Aside from the annual Halloween candy binge, October is also the month for health awareness. For several health-related causes, the month of October is a time for education, prevention, and appreciation. From dental care to infant care, medical organizations are getting the word out that a healthy lifestyle can make a difference.
As the seasons change, it may also be the right time to find a career that makes a difference. For a healthy lifestyle and a bright future, many young professionals are pursuing jobs in the medical field. Careers in health care are among the hottest of all jobs.
Fighting Tooth Decay
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, when we try our best remember to brush and floss every day. As the complexity of dentistry increases, dentist offices are hiring many assistants to perform routine tasks so that they are able to devote more time to operations and in-depth procedures.
Dental assistants usually prepare for a career with a dental assistant training program, which offers classroom, laboratory, and pre-clinical instruction. Although some dentist assistant schools offer one year programs as an introduction to the field, dentist offices are more likely to hire graduates with an associate's degree in dental assisting. Recent advances in tooth care will allow middle-aged people to retain their natural teeth into old age, fueling demand for dental services. The job outlook for students entering the dental assisting career should be excellent.
Delivering Healthy Babies
More people are born in October than any other month of the year. Perhaps that is why October is Campaign for Healthier Babies Month, a time to promote health in pregnant mothers and newborns. On the front lines of this campaign are the 2.5 million registered nurses that deliver babies and care for mothers in the US. Unfortunately, experts predict that we will experience a shortage of qualified nurses within the next few years. Explosive growth in healthcare services, due to technological advances in patient care and an aging population, should make nursing one of the most desirable careers out there.
Students looking for a career in nursing must graduate from an accredited nursing degree program and pass a licensing examination. Many nursing schools offer four year programs, leading to the Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN), which is typically the preferred degree for entry-level nurses. Students that earn nursing degrees in the near future can expect to enter a job market that offers signing bonuses, family-friendly hours, and extra funds for continuing education, not to mention competitive salaries and benefits.
Preventing Breast Cancer
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer among women in the US. Thankfully, the rate of survival for breast cancer patients is increasing. This is most likely due to the efforts of the medical community to encourage regular screenings and improve early detection of breast cancer.
Among the health professionals that help with early detection are those in the medical assisting profession. In addition to performing administrative duties, medical assistants are in charge of basic clinical tasks such as preparing patients for examinations and recording vital signs. Most workers in the field graduate from formal medical assisting programs. Medical assisting schools usually offer 2 year postsecondary programs that result in an associate's degree. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that medical assisting will be one of the fastest growing occupations over the next decade.
Walking the Road to Recovery
As winter approaches and the joints and muscles start to ache, we also pay tribute to the physical therapy professionals that provide us with rehabilitation and relief. Among the employees in a physical therapy practice, the physical therapist assistant is often most directly involved in the healing process. In order to efficiently provide treatment to a growing number of patients, many therapy practices are choosing to hire additional physical therapist assistants.
Physical therapy assistant schools offer associate's degrees in the field, providing training in both academic and clinical settings. With a physical therapist assistant degree, you will be licensed to perform exercises, massages, and other therapeutic treatments under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants are able to form lasting and meaningful relationships with their patients while helping them along the road to recovery.
Prepare for a Healthy Future
As you prepare your Halloween costume for the end of the month, don't forget that October is also a time to take care of your real body. With a degree in health care, you will also be taking care of your future.
