Learn 14 Types of Healthcare Degrees to Consider
2. Nursing
Consider pursuing a nursing degree if you appreciate caring for others. As a nurse, your responsibilities include caring for and supporting patients, dispensing medication, checking vital signs, interacting with doctors, keeping records, providing emotional support, and so on. Some nursing specializations to consider are listed below:
• Registered Nurse (RN) • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) • Labor and Delivery Nurse • Clinical Nurse Supervisor • Emergency Room Registered Nurse • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) (APRN)
Salary and employment prospects
According to the BLS, the employment of registered nurses is expected to increase by 9% between 2020 and 2030. In this situation, 276,800 new jobs are expected to be created each year until 2030. In addition, the average hourly wage for a registered nurse is $30.57, with an annual compensation of $66,786. For experienced nurses, the starting wage might reach $93,000.
3. Dental hygiene
A career in dental hygiene will allow you to assist patients in maintaining good oral health. Expect to take science classes like chemistry or anatomy, dental courses like dental anatomy, and dental hygiene courses like oral health education while studying dental hygiene.
When you graduate and become a dental hygienist, you will be responsible for: • teaching and educating patients on good oral hygiene, • advising patients on nutrition and its impact on oral hygiene, • performing screening procedures on patients, • applying preventive materials (such as fluoride and sealants) to the teeth, • removing calculus and plaque from the teeth, • sterilizing dental instruments, and • maintaining patient documentation.
Salary and employment prospects
Dental hygienist employment is expected to expand by 11% between 2020 and 2030. This is faster than the average pace of job growth. A dental hygienist’s hourly wage is $35.36 on average.
An entry-level dental hygienist (with less than one year of experience) may expect to earn $56,000 per year on average. Experienced personnel in their late careers can make up to $94,000 per year. Meanwhile, the average annual pay for a dental hygienist is $62,000.
4. Occupational therapy.
If you have the ability to make others feel at ease, consider obtaining a degree in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy assists people in accomplishing everyday tasks that they may find difficult owing to a variety of factors such as disability, aging, sickness, accident, and so on.
As an occupational therapist, you may be responsible for teaching and assisting people in eating, dress, moving around, going to school, doing laundry, and so on. You will be working with people of all ages and dealing with a variety of common difficulties. Following graduation, you will have the opportunity to further your education and develop your profession, allowing you to specialize in a specific type of treatment or age group.
