Top Medical Careers in Demand

Without a doubt, professional nursing is one of the top medical careers in demand. Within the next six to seven years, it is projected that over 575,000 new nurses will be needed. A registered nurse needs at least two years of formal education. A bachelor’s degree will allow the registered nurse to advance to supervisory positions. Even more training is needed for specialty nursing.

With little or no formal education beyond high school, home health aides are experiencing tremendous job growth. These members of the health care team generally function as caregivers to patients who are homebound. The aging baby boomers are largely responsible for the increasing need for home health aides.

Professional medical assistants may work in a clinical or administrative setting. The demand for formally trained medical assistants is projected to grow by 27% over the next few years. Formal training usually leads to a certificate which can be earned in about a year.

With little or no formal training, the pharmacy technician holds one of the top medical careers in demand. There currently exist no Federal requirements for formal training with most pharmacy technicians benefitting instead from on-the-job training. The demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to remain higher than the national average for all jobs.

An in-demand administrative position is that of the healthcare administrator. This individual manages the finance and management of a healthcare facility. To keep up with the constant changes in healthcare, the healthcare administrator must be able to easily adapt to new situations.

Individuals who like to be on the front-lines may consider a position as an emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic. The work is often performed under stress and in a variety of situations. The paramedic may be called to assist a heart attack victim or take a helicopter to the scene of an automobile accident. It is the duty of the EMT to assess and treat patients for immediate transport to a medical facility.

The administrative position of medical records and health information technician is also considered one of the top medical careers in demand. These individuals are charged with maintaining detailed and confidential patient files. Electronic health records have had no impact on the number of technicians needed.