by Kim Stairs

Created on: November 15, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

According to Business Week, "The health-care industry has created 1.7 million new jobs in the past five years." If you have found yourself starting over in the job market or going back to get a degree, health-care may be what you are looking for. The health-care field offers several job opportunities. Many of these opportunities become available with continuing education. They are: physical therapy, dental hygienist, medical billing, emergency medicine, nursing, home health aid, sonographer, lab technician, and many others.

Depending on where you live, the need for certain jobs may be smaller or greater. To find out easily what health-care fields are in demand in your area, log onto the websites like www.careerbuilder.com or www.monster.com. Keep an eye on the local job section in the newspaper. Contact your community colleges to find out what programs of education they offer in the health-care arena. Some programs may only require certification. Others an associates degree and yet others a bachelors degree. This will also help guide you into the right field.

These careers also offer various salaries and wages depending upon location. Pharmacists could earn $43.00/hr or more. A dental hygienist may see near $33.00/hr, lab technicians $19.00, LPN $17.00/hr, RN $28.00, dental assistant $16.00/hr, and home health aid $12.00/hr. Money however isn't the only motivation you'll need. It will also take time, support of family and friends, and dedication to earn that degree.

Your greatest motivation for choosing to work in health-care should be your passion for people. Considering this, if you are people oriented chose a service that surrounds you with patients in need of your touch and expertise. However if you love people, but love administration or science more, chose a direction that guides you into management or research.

Health-care offers a wide array of opportunities. As well as a career in nursing. The possibilities in nursing are: CNA, LPN, RN, NP, etc. Each level of nursing also requires more education. Should you choose to become a registered nurse, there are several specialized areas to consider. Just a few of the specialized areas are: labor and delivery, ICU, NICU, geriatrics, pediatrics, ER, dialysis, surgery, oncology, and the list continues. Also when considering your area of specialty, if you do so, consider where you'd like to be employed.

Nurses can find themselves in unique places of employment. There are: clinics, medical centers, doctor's offices, hospitals, homes, prisons, military, statewide, and abroad. As with other jobs, where you are willing to go may also affect your wages and salaries. Still other positions in nursing may be permanent or per- diem. Many employers seeking nurses may offer sign-on bonuses and relocation allowances to help you with your transition.

Regardless of the specific path you choose in health-care, it is one of the growing industries out there still providing jobs. Health-care is a career that will bring you satisfaction, higher salaries, and doors of advancement.

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