Non-Nursing Roles in the Healthcare Industry
Non-Nursing Roles in the Healthcare Industry
After being rejected from a nursing school, some might feel it is a sign to choose another career in the healthcare industry rather than nursing. Here are some non-nursing roles within the healthcare industry, such as administration, public health, health information technology, and clinical roles outside of nursing.
Administration
In healthcare administration, you can manage individual departments or entire facilities to ensure they operate efficiently and comply with healthcare laws, regulations, and standards. Examples of positions in this sector include hospital administrator, health services manager, and medical and health services manager.
Public Health
Public health professionals work to improve the health of communities through education, policy, and research. They might work as health educators, epidemiologists, or community health workers. These roles vary widely, but they’re all about improving public health at a community level.
Health Information Technology
If you’re tech-savvy, a role in health information technology could be ideal. You might work on creating software for healthcare facilities, ensuring the security of health records, or analyzing data to improve patient care. Roles can include biomedical technician, health information manager, and medical coder.
In each of these fields, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of the healthcare industry, as well as the unique regulations and challenges it faces. While you won’t be delivering hands-on patient care, you’ll still have a significant impact on patient health outcomes.
Clinical Roles Outside of Nursing
For those interested in patient-facing roles, positions such as physician’s assistant, occupational therapist, or dental hygienist offer alternative routes into the healthcare industry. These roles involve direct patient care but provide opportunities outside of the traditional nursing scope.
Education for these non-nursing roles varies, with certain positions requiring specific degrees or certifications. However, many health-related degrees incorporate inter-professional education, which provides a broad understanding of various roles within the healthcare field.
