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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 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 Dental Administrative Assistant

Dental Administrative Assistants perform general office duties in various dental care settings. They work closely with patients, other office staff, and a dental care team. Their responsibilities include scheduling dental appointments, maintaining patient records, performing inventory management, maintaining equipment, helping with insurance claims, coordinating the staff members and performing other duties assigned to them.

Dental Administrative Assistants may find employment in various environments such as dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies, public hospitals, group medical practices etc. They mostly work full time. They spend most of their time at a desk, working with documents, various forms, and computer system.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Administrative Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a high school diploma, or the equivalent. Additionally, they need to complete a dental-assisting training program. It takes one to two years duration to complete the training program, depending on the institutions. The students learn about dental terminology, patient billing, clinical record management, insurance reimbursement, inventory management etc. The job aspirants may learn the required skills through on-the job-training.

Certification and Licensure

Dental Administrative Assistants typically don’t require license. However, most of the employers prefer certified job aspirants in this field. Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) offer certification to these professionals.

Skill Set

Dental Administrative Assistants possess various traits such as excellent customer service skills, mastery in recall and filing system, effective communication skills and interpersonal skills, ability to establish and maintain cordial relation with staff members, understanding of insurance procedures, competent in computer operations, organizational skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Administrative 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 25% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Administrative Assistant was $34,500 in May 2012.

Becoming a Dental Biller

Dental Billers work with the patients and insurance companies while processing insurance claims and medical bills incurred by patients for all services rendered.  They ensure proper electronic attachment submission as well as accurate posting of all medical bills and claims with daily progress reports through the phone call or email. They also request all the stake holders for other additional information, required from the office in order to send out claims for payment. These professionals maintain an appropriate compliance with company policies and the regulatory bodies.

Dental Billers are employed in variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, dentists’ offices, long-term care facilities etc. They may act as the link between patients and the insurance companies. They usually work full time.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Biller, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, the students can earn medical billing certificate program. The aspirants may also pursue higher studies with the major coursework in mathematics, accounting, business administration or other related subjects for better job prospects in this field. The common course work includes dental terminologies, mathematics, numerical calculations, dental coding, medical ethics etc.

However, most of the employers prefer job aspirants with some experience in medical billing, collections or financial analysis.

Certification

Though certification is not required to become a Dental Biller, many employers in USA prefer certified job aspirants. The candidates can obtain certification from the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management or the Medical-Dental-Hospital Business Associates for this profession.

Skill Set

Dental Billers possess various traits such as organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to perform multi-task activities in a setting, high level of attention to detail, empathy towards patient, high medical ethics, ability to work in a team spirit, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental Biller remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 16% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Biller was $35,621 in May 2014.

Becoming a Dental Administrator

Dental Administrators perform varieties of tasks in the dental care environments. They may function as treatment coordinators, office managers or any related positions. However they are not involved in treating patients. Their duties include attending phone calls, scheduling appointments, assisting in insurance claims, maintaining equipment, performing clerical tasks such as filing, faxing, mailing, word processing etc. in addition, they may oversee marketing, budgeting, and personnel management part of the setting.

Dental Administrators may be employed in varieties dental care settings such as dentist’s office, dental care facilities, insurance companies, group medical practices, public and private hospitals etc. They work full time. Some of these professionals may be required to work during evenings, on weekends, or overnight shifts according to their responsibilities and working environment.

Educational Requirements

To become a Dental Administrator, the aspiring candidates need to hold at least a high school diploma. Additionally the job aspirants can obtain one- year certificate programs in dental office administration from various community colleges. However, the students can also learn practical experiences on-the-job training.

The syllabus in the certificate program includes dental terminology, dental charting, recall management, dental insurance, quantitative reasoning, fiscal management, accounting, computer applications etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the position of a Dental Administrator requires to be licensed in many states, the aspiring candidates have to pass the state licensure examination. These professionals can obtain exam based certification administered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Skill Set

Dental Administrators possess various traits such as high level of critical thinking, excellent decision making, empathy towards customer service, time management abilities, administrative skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to manage multi-task activities, willing to work in a team spirit, competent in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Dental 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 10% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Dental Administrator was ranging from $32,000 to $61,000 in 2014.

Becoming a Critical Care Coordinator

Critical Care Coordinators play a key role in facilitating treatment, assessment and coordination of service to patients with serious, complex, and acute illnesses and injuries that need very close monitoring and treatment. Their responsibilities include addressing the urgent needs of the patients, conducting crisis screenings, co-coordinating with service providers, assisting physicians and surgeons in the emergency room, performing patient care after surgery, analyzing patients’ radiology and laboratory tests etc. They also help in administrative activities and supervision process as well as perform other duties assigned to them.

Critical Care Coordinators work in intensive care units in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, offices of physicians etc. Since these professionals are required to be available round the clock, they have to work either in day or night shifts and may require to present on-call.

Educational Requirements

To become a Critical Care Coordinator, the aspiring candidates need to complete Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The students can gain experience in health care settings with urgent and intense circumstances.

The course work of Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program include anatomy, epidemiology, biology, microbiology, pathophysiology, physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning, advanced pharmacology etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since the Critical Care Coordinators require to be licensed in most of the states in USA, the job aspirants need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The candidates can also obtain required certification from professional associations in the field of critical care.

Skill Set               

Apart from clinical knowledge, Critical Care Coordinators possess varieties of skills such as a great deal of understandings in life support skills, high level of attention to detail, ability to make a diagnosis based on observations and data interpretation, effective verbal and written communication skills, proficient in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Critical Care Coordinator 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 faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Critical Care Coordinator was $65,470 in 2012.

Becoming a Cosmetic Dental Assistant

Cosmetic Dental Assistants play a supportive role in a dentist’s office in the field of cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, teeth whitening, enameloplasty, and orthodontics. Their responsibilities include sterilizing dental instruments, handing instruments to the dentist, using equipment to keep patients’ mouths dry during procedures, casting impressions of teeth, taking x-rays and providing patient care. They also perform some administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, patient billing, record keeping, ordering supplies etc. In addition, they educate patients on proper oral hygiene.

Cosmetic Dental Assistants mostly work in dentists’ offices or oral health maintenance organizations. They work under the direct supervision of dentists and may work closely with dental hygienists in their day-to-day activities. They usually work full time. However, they may work in evenings or weekends, depending on their responsibilities and office settings.

Educational Requirements

There are various education programs to become a Cosmetic Dental Assistant, such as high school diploma, certificate and associate degree programs from accredited institutions. High school students may choose the subjects including anatomy, biology, chemistry etc., and then take training on the job.

However, the job aspirants need to complete dental-assisting training programs, approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The two-year long training programs include classroom learning and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, jaws, gums, hands on training and the medical equipment that dentists use

Certification and Licensure

Since Cosmetic Dental Assistants are required to be licensed in many states in USA, the aspiring candidates need to complete a training program and pass an examination. The candidates can also obtain exam-based certification administered by the Dental Assisting National Board.

Skill Set        

Apart from clinical knowledge, Cosmetic Dental Assistants possess various skills such as attention to detail, empathy towards patients, ability to work well in a team-oriented environment, listening abilities, understanding of cosmetic dental terminologies, ability to monitor medical equipment, effective communication and interpersonal skills, competent in computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Cosmetic Dental 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 25% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Cosmetic Dental Assistant was $34,500 in May 2012.

Becoming a Complementary Health Practitioner

Complementary Health Practitioners provide various types of therapies and treatments that are required in conjunction with the conventional treatment program prescribed by medical doctors. They may offer acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, massage, osteopathy, physiotherapy, or other alternative medicine treatments. They also tend to be strongly prevention-oriented and place a high value on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. These professions often incorporate low-tech, hands-on techniques, many of which can be traced to long-established traditions.

Complementary Health Practitioners work at verities of environments such as hospitals, clinics, mental institutes, rehabilitation facilities, NGOs, or other health related centers such as gym etc. They may practice in private or can align with other professionals from the field of health care.

Educational Requirements

The educational requirements to become Complementary Health Practitioners differ according the area of specialization. For instance, Chiropractors need to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, while Acupuncture Technicians have to complete a Master’s-level programs in acupuncture. On the other hand, Massage Therapists need to earn a two-year associate’s degrees in massage therapy or complete a training program on therapeutic massage techniques typically ranging from 500 to 800 hours after completing a high school diploma or GED.

The common syllabus includes anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, ethics etc.

Certification and Licensure

Complementary health practitioners need to earn typical state license in their chosen alternative medicine field. In case of certification, the Massage Therapists can obtain exam-based certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, while the Acupuncture Technicians can receive certification from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA).

Skill Set

Complementary Health Practitioner possess various traits such as ability to read X-rays and diagnostic images, creative thinking, crisis management abilities, empathy towards clients, proficient in counseling, motivating skills, effective communications and interpersonal skills, computer skills, knowledge in stress management etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Complementary Health Practitioner remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities for Massage Therapists may rise 23 % and that of 28% for Chiropractors during 2012-2022.The average annual salary of a Chiropractor was of $66,160, while Massage Therapists earned $35,970 in 2012.

Becoming a Clinical Therapist

Clinical Therapists help patients who are suffering from mental and emotional problems, such as stress, substance abuse, family or social issues etc. They counsel the patients of all age groups and administer various evaluative techniques such as psychological tests, personality inventories, and intelligence quotient tests in order to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior of the patients.

Accordingly, they develop therapeutic treatment plan such as behavior modification and stress management therapy, in medical settings. If necessary, they consult with medical doctors or other specialists for further treatment. Some of these professionals may conduct research in treatment and develop evaluative studies of therapy and therapy outcome.

Clinical Therapists are employed in varieties of environments such as hospitals, clinics, mental health facilities, social work or outreach agencies, educational institutions, research facilities. They often work either in an individual or group practice.

Educational Requirements

To become a Clinical Therapist, the aspiring candidates need to earn a master’s degree in psychology, social work, professional counseling or in a related discipline, which usually takes two years to complete. However, the candidates with practical experience have an advantage for better job prospects in this field.

Common coursework in the required master’s program includes the foundations of mental health, dynamics of marriage and family therapy, theories and techniques of group and individual therapy, developmental psychology, substance abuse therapy etc.

Licensure

Since a Clinical Therapist needs to be licensed in most of the states in the USA, the candidates need two years or 3,000 hours of experience, a master’s degree in related field and to pass the necessary examination to earn a required license.

Skill Set

Clinical Therapists possess various skills such as empathy towards patients, service orientation, actively listening abilities, effectively counseling skills, high level understanding the needs of a client, problem solving and decision making capacities, excellent written and verbal communication skills, competence in computer operations etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clinical Therapist 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 Clinical Therapist was $ 46,670 in 2012.

Becoming a Clinical Technician

Clinical Technicians play a key role in the process of diagnosing and treating various diseases of human beings. They collect and analyze bodily fluids and cells to search for bacteria, parasites and other harmful organisms that can cause infection or other health problems. Their other duties include cleaning laboratory equipments, performing urinalysis and maintaining accurate records of findings by using computer database software.

These skilled professionals may specialize as phlebotomists or histotechnicians in larger health care settings. However, they work under the direct supervision of clinical laboratory technologists.

Clinical Technicians work at variety of environments such as diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmaceutical industries, forensic laboratories, research facilities, educational institutions etc. They may have to work during nights, weekends and holidays. They may also need to be on call, in case of emergency.

Educational Requirements

To become a Clinical Technician, the aspiring candidates need to earn an associate’s degree program in medical laboratory sciences from an accredited institution, which usually takes two years to complete. The job aspirants can also complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree program in medical technology or related health discipline for better job prospects in this field.

The common syllabus includes anatomy, immunology, hematology, psychology, phlebotomy, microbiology, chemistry, clinical laboratory practices etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since most of the states in the USA require Clinical Technicians to be licensed, the aspiring candidates have to earn a license by passing the required examination. American Medical Technologists and the Board of Registry for the American Society for Clinical Pathology offer exam-based certification to these professionals.

Skill Set               

Besides the clinical knowledge, Clinical Technicians possess varieties of traits such as strong attention to detail, high level of competency in dexterity, empathy towards patient, understanding of medical terminology, medical ethics, ability to monitor modern machineries, a great deal of physical stamina to work for long duration, effective communication and interpersonal skills, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clinical 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 22% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Clinical Technician was $37,240 in 2012.