“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” Leo Buscaglia
One of the things that young people and their parents need to realize is that there are many challenging, and rewarding careers out there that does not require a 4-year and beyond college degree. In addition, many of these careers pay more than the ones that do require the traditional 4-year college degree to be hired. Jobs within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field fit within this category. They are among some of the best paying jobs out there and in addition are also in desperate need of skilled and trained workers. An industry within the STEM arena that is growing by leaps and bounds is that of the healthcare industry. Within this industry, it is estimated that approximately 15.6 million new jobs will be created by 2022.
In order to prepare for the additional training that will be required beyond high school to fill these jobs, students in middle school and high school need to take as many math and science courses as they possibly can. This would include courses in biology, chemistry, physics, algebra, geometry, calculus , etc. Parents also need to make sure that they encourage their children in this area as well. In addition, they need to encourage their children to also take advance placement courses in math, science and technology. As I indicated in a previous post on education, this is so vital to filling future job demands that even President Obama is doing all he can to make sure that efforts are made to expose all students to STEM education. As parents, you have to do your part as well.
For this post we are going to look at 3 different health care career options that one can enter without a 4-year college degree. These career options offer very good salaries and they are in desperate need of trained and qualified workers to fill current and future positions. The 3 options we will explore in this post are Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Respiratory Therapist, and Surgical Technologist.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
This profession is ranked as #5 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Best Health Care Support Jobs” in the Unites States. In addition to that , the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the job growth rate for medical sonographers will be a whopping 24% between the years of 2014 and 2024, adding approximately 27,600 new jobs during this time period.
What is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?
These are the health care professionals who operates the special imaging equipment that uses ultrasound technology to take pictures of a patient’s internal organs and tissues. These images are then used by doctors and other health care professionals to diagnose and treat various diseases and medical conditions.
Diagnostic medical sonographers are mainly employed by hospitals but are becoming more prevalent in doctor offices, clinics, outpatient surgery centers, etc. The growth in this field and the increase use of medical sonography is attributed to the fact that the ultra sound technology used in the procedure is radiation-free, less expensive, and less invasive than methods doctors have used in the past to diagnose illnesses. As a result, doctor are using images created through sonography as their first line of exam for patients.
Within the field of diagnostic medical sonography, a person can become certified in various specialty areas. Those specialties include:
- Abdominal Sonography: imaging of the abdominal cavity and the surrounding organs, such as liver, kidney, spleen, etc.
- Breast Sonography: imaging of the breast tissue to confirm the presence of tumors and cyst
- Musculoskeletal Sonography: imaging of the muscles, ligaments and joints
- Obstetric & Gynocologic Sonography: imaging of the female reproductive system
- Neuro Sonography: imaging the inner structure of the brain to detect tumors, bleeding or masses
- Cardiovascular Technology: imaging of the heart, heart chamber, valve and vessels
- Vascular Technology: imaging the blood vessel and a patient’s blood flow.
Regardless of the specialty area, the duties of a diagnostic medical sonographer will include the following:
- communicating with patients to obtain their medical history and answer their questions and concerns about the imaging procedure
- maintaining and operating the diagnostic imaging equipment
- reviewing the images they’ve taken and providing summaries of the finding to a physician or other health professionals
- recording findings and keeping track of a patient’s record.
What are the training requirements?
An individual can receive the education and training to become a diagnostic medical sonographer via the following three options:
- 1-Year Certificate Program: This method is more suited for a person who already has experience in the health care industry and is seeking to gain the knowledge and expertise to transition into a career as a sonographer. Certificate programs are usually provided by hospital and some colleges.
- 2-Year Associate Degree Program: These programs can be found at community colleges and technical schools. A person will need to have at least a high school diploma or GED to be eligible to participate in the associate degree program.
- 4-Year Bachelor Degree Program: These programs are offered through colleges and universities and will offer a student more exposure to the various specialties in sonography.
Regardless of the educational program you decide to attend, you want to make sure that it is accredited by the Commision on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Your formal training will include classes in subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and ultrasound physics as well as clinical training where you will work with an experienced sonographer to learn the equipment and technique for good imaging.
Once training is completed, most states do not require that medical sonographers be licensed. Employers, however, do look to hire those sonographers who have gained certification in various specialties. Students can become registered and received the credential as a “Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer” (RDMS) and also become certified in various specialties by taking and passing exams administered through The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or The American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT).
What is the salary of a Medical Sonographer?
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a diagnostic medical sonographer as of May 2015 was $68,970 with the highest 10 percent earning more than $97,390 per year.
Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory Therapists are health care professionals who provide care and treatment for people who have breathing problems. A respiratory therapist is part of a medical team and usually works under the direct supervision of a physician. They usually work in a hospital setting but may also work in other health care settings such as nursing homes, outpatient care centers, rehabilitation centers, sleep disorder centers, etc.
What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
They work with patients suffering from disorders such as cardiopulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, cystic fibrosis and sleep apnea . They may also provide services to patients who have suffered a heart attack, stroke or is suffering from lung cancer. The population of patients they service can range from a premature infant (who’s having difficulty breathing due to undeveloped lungs) to the elderly (who may suffer respiratory disorders such as pneumonia, COPD, etc.).
Regardless of the age of their clientele, the duties of a respiratory therapist will include all or some of the following:
- perform diagnostic tests to measure lung capacity
- analyze breath tissues and/or blood specimen to determine oxygen levels and other gases
- interview patients and perform chest exams to determine the appropriate treatment or therapy to treat their condition
- consult with physicians to develop a patient’s treatment plan
- provide treatment to patients by using various methods such as aerosol medication, ventilators and artificial airway devices to help a patient breath easier
- educate patients and their families on the proper use of treatment devices and equipment
- monitor and document a patient’s treatment and progress.
The demand for respiratory therapist is growing and there couldn’t be a better time for one to become trained and skilled in this profession. According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics the job growth rate for respiratory therapist between the years 2014 and 2024 is projected at 12%. During that time period approximately 14,900 new job will be added to this industry.. The reason for the growth is contributed to the number of adults currently suffering from breathing disorders as well as the emerging baby boomer population. An aging population will result in an increase number of people more susceptible to conditions such as COPD, pneumonia, emphysema, etc.
What are the training requirements?
The minimum education requirement for a respiratory therapist is an associate degree in respiratory care which can be obtained at a community/junior college or technical school. Make sure you attend an educational program that is accredited by the Commision on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (COARC).
The associate degree program usually takes approximately 2 years to complete and consist of classroom work as well as clinical experience in a healthcare setting. Upon completing the educational component, all states (except for Alaska) require that a respiratory therapist be licensed by passing either the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exam which is administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
What is the salary of a Respiratory Therapist?
With the demand for trained respiratory therapist on the rise, their salary is reflective of that demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a respiratory therapist as of May 2015 was $57,790 with the highest 10% earning more than $80,440 per year.
Surgical Technologist
A surgical technologist work in the operating room of hospitals along side the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurse. They may also work in an outpatient surgery center as well as a doctor’s office where outpatient surgery is performed.
They are sometimes referred to as a scrub tech, operating room technician or surgical assistant. A surgical technologist plays an important role in the operating room in that they are responsible for insuring a sterile environment so patients are not susceptible to surgical site infections.
What does a Surgical Technologist do?
Before an operation, the surgical technologist is the person who prepares the operating room for surgery. Their duties entails the following:
- assure there is an adequate supply of equipment and supplies for the procedure being performed
- assure that all equipment is in proper working order
- set up and arrange the sterile surgical instruments needed by the surgeon
- prepare sterile solutions and medication used during the surgery
- ready the patient for surgery by washing and disinfecting the patient’s incision site
- assist in positioning the patient on the operating table and covering them with sterile drapes
- assist the surgeon with putting on their sterile gown and gloves.
During the actual surgery a surgical technologist will:
- assist the surgeon by passing the appropriate sterile instruments and supplies to them as needed
- hold organs and tissues in place and out of a surgeon’s view
- count supplies and instruments.
After surgery a surgical technologist will:
- apply dressing to a patient’s wound
- transport a patient to the recovery area
- prepare and restock the operating room for the next procedure.
What are the training requirements?
To become a surgical technologist you would need to obtain a certificate or associate degree from an accredited educational program. The program needs to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). You can find education programs for surgical technology at community/junior colleges and technical schools. The certificate program can take from 9 to 15 months to complete. You will be able to complete the associate degree program in approximately 2 years.
Your classroom education will consist of courses such as anatomy, biology, physiology, pharmacology, etc. It will also most likely consist of lab and mock operating and surgical enactments as well as hands-on practice in scrubbing and surgical instrumentation.
Upon completing the educational requirement, a student can also obtain the credential of a Certified Surgical Technician (CST) by taking and passing an exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Most states do no currently require that one become certified. However, to work in the states of South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, New York, New Jersey , and Massachusetts one would have to gain their certification upon completing the educational program from an accredited school. In addition the surgical technologist will also be required to participate in periodic continuing education programs to renew their credentials.
What is rhe salary of a Surgical Technologist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the projected job growth rate for surgical technologists between the years 2014 and 2024 will be 15% because more personnel will be needed in this profession as the baby boomer population continues to age and require more medical services. The salary for this profession is also reflecting this increase demand. As of May 2015, the average salary for a surgical technologist was $44,330 with the highest 10% earning in excess of $63,410 per year.
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