Medical Careers To Consider (Which Aren’t Doctors)

career-Chispa MagazineMedicine and healthcare are perhaps some of the most rewarding career fields to work in. You get to help people when they’re ill, aid them through recovery and generally give people a brighter future. But the medical field isn’t just all doctors and surgeons, there are so many different roles which make up the incredible care system we have today. If you want to go into this kind of career but don’t want to be a doctor, here are some others to consider.

Dentist
Training as a dentist is a lengthy process. You will need to complete a dental course leading to your bachelor’s degree, which usually takes around five years. After that you will then take further training too. This is something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of a career change as it will be quite some time before you will be a practicing dentist. However, you could consider becoming a dentist’s assistant. Find the best dental assistant schools near you and embark on a course, this usually takes around one year. You will be performing tasks such as taking x-rays, performing treatments such as polishes, looking after patients as well as keeping records and scheduling appointments. It’s an interesting and varied role offering a good rate of pay, and if you have an interest in dentistry, it’s a good way to work in the field if you don’t have the inclination to go back and study for many years.

Mental Health Nurse
This day in age we understand that mental health afflictions can be just as serious as physical ones, and we’ve come a long way since the days of asylums and lobotomies when it comes to mental health! As a mental health nurse, you could be working with elderly patients with dementia, people who are suicidal or who have ongoing issues such as severe depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. Your job is to take care of them while they’re going through an episode, get them onto the right treatment plan and then successfully get them back to their daily life with the support and help that they need to thrive. You will be responsible for liaising with carers, councils, administering medication and working with psychologists and psychiatrists to put together individual treatment plans. No two days will ever be the same in a job like this, and it’s both interesting and rewarding.

Pharmacist
As a pharmacist, you are responsible for knowing the effects, composition, side effects and usage of different prescription drugs, and be able to advise patients on how to use them. If you already have a degree in a medical based subject, you can become a pharmacist by studying for a masters in pharmacy. This is a four-year course, so again not for the faint of heart and perhaps not for those looking to make a career change later in life. However, you can become a pharmacist’s assistant with just good literacy, numeracy, and IT skills as you will be trained on the job.

Photo by Yingpis Kalayom

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Milo Senalle

Milo Senalle

Managing Editor at Chispa Magazine
As one of the managing editors of Chispa Magazine, Milo Senalle is the go-to man for all things technology, ethical, and financial concerns. Providing laughs with his style of writing and problem-solving techniques, Milo is a voice of reason among the girly staff at Chispa. Married with children, living in Atlanta, he works 24/7 on becoming a man of courage and believes honor begins at home.

Milo Senalle

As one of the managing editors of Chispa Magazine, Milo Senalle is the go-to man for all things technology, ethical, and financial concerns. Providing laughs with his style of writing and problem-solving techniques, Milo is a voice of reason among the girly staff at Chispa. Married with children, living in Atlanta, he works 24/7 on becoming a man of courage and believes honor begins at home.