in the Medical Field

So you want to work with medical patients, but do not desire the years of medical school required to become an M.D.? No worries. There are many jobs in the field of medicine and health that don’t require practitioners to be doctors. All the same, these jobs do require intense skills, training and knowledge. But there are a plethora of ways to be involved in the medical field and help people heal. 

Registered Nurses

There are many different types of nurse positions out there. A registered nurse (RN) To become a nurse practitioner, nurse anaesthetist, or nurse midwife, you’ll need a Masters degree. Nurse practitioners can practice family medicine, prescribe medicines, and diagnosis illnesses. Nurse anaesthetists help a patient before and after surgery, and nurse midwives aid women through the process of childbirth. Nurses may also become Visiting Nurses, who provide in-home health care for patients. RNs usually require a Bachelors degree, Associates degree, or diploma from an accredited institution.

Medical Technologists

These are the folks in the “lab.” Medical technologists, also known as medical laboratory scientists, analyze and test blood, skin, swab samples, urine, fecal matter and all sorts of other bodily fluids and tissues to help diagnose diseases. They work in a lab and use advanced equipment that they operate and maintain. Medical technologists usually hold a Bachelor’s degree and have completed an internship.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists have to know the composition, effects, and side effects of commonly prescribed medications. Pharmacists often counsel patients who are using medicines for the first time or who have chronic illnesses, and pharmacists also are equipped to give routine vaccinations. A pharmacist may work with the same clients for years and get to know them. Many people will turn to their pharmacist for basic medical questions rather than consult a doctor. Pharmacists do get to use the title “Dr,” even though they aren’t MDs. Their doctorate is called a Pharm.D.

Physician Assistants

Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine as part of a team and are supervised by doctors and/or surgeons. They can examine, diagnose, and treat patients, counseling them on how to maintain their health, writing a prescription for a CPAP machine, or recommending a visit to a specialist. PAs are required to have a Masters degree. They learn along the medical model but complete their qualifications in less time than a full medical degree--their training is based on the fast-track training of physicians developed during WWII.

Medical Manager

A medical or health services manager is in charge of the logistical and administrative side of things. They plan, coordinate, and direct medical care. Medical managers may run a whole facility, or they may run just one department. It’s essential that medical and health services managers know the rapidly-changing world of healthcare laws, regulations, and technologies. While medical managers and health services managers may not work as directly with the patients in a clinic, they are essential to making the patient experience an effective one. These jobs require the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, although higher-level professionals often hold Masters and Doctorates.