What Are the Benefits of Becoming a Healthcare Worker? In general, the healthcare system is considered “inclusive of all activities whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, and/or maintain health.” Whilst this is not a sales pitch for healthcare work, more a guide for those of us who have ever thought about changing industries for assorted reasoning but had no idea where to start or even wanting to upskill within the current industry. Becoming a healthcare worker offers the normal expectations of a job but so much more than this.
The regular expectations – exceeded.
Working in nursing, for example, provides a range of benefits including the expected such as competitive salary, leave entitlements (20 days annual leave and 18 days carers / personal leave) and superannuation (15.4%). However, the industry offers more than this for their workers including flexible working arrangements – which includes hours that work for everyone, job-sharing opportunities, and time-in-lieu arrangements. Along with safe working environment – counseling services available to you and your family members and free flu vaccinations each year. Finally, ongoing learning and development opportunities which include access to mentoring programs, professional development programs, eLearning resources, individual plans and study/course assistance.
Study
Once in the industry the above is offered to you and in such an industry continued learning opportunities are all important for ever-changing industry needs. Nevertheless, people tend to shy away from selecting the industry because they think the initial study load will be too high to manage, especially if already working and need to maintain their current employment whilst developing skills and capabilities for a new industry. Online nursing accelerated programs resolve this issue, boasting the best online accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Concentrating the students on introduction to nursing, pharmacology, mental health, community services, women’s health and other assorted healthcare sectors this type of study has somebody for everybody no matter what area of the industry they want to get into.
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Reasons to consider a career path in healthcare.
Above just looking for a career that is both meaningful to society the healthcare industry is one of the largest in America already and with an ageing population which is about to almost double in size again. This isn’t limited to the US either, as the healthcare industry is already employing one in eight people in countries like Australia, or about 1.5 million people. Already showing that this is an industry that is not slowing down and a good reliable / stable career to get into. As mentioned earlier the healthcare industry offers competitive salaries which vary from position to delve a little deeper a registered nurse can receive an average salary package of $56,000 which within just 10 years can increase to up to $79,000, whereas a graduate doctor can walk in starting on $65,000 and move to $105,000 within the 10-year timeframe.
Studies have shown that over the course of a career a healthcare professional is amongst the highest paid workers. Flexibility to specialise in different fields is another lucrative reason to look towards healthcare. Not just for the additional income specialising will offer but also to allow each individual the opportunity to really hone in on a specific area of interest to them. Finally, the biggest reason and the reason I myself work in the community is because it offers the opportunity to truly make a difference within your own local community. For example working with the elderly offers not only the knowledge that you are helping a person better manage their twilight years but in return you potentially get to build relationships with a whole new demographic to yourself and even learn their individual stories, and from experience the elderly have interesting and usually untold stories to share for those who will just open themselves up to the occasion.
Why am I needed?
Studies which were first undertaken as part of the 2021 American Community Survey and have been rerun by many different organizations since clearly indicate that the percentage of older Americans (aged 65 years and over) is on the rise and will continue to trend this way over the coming decades due largely to more people choosing not to have children or less children. The average family in 2022 was reporting 3.13 people which is down from as recent as 2008 where 3.18 was the reported number. The lowered reproductive rate and longer life expectancy is playing a huge role in the increased need for healthcare workers worldwide.
The US has also seen increases in diseases caused by varying things such as smoking, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle (more office based employment), poor diets (takeaway, greasy foods, ease of food being delivered to door), and sun exposure. These things result in conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart conditions and cancer. These things in turn require hardworking healthcare workers to assist with care and support. And thirdly, continued medical treatment breakthroughs and technologies will continue to increase the demand on the industry as individuals live longer and want to trial whatever will help with this.
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Flexibility
Previously touched on briefly was the word flexibility, to expand on this a bit further, flexible schedules to suit yourself no matter what suits your lifestyle are fast becoming a big incentive to work within the healthcare industry. Whether you are a mother returning to work and needing school friendly hours or a complete night owl, the healthcare industry has a job that will cater to your preferences. Flexibility goes beyond this to the world at large. If you have the skills and experience in healthcare you can work almost anywhere in the world. Ever wanted to travel for extended periods of time but cannot afford to live the nomad lifestyle? The healthcare industry can solve this, with the UK providing similar incentives to Australia, making the opportunities through healthcare endless.
If all the reasons above have captured your attention and got you thinking about enrolling to reskill or upskill, predictions suggest that health expenditure will continue to increase from the 4% it was listed at in 2016 to 7% by 2050. For this reasoning, the number of needed employees is expected to rise to match this requirement meaning not only has there been a need for healthcare workers but will continue to be ongoing, meaning there is no more stable career path. However, the best reason has and always will be to consider a career pathway in healthcare is simply the people and the difference you as an individual can make in their everyday lives.
