Category Archives: Careers & Jobs

Becoming an ER Nurse Administrator

Emergency Room (ER) Nurse Administrators provide patient care and maintain a healthy work environment for staff members in the emergency department of various health care settings. In addition to nursing service, their responsibilities include planning, monitoring and evaluating the patient care procedures; contributing strategically towards the allocation of human and financial resources; taking initiatives for quality improvement in services; organizing educational programs for staff members; communicating with staff members and department heads to achieve organizational goals; maintaining 24 hour accountability so on and so forth.

ER Nurse Administrators find employment in various health care settings such as trauma centers, doctor’s offices, hospitals, nursing homes etc. They mostly work full time. Since their services are needed in emergencies, they may be required during weekends, overnight shifts and even in holidays.

Educational Requirements

To become an ER Nurse Administrator, the aspiring candidates need to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree in health administration or any related field. Additionally, they require a registered nurse certification from an accredited nursing program. The students can also pursue higher studies in related field for better job prospects. The common syllabus includes hospital organization and management, human resources administration, accounting and budgeting, strategic planning, health information systems as well as nursing education courses.

Certification and Licensure

Since an ER Nurse Administrator requires to be licensed in all the states, the aspiring candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, pass a licensing exam and complete a state-approved training program. The candidates can obtain exam based certification from the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Skill Set               

Apart from clinical knowledge, ER Nurse Administrators possess various skills such as resource management abilities, excellent organizational skills, ability to work under pressure situation, ability to handle multiple priorities, competent in resolving conflict, high medical ethics, empathy towards patient, effective communications and interpersonal skills, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for an ER Nurse Administrator remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 23% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of an ER Nurse Administrator was $88,580 in May 2012.

Becoming an EMS Worker

EMS (Emergency medical services) workers provide immediate pre-hospital medical care to the sick or injured patients during emergency situations such as natural disasters, accidents, in-home health failures etc. Their responsibilities include responding to emergency calls, assessing patients’ condition, lifting patients and equipment, administering oxygen, providing out-of-hospital acute medical care, transporting patients to medical facilities, using backboards for safe transport, reporting their observations on patients’ health status to the medical staff, offering emotional support to patients and their family members so on and so forth.

EMS Workers work at different environments such as trauma care centers, ambulance services, fire service, government agencies, public or private hospitals, charity service etc. They have to work round the clock in shift wise including weekends and holidays. These professionals are feared to be injured by mentally unstable or combative patients.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of an EMS Worker, the aspiring candidates have to a complete a two-year associate’s degree and a basic training program in the field of EMS management. The training program, which takes around one year to complete, is offered by various community colleges. The syllabus includes EMS administration, field equipment, disaster management, pharmacology, patient assessments and emergency care.

Certification and Licensure

Since an EMS Worker requires to be licensed in all the states, the aspiring candidates have to earn an exam-based License. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) offers exam- based certification to these professionals.

Skill Set               

In addition to clinical knowledge, EMS Workers posses varieties of traits such as a great deal of knowledge in life support, ability to act quickly and accurately, excellent crisis management skills, strong critical thinking skills, empathy towards patients, good listening abilities, effective communications and interpersonal skills, ability to work under strenuous and stressful situation, high level of physical fitness for continuous bending, lifting, and kneeling etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for an EMS Worker remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 23% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of an EMS Worker was $31,020 in May 2013.

Becoming a Dialysis Assistant

Dialysis Assistants help patients with kidney failure or renal disease. These skilled professionals purify a patient’s blood through dialysis equipment, which is designed to filter waste or excess water from human body. Their responsibilities include taking blood pressure of patients, checking their weight, administering local anesthesia, maintaining patient records, calculating fluid removal rate, measuring blood flow rate, preparing the water solution, conducting water testing. maintaining dialysis equipment, reporting the findings to concerned nurses and physicians etc. In addition, they handle administrative tasks as well as act as a link between patients and the service providers during and after dialysis treatments.

Dialysis Assistants are employed at varieties of health care settings such as public and private hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, kidney hospital, outpatient centers, home health care agencies, long-term care facilities etc. They work full time and may require working at night, weekend, or holiday schedules.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Dialysis Assistant, the applicants need to hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Additionally, the students need to complete a state approved dialysis technician training program from a community college, technical school, or hospital. The training program can be completed in less than a year. The course work includes hemodialysis machine operation, vascular access, patient care, ethics, medical terminology, drug overdose, plasmaphoresis etc. Students may also acquire clinical training through job-training programs.

Certification and Licensure

Since a Dialysis Assistants requires to be licensed in many states, the aspiring candidates need to earn exam-based licensure. These professionals can obtain certification from the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) or the National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO).

Skill Set

In addition to clinical knowledge, Dialysis Assistants possess various skills, such as ability to monitor a patient’s vital signs, and keeping an eye out for complications; high level of attention to detail; ability to work for long duration in standing position; empathy and compassion towards patients; ability to work under pressure situation; good at dexterity; ability to operate complex equipment; pleasant communication and interpersonal skills; computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dialysis Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 29% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of a Dialysis Assistant was $35,600 in 2014.

Becoming an EKG Assistant

EKG Assistants use electrocardiogram (EKG) machine to diagnose cardiovascular problems of patients. They also perform stress tests, where a patient walks on a treadmill and the heart’s activity is observed. These skilled professionals help physicians for analysis of electrical impulses transmitted by a patient’s heart as well as treatment of various heart diseases. Their responsibilities include attaching electrodes to a patient’s body, recording EKG readings, providing EKG test report to concerned physicians, maintaining EKG equipment, explaining procedures to patients, monitoring patients’ blood pressure and positioning patients during the test so on and so forth.

EKG Assistants work at various environments such as hospitals, physician’s offices, medical laboratories, private cardiology clinics, outpatient clinics, cardiac rehabilitation facilities etc. Most of their work times are spent by standing. They work full time and may require working overnight, evenings or weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become an EKG Assistant, the aspiring candidates must have must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Additionally, the candidates have to complete 1 year certification program in the related areas. The candidates can pursue higher studies for better job prospects in this field. The course work includes medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, physics, pathology, diagnostic testing, EKG equipment operation, cardiovascular system function etc. EKG Assistants can also receive on-the-job training.

Certification and Licensure

Since an EKG Assistant requires to be licensed in many states, the aspiring candidates need to pass a licensing exam. National Health career Association offers exam-based certification to these professionals.

Skill Set               

In addition to moderate clinical knowledge, EKG Assistants possess variety of skills such as ability to operate and manipulate an EKG machine, strong attention to detail, high medical ethics, empathy towards patient, ability to work with compassion and accuracy, strong physical stamina for lifting and positioning the patients, tolerance for long and stressed working hours, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for an EKG Assistant remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 30% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of an EKG Assistant was $ $60,350 in May 2012.

Becoming a Drug Counselor

Drug Counselors help people who suffer from drug addiction or other behavioral problems. They plan and develop a strategy to recover from addiction through appropriate counseling. In serious cases, they may refer a patient to a psychiatrist or other medical professionals. Their responsibilities include analyzing clients’ mental and physical health, developing required skills and behaviors to resolve drug addiction, encouraging for a healthy lifestyle, educating pregnant women and her family members about the effects of drug addiction on the fetus, conducting personal or group counseling sessions to avoid drugs etc.

Drug Counselors may work at government or private hospitals, clinics, mental health centers, rehabilitation centers, correction facilities, educational institutes, prison, NGOs etc. Some of these professionals work in private practice along with other professionals. They usually work full time. Sometimes, they may require traveling one place to other.

Educational Requirements

To become Drug Counselor, educational requirements vary from a high school diploma to a master’s degree according to the type of setting and job responsibilities. For instance, the counselors, who work in private practices, need to complete a master’s degree along with several thousand hours of clinical experience and a licensure.

The common syllabus includes theories and principles of substance abuse, counseling, mental health, human psychology, client management and treatment etc.

Licensure and Certification

Since the practice of a Drug Counselor requires to be licensed in many states, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License after completing required academic courses. These professionals can obtain certification from National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Skill Set

Apart from a good deal of understanding about drug regulations of the states, Drug Counselors posses wide range of skills such as ability to deal with aggressive and/or intoxicated clients, strong crisis management skills, motivating capacities, patience to listen the clients, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, compassionate to clients, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Drug Counselor remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 31% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of Drug Counselor was $38,520 in May 2012.

Becoming a Doctor’s Assistant

Doctor’s Assistants are certified medical professionals who work closely with doctors or surgeons to provide medical care to patients. Their responsibilities include examining patients, diagnosing injuries and illnesses, providing treatment, writing prescriptions, making rounds in hospitals, maintaining patient’s progress record, assisting in surgeries, educating patients and their families on health issues, and performing other assigned tasks in the setting.

Doctor’s Assistants work in various health care settings such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, emergency medicine facilities, nursing homes, outpatient care centers etc. They mostly work full time. They may work even in weekends, evenings or holidays.

Educational Requirements

To become a Doctor’s Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to earn a four- year bachelor’s degree program in science. Then, the candidates have to complete a two-year education program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

The program includes classroom and laboratory instruction in subjects such as human anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics. It also includes hundreds of hours of supervised clinical training in several areas, such as family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics etc.

However, most of the job aspirants have experience as registered nurses or as EMTs and paramedics before they apply to a physician assistant program.

Licensure and Certification

Since the practice of a Doctor’s Assistant requires to be licensed in all the states of USA, the aspiring candidates must have to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). These professionals can obtain exam-based certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Skill Set

Apart from clinical knowledge, Doctor’s Assistants possess various traits such as empathy towards patients, attentive to details, compassionate to work, ability to maintain calm and react effectively in emergency situation, physical stamina to work for long duration, ability to establish and maintain cordial relationship with patients and medical staff, record keeping skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, competent in computer application etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Doctor’s Assistant remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 38% from 2012 to 2022, much higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Doctor’s Assistant was $ 90,930 in 2012.

Becoming a Dietary Technician

Dietary Technicians work alongside Dietitian in developing nutritional plans to promote health, treat illnesses or prevent disease. Their responsibilities include screening clients or patients, gathering data from clients, assisting the Dietitian and other health professionals in providing medical nutrition therapy as well as nutrition education services. They also conduct counseling sessions and instruct patients, clients and their families on how to choose and prepare healthy food so on and so forth. In addition, they also perform other administrative duties such as ordering food& supplies, documenting patient intake etc.

Dietary Technicians may get employment in varieties of environments such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, health clubs, food companies retirement centers, hospices, corporate cafeterias, educational institutions, research facilities etc.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dietary Technician, aspiring candidates need to obtain at least a 2-year associate degree in a nutrition program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). The candidates can also go for advanced degree such as a bachelor’s degree or master’s program in related area for better job opportunities in this field. The common syllabus includes courses in anatomy, human biology, medical nutrition food service management, counseling, psychology, sanitation etc.

Licensure and Certification

Since a Dietary Technician requires to be licensed in most of the states of USA, the aspiring candidates need to earn a licensure by passing the required exam and completing a state-approved training program. These professionals can obtain exam based certification from Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Skill Set

Dietary Technicians possess wide range of skills such as ability to teach and instruct others, critical thinking abilities, problem solving abilities, good listening skills, understanding of some clinical modalities, empathy towards patients, high medical ethics, willing to work as a part of team, ability to establish and maintain cordial relationship with various health professionals and others, strong verbal and written communications skills, competent in computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dietary Technician remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 18% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dietary Technician was $25,620 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dialysis Nurse

Dialysis Nurses are specially trained and educated to remove toxins and excess water of patients with kidney disease. They operate a hemodialysis machine that extracts blood from the patient, cleans it and return into the body. Their responsibilities include overseeing the dialysis treatment from start to finish, monitoring patient vital signs, communicating procedure details with patients and concerned doctors, reviewing the patients’ lab work, assessing the effectiveness of procedures, educating patients and the public about kidney problems, providing emotional support to patients and their family members etc.

Dialysis nurses work in varieties of settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers, transplant facilities, outpatient treatment centers, long-term care facilities, home health care agencies, hospice and palliative care services so on so forth. Since dialysis patients need round-the-clock care, nurses in these settings usually work in rotating shifts, covering all 24 hours. They may also be on phone call.

Educational Requirements

Dialysis Nurses must be a licensed RN (registered nurse) in their state of employment. To qualify for this position, the aspiring candidates must earn a two-year associate or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing. Common course includes human anatomy, nephrology, pharmacology, nutrition, microbiology, physiology and psychology. However, the employers often prefer the candidates with clinical experience of caring dialysis patients.

Certification and Licensure

Since the practice of a Dialysis Nurse must be licensed in USA, the aspiring candidates have to complete an approved nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). These professionals can obtain exam-based certification from the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission.

Skill Set

Apart from clinical knowledge, Dialysis Nurses possess various traits, such as strong analytical skills, a good deal of patience, high medical ethics, detail oriented , sympathetic to patients, ability to remain calm under pressure, self-management skills, willingness to work as a part of team, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills , management and organization abilities, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dialysis Nurse remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 19% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of a Dialysis Nurse was $65,470 in May 2012.

Becoming a Diagnostic Imaging Technician

Diagnostic Imaging Technicians perform various diagnostic imaging examinations on patients to capture the accurate images of their interior body parts such as tissues, organs, bones etc. that a physician can use to diagnose health problems. These skilled technicians work either in the field of sonography or radiography. While sonography technicians carry out tests with the use of sound waves, radiography technicians work with radiation and may perform exams using x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) equipment etc.

Their other duties include preparing patients for procedure, recording patient histories, protecting patients from radiation exposure, following imaging test instructions, maintaining diagnostic imaging equipment, consulting with physicians, helping in evaluate the image etc.

Diagnostic Imaging Technicians may work at various settings such as public or private hospitals, physician’s offices, outpatient centres, diagnostic laboratories, accident and emergency wards etc. They usually work full time. Since imaging is needed in emergency situations, some of these professionals work evenings, weekends, or on call.

Educational Requirements

To become a Becoming a Diagnostic Imaging Technician, the aspiring candidates need to complete at least an associate’s degree in radiologic technology or sonography from an accredited institution. It takes two years to complete the program. The curriculum combines classroom studies and laboratory work. The common syllabus includes anatomy, physiology, patient care, equipment operation, medical terminology and radiation protection. However, the students can go for a bachelor’s degree or any higher degree related to the radiology field for better job prospects.

Certification and Licensure

Since the position of Diagnostic Imaging Technician requires to be licensed in many states of USA, the aspiring candidates need to pass a licensing exam and complete a state-approved training program. These professionals can also obtain an exam-based certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Skill Set

Apart from clinical knowledge, a Diagnostic Imaging Technician possesses various skills such as attention to detail, good hand-eye coordination, empathy towards patients, critical thinking abilities, high medical ethics, ability to work under pressure, strong physical stamina to work for long duration, ability to maintain privacy, keen to help patients emotionally and physically, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Diagnostic Imaging Technician remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 21% to 39% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and Radiologic Technologist was $65,860 and $54,620 respectively in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Practice Administrator

Dental Practice Administrators play a key role in managing administrative tasks to provide qualitative and organized patient care services in various dental care settings. They are not directly involved in treating patients. Their responsibilities include maintaining a safe environment; building cordial relationships with the dentists and other staff members; developing the office budget to achieve profitability; motivating staff members and proactively seeking ways to improve the dental practice; and more importantly, assuring that patient’s needs are addressed in a caring, timely and thorough manner. In addition, they schedule patient appointments and assist in insurance claims.

Dental Practice Administrators work in varieties of environments such as public or private hospitals, group medical practices, dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies etc. They mostly work full time. They may be required to be available on-phone even in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Practice Administrator, the aspiring candidates have to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in health administration or in a related field. The students can go for master’s degree in related field for better job opportunities in this field. These professions may also obtain practical experiences on-the-job training.

The common syllabus includes dental office procedures, human resources administration, dental insurance, quantitative reasoning, fiscal management, accounting, budgeting, computer applications etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the position of a Dental Practice Administrator requires to be licensed in most of the states, the aspiring candidates need to earn exam-based license. . These professionals can obtain exam-based certification, administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Skill Set               

Dental Practice Administrators possess various traits such as customer service skills, critical thinking ability, time management skills, ability to perform multi-task activities, excellent administrative abilities, effective communication and interpersonal skills, willing to work as a part of team, ability to establish and maintain cordial relationship with staff members, familiarity with medical billing practices, understanding of insurance procedures, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Practice Administrator remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 23% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Practice Administrator was $90,940 in May 2013.