If you’re looking for a career in healthcare you’ve come to the right place – now and in the future. According to a 24/7 Wall St. article, healthcare jobs rate quite favorably for being the best paying jobs during the decade of 2008-2018. Much of this is accredited to the Baby Boomer crowd (the first Baby Boomers turn 65 this year) whose large number will increasingly need more healthcare professionals to care for them.

The jobs reviewed were taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Employment Matrix which provides projected growth between 2008 and 2018 for 750 major job categories. The study identified jobs that are going to add the largest number of new positions (greater than a 20 percent increase) and then selected those with a median annual income of at least $60,000.

Of the top 10 jobs identified, dental hygienists rank #9 on the list. Dental hygienists work alongside of dentists, clean teeth and assist in surgery. Total new jobs expected between the years of 2008-2018 are just under 63,000 (a 36.1 percent increase) and the position has a median income of $68,250. Those who live in Michigan, Idaho and Utah will have a leg up as these are the states with the most dental hygienist jobs per capita.

Coming in at #5 are physicians and surgeons. This career path is exploding not only from the expected increase in population (several million a year) but a high number of physicians and surgeons are also expected to retire during the 2008-2018 period. The increase in demand has been calculated at nearly 22 percent and the median income for this position is between $94,000 and $153,000. It was noted that the level of training is one of the most difficult but the potential payoff is high. Those living in New Mexico, West Virginia and Wyoming will fare better at findings jobs than in other parts of the country.

The #1 job is Registered Nurses with an expected 581,500 (a 22.2 percent increase) new jobs opening during the years of 2008 and 2018. Registered Nurses, or RNs, provide basic medical treatment, manage patient records and are the primary providers of long-term care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, “Growth will be driven by technological advances in patient care, which permit a greater number of health problems to be treated, and by an increasing emphasis on preventive care.” Like dental hygienists, the demand for RNs is being fueled by the Baby Boomers who, as they age, will push the demand for nursing care. The median income is $64,690 and people living in Rhode Island, South Dakota and Massachusetts will have the best chance at finding a job in this field.

The job market in the healthcare industry is better than ever-with much opportunity attached. Even the experts agree.

As a healthcare provider you no doubt entered this profession because you care. You care about people, making them feel better and being an integral part of the healthcare process in making lives better. You’ve also likely encountered, thanks to technology and other issues the healthcare sector faces, that patients often seem to get lost in the paperwork shuffle.

To counter this, a growing number of hospitals are assigning Nurse Navigators. Their job is to help steer patients through the medical system maze. Nurse navigators can be nurses, social workers or other hospital staff who have been certified through programs that include training for care coordination, motivational interviewing skills and cultural sensitivity. Currently, Nurse Navigators are primarily for cancer patients who need help booking appointments, getting to appointments and even picking out a wig.

In an article featured in the Wall Street Journal, cancer patient Judith Nakamura used the no-charge service at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, N.M. and was able to get a follow up appointment to see a surgeon in a week instead of two months, which she was originally told. Her Nurse Navigator not only stepped in to get her the appointment, but Colleen Sullivan-Moore helped Nakamura understand her diagnosis and overcome her fears. Sullivan-Moore was in the recovery room when Nakamura awoke after her surgeries.

“She was the one who answered all the questions I was trying to figure out and coordinated every step for me,” Nakamura said of Sullivan-Moore. “She really helped get me through the system.”

Nurse Navigators, or patient navigation as it is sometimes called, are being seen as one possible solution by hospitals to help make the healthcare system more clear and understandable. Patients are facing more complex treatment decisions and options than in years past and need a guide to sift through the information. Navigators can also provide tips on dealing with chemotherapy, make sure patients stay on track with their treatment plan and offer emotional support.

In Nakamura’s case, she initially ignored her doctor’s advice to contact the nurse navigation program figuring she could do it on her own. Sullivan-Moore was the one who extended the olive branch by setting up a meeting which allowed Nakamura to ask questions she hadn’t thought of when she was digesting the news from her doctor. That Nakamura said, “immediately calmed me down.”

Hospitals across the country are looking to expand the navigation role beyond cancer patients and are starting to find navigator roles for transitional care, low income patients and cultural concierges for language and other ethnic-sensitive concerns. If you have an interest in being a Nurse Navigator, contact your hospital administrator to see if a program has been set up or is going to be set up.

In all the turmoil surrounding this country economically and on the job front, we are happy to report that the one sector where job growth was above average was healthcare.  In July, healthcare posted 31,300 new jobs which helped bring the national unemployment rate down to 9.1 percent from 9.2 percent. The numbers reflect a 0.2 growth in the healthcare industry for last month.

For the year, Healthcare added nearly 300,000 jobs for an annual growth rate of two percent. July’s gain reflected more than 6,000 jobs versus the monthly average for the past year.  Hospitals provided the biggest impact for job growth by adding 14,000 jobs in July.  For the 12 months ending in July, hospitals added 74,800 jobs representing a 1.6 percent increase.

The news for healthcare jobs is even better according to employment trends tracked by another national job listing site. Healthcare job postings have had an eight percent month-over-month increase. The jobs receiving the most attention included “medical assistant,” “pharmacy technician,” and registered nurse.” The most popular keyword searches were “medical assistant,” “LPN,” for licensed practical nurse, and “RN” for registered nurse. Healthcare job postings on that site in July were 892,368 compared to 435,457 for retail jobs and 430,496 for the technology field.

Additionally, the medical field scored very well in a CNNMoney and Payscale.com rating of the top 50 careers in pay and growth prospects.  Three healthcare jobs scored in the Top 10 which includes a physical therapist #7, nurse practitioner #4, and a physician assistant #2. Anesthesiologist, pharmacist, nurse anesthetist, general practice physician and occupational therapist all came in the top 20. The 10 year job growth forecast for PAs and PTs is 27 percent and jobs for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and occupational therapists are expected to climb by 23 percent.

If you’re out of work, under employed or worried about your position, then there is much to be excited about regarding your prospects, especially when compared to your peers in other fields. The reality is that the healthcare field will always need talented and caring men and women to serve in a variety of roles. What’s just as encouraging is the future looks bright and promising for those already in healthcare.

A new certification is embracing technology and revolutionizing the nursing field allowing specialized nurses to remotely assist bedside ICU nurses from behind a camera. According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ website, this new wave of “technologically enabled medical networks may be utilized for improving patient safety, bridging distance barriers for rural and underserved areas, providing access to multidisciplinary clinical expertise, shortening ICU lengths of stay, improving patient outcomes and saving costs.”

Last month, the AACCN launched the initial certification exam for the CCRN-E, a credentialed certification for critical care nurses who primarily or exclusively monitor and care for acutely and/or critically ill adult patients in a tele-ICU (e.g. virtual ICU or e-ICU) behind the camera from a remote location. A tele-ICU system involves a command center staffed by physicians and nurses who watch patients using a two-way audio-visual monitoring system to provide support and guidance to the bedside staff.

Tele-ICU nurses already have bedside experience and are considered “another set of eyes” that watch for trends and anticipate problems that could develop. If patient data becomes a concern, the nurse can focus a camera on the patient to see what’s happening. If necessary, a bedside nurse can be called to intervene.

Connie Barden, a clinical nurse specialist at Baptist Health in Coral Gables, FL, is one of the first to earn a CCRN-E credential. She believes tele-ICU nursing holds a great deal of promise and opportunity. “I think the field of telemedicine in general is exploding,” said Barden, a past president of AACN. “And as it explodes, so will tele-nursing.”

The existing CCRN certification requires nurses to spend a certain amount of time in bedside care but nurses working in tele-ICUs spend more time behind a camera observing patients. This fact prompted the AACN to develop a new certification program. A CCRN-E certification requires 1,750 hours caring for acutely or critically ill patients in a tele-ICU setting, which can be logged in a combination of bedside care or behind the camera.

Critical care nurses have been able to renew their CCRN credential to connote their tele-ICU experience, but this is the first time a CCRN-E credential can be earned exclusively. There are 41 active tele-ICU command centers in the United States. Cost to setting up the technology has been a factor in growing the technology in the health care field. However, a study of two community hospitals using the monitoring system shows a reduction in patient mortality and lengths of stay, which undoubtedly decrease healthcare costs.

If you are an ICU nurse (or physician) who wants to ride the wave of emerging healthcare trends and be ahead of the pack, tele-ICU care is worth looking into, including this crucial new certification for tele-ICU nurses.

I remember as a youngster that for me a trip to the school nurse’s office was often only to get an ice pack for a bump on the head or for the nurse to touch my forehead with the back of her hand to see if indeed I had a fever. Today, while that may still be the case for a lot of kids asking to go the nurse’s office, a school nurse has duties that rival their counterpart in the doctor’s office or hospital. And the love of children and a strong sense of compassion continue to be a must for anyone considering this career.

School nurses today are often intimately involved with the overall health of the students who attend their school. From insulin pumps in those with juvenile diabetes to handling tracheotomies and even catheters, the school nurse is fully aware and monitors children with chronic health problems, and those on special medication. With the rise of more complicated strains of the flu, like H1N1, school nurses have to be on top of their game and also be a student’s advocate as well as the communications consultant to the parents.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of children with disabilities in federally supported programs nationwide grew from 4.7 million in 1990 to 6.7 million in 2006-07. Those with chronic or acute health problems doubled to 611,000. And it’s the school nurse who takes care of these children. In fact, in some communities the school nurse is the primary health care provider.

The bottom line is the school nurse is the first line of defense when a child at school becomes ill. The school nurse is also required to assess emergency situations and determine the best course of action and monitor students for health risks and problems like poor eyesight, stunted growth and hearing loss.

Requirements to be a school nurse vary from state to state but generally a school nurse must be a Registered Nurse with an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Some districts require a Master’s Degree. And some states require special certification. Continuing education is also a must. The National Association of School Nurses, which is an accredited provider of continuing nursing education, is holding its annual conference from June 29-July 3 in Washington, DC.

Although today’s school nurses may deal with a wider array of complex health issues than in years past, one thing remains the same – they are all important to the sick, hurting or special needs child in need of their compassionate, knowledgeable care!

So, a career in healthcare is what you really want. You love the idea of helping people from within the medical profession. But, the sight of your own blood makes you faint. Therefore, a career in healthcare is out.

Not so fast. There are a number of healthcare related jobs that allow people just like you to assist doctors, nurses and their patients, and you’ll never have to touch a needle. If this sounds like a good deal, then perhaps a Medical Coding profession is the career for you. Medical coders work in the offices of clinics, hospitals and private practices. Coding professionals are considered key players in the healthcare workplace as they fulfill a part of the overall healthcare team to help provide the highest patient care.

There are several variations to being a medical coding professional. But first, a medical coder is someone who translates healthcare providers’ diagnostic and procedural phrases into coded form for reporting purposes to a healthcare insurance company. Medical coding professionals work in a variety of healthcare settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities and in non-provider settings like third-party payers and healthcare software vendors.

Typical medical coding positions include Hospital Outpatient Coder, Hospital Inpatient Coder, Hospital Coding Manager and Professional Fee Coder. These positions generally have the same responsibilities just in different settings. For example, whether you are an Inpatient or Outpatient Coder, you will assign codes for diagnoses, treatments and procedures according to the appropriate classification system of the healthcare provider. A Coding Manager has typical managerial duties as far as hiring, training and managing the overall coding database. A Professional Fee Coder has similar responsibilities to the Inpatient and Outpatient Coders but focuses on the cost of healthcare services.

 A successful coder will have completed an American Health Information Management Association  (AHIMA) approved Coding Certificate program and have an associate’s degree or two years equivalent work experience. Certification programs are often taught online which allow people to work their day jobs while studying for the certification tests. Coders should be very good with numbers and attentive to details.

The demand for medical coding professionals is expected to rise and grow much faster than the average field. There are a number of certifications and accreditations available for medical coders so knowing what is available and which one will serve you best is crucial for anyone looking into a medical coding career. Don’t forget to check out our job board to see the current listings for medical coders!

High unemployment and an uncertain economy have many people thinking about career opportunities and job security. Many wonder if a change of career is for them. And it is certainly clear that students in high school and college would be wise to focus their career choice on what is going to be hot.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Assistants will be highly sought after for the next seven years or so. In fact, the job prospect for this career is considered “excellent.” There are about half a million Medical Assistants working nationwide and that number is expected to increase by 34 percent through 2018.

A Medical Assistant job is similar to that of an administrative assistant in an office environment. Medical Assistants handle administrative and clinical duties and typically report to an office manager or directly to the physician, depending on the size of the practice. Medical Assistants who assist clinically can expect to take medical histories of patients and record vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate and pulse. Other tasks might include explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for exams and even assisting the physician during exams, among other things.

Most Medical Assistant jobs are located in a doctor’s office but other opportunities can be found in hospitals, clinics and ambulatory care centers. There is a great deal of time spent with the general public, some who may be sick with any number of issues. A Medical Assistant needs a lot of patience, a caring attitude and a big heart.

One benefit of a Medical Assistant career is you don’t necessarily need a college degree. While most only need to complete a one or two year program, some Medical Assistants are trained on the job. However, with the competition for these jobs increasing, having certifications or a degree is preferred by many employers and will get you noticed over someone without these credentials. Additionally, most doctor offices prefer a certified assistant.

The ideal Medical Assistant will have completed a postsecondary program that lasts for a year, which results in a certificate or diploma, or two years which gives the student an associate’s degree. Courses covered include anatomy, physiology and medical terminology. For a list of accredited schools, visit www.medicalassistantnow.com/schools.

According to medicalassistantnow.com, there are two well-respected certifications available for medical assistants. The CMA is a Certified Medical Assistant, which is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the other is RMA, which is Registered Medical Assistant from American Technologists agency (AMT).

If you are interested in a career as a Medical Assistant the work will be challenging but highly rewarding as you assist people with their healthcare! You will definitely see the fruits of your labor in your patient’s smiles and will be an irreplaceable member of a healthcare team. To view current listings for this type of position use our job search engine and search for listings under Allied Health: Medical Assistant Staff.

Some fortunate first-time moms are getting the help of what may feel like a “professional mom” in Public Health Nurses working within the Nurse-Family Partnership Program. NFP is a non-profit community partnership that provides first-time moms with the support of home visitations by a Registered Nurse. This nurse will visit with the mother from pregnancy until the child is two years old and provide support, education and counseling on health, behavioral and self-sufficiency issues.

The program was implemented in Humboldt County, California a year ago and participants are saying being involved has made them feel more secure and confident about parenting. Nationally, mothers who have participated are experiencing better prenatal health and returning to the workforce sooner. And their children are experiencing fewer injuries and improved readiness for kindergarten.

The Nurse-Family Partnership focuses on low-income, first-time mothers – a vulnerable segment of the population, which often has limited good parenting role models. Indeed, the average age of participants is 19 and most (88 percent) are unmarried and living with a median household income of $13,500.

The Nurse-Family Partnership has been in play for more than 30 years and results show the program prevents child abuse and neglect and provides a significant return on investment both locally and nationally.

According to NFP, for every dollar invested in the program, a community can see up to a $5 return. A 2009 analysis conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), showed the federal government actually saved more money than what it spent on the program because NFP services resulted in lower enrollment in Medicaid and food stamps.

Additionally, three NFP controlled program trials showed:
• 48 percent reduction in child abuse and neglect
• 59 percent reduction in arrests among children
• 72 Percent fewer convictions of mothers
• 56 percent reduction in emergency room visits for accidents and poisonings
• 67 percent reduction in behavioral and intellectual problems among children

“Some of our first babies are turning one year old and truly cruising into toddler hood,” said Kathryn O’Malley, supervising Public Health nurse for Humboldt County. “While we are still in the early stages of program implementation, our first-time parents have experienced numerous positive life changes.”

Nurse-Family Partnership programs are available in 385 counties in 32 states serving 21,494 families. If you are interested in the relational aspect of nursing, a career as a Public Health Nurse in a program like the NFP might be for you. Ideal candidates should have their RN with experience in pediatrics, maternal health, behavioral health or another related field.

“Sit. Stay. Sniff.”

Doctor’s may soon be adding dog training to their repertoire which could provide an almost foolproof method to detecting some cancers. And for the patient, their annual exams could include something as easy as blowing their breath towards a dog. Ok, it may not happen exactly like that but our canine friends may one day be used as part of regular screenings for some cancers.

In a study published in the research journal Integrative Cancer Therapies, scientists found that dogs were able to distinguish between people with early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy people. And in a recent French study, dogs were highly successful in detecting prostate cancer.

It is a widely known and undisputed fact that dogs have a keen sense of smell. Some researchers indicate a dog’s sense of smell may be as much as 100,000 times greater than humans. Dogs are able to detect trace chemicals in the range of parts per trillion thanks to about 220 million olfactory receptors in a dog’s nose. (Humans have about 5 million.)

Dogs are able to sniff out cancer because tumors release a specific chemical that is expelled in the breath of the patient. Therefore, lung and breast cancer patients exhibit certain chemicals when they breathe which a dog can detect, even if the cancer is in the early stages. The results of the study showed dogs were able to detect breast and lung cancers between 88 and 97 percent of the time.

Dogs are even able to sniff out skin-cancer melanomas simply by smelling the lesion. And a 2004 study showed success in dogs detecting bladder cancer by smelling a patient’s urine. Last year, another study, also using urine samples, showed promising results in regards to prostate cancer. In this French study, dogs detected prostate cancer in 63 out of 66 cancer samples showing fewer false positives than with the traditional PSA test.

The excitement brewing around man’s best friend could result in some interesting jobs and new career paths for researchers, scientists and dog trainers with some medical background. Of course, in all likelihood, an electronic nose will be developed to identify the cancer chemicals released in breath and urine. But really, what better way to help someone relax at the doctor’s office than to have a wagging and wiggling pooch enter the exam room?