Work in the health care field thrives despite economic bad times--and opportunities are not limited to working in a hospital. Far from it. In addition to a wide variety of roles, health care offers many work locations: there are health care professionals working in sleep clinics, at colleges, in mobile classrooms, in research laboratories, on cruise ships--and even in prisons.
In 2008, health care employed 14.3 million people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the field is forecast to add 3.2 million more jobs by 2018, as our population ages. (It's possible that this estimate is low, as it was made before the passage of the national health care reform bill, which is expected to give millions more Americans health care coverage and increased access to health services by 2014.)
Here's a look at some less-well-known health care careers that are forecast to grow, along with their median annual salaries (according to online salary database PayScale.com):
Nurse anesthetist ($144,821)
The average nurse works only about five years before being ready for a change, says Michele Kunz, director of nursing education at Mercy Medical Center in Long Island, N.Y. Many move on to "advance practice" specialties, and this is among the best-paying, combining basic nursing skills with expertise in administering anesthetic. Registered nurses receive additional training and obtain a master's degree to take on this role.
Nursing informatics analyst ($80,596)
Nursing experience and a knowledge of electronic medical records get you into this field, where, according to Kunz, "There's tons of opportunity." Hospitals need medically trained professionals to help them evaluate options, select software providers, and implement new medical-records systems to comply with provisions in last year's stimulus bill.
Health information-management director ($73,308)
Even without a nursing degree, you could find a place in the booming medical-records arena if you have strong information-technology expertise, "This is a giant field," says Kunz. "You could work for a hospital, for a vendor building programs, or in sales."
Nurse educator ($71,292)
Experienced nurses often move into educating their peers, says Kunz. As the ranks of doctors and nurses grow, the need for required refresher and certification courses also increases, she notes. Some educators travel around delivering courses at clinics and hospitals, while others set up independent or mobile classrooms.
Clinical laboratory scientist ($63,756)
Research funding in health care got a boost from last year's stimulus bill, so medical-lab positions are growing fast. Medical-research institutions are hiring as they receive federal grants and take on new projects, says Dr. Ming Tai-Seale of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Most clinical lab scientists have a four-year degree in medical technology or clinical laboratory science.
Clinical research coordinator ($50,881)
Also known as medical-research coordinator, this role involves overseeing research projects in the lab or the field to make sure they stay on track. A bachelor's degree in a science field or a nursing credential is a typical prerequisite. Tai-Seale reports that her foundation recently hired in this area to support new research projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Respiratory therapist ($50,521)
Helping patients with breathing problems is the main task of respiratory therapists. An associate's degree gets you into the field, and the BLS expects 21 percent growth.
Business reporter Carol Tice (www.caroltice.com) contributes to several national and regional business publications.
Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median annual salaries for full-time workers with 5 to 8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.
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