Healthcare Careers

3 Great Career Paths for Those with a Caring Nature

As people are living longer lives and our population grows, the healthcare industry is growing along with it. There are hundreds—if not thousands—of recessionand pandemic-proof careers to suit any personality.

From medical billing to specialized surgery, there is a huge and growing demand for healthcare workers that are analytical, administrative, hands-on, creative, adventurous, ambitious, or nurturing.

If you like making a difference to other people’s lives and want to motivate and inspire others to be the best version of themselves, there are tons of careers that you can embark on which will suit your needs.

Here are a few career paths that may appeal to those with a caring nature and are motivated by helping people.

Nurse

Most nurses will tell you that they knew they wanted to be a nurse from a very early age. Some people who go into nursing because they see other members of their family in the role, whereas others embark on this career path due to the excellent care they received from a nurse.

If you’re after an occupation that makes a difference and gives you the freedom to work in a range of environments, becoming a nurse may be the right option for you. To succeed in this role, you must have excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and be able to work well under pressure.

While most nurses start with an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, some will go on to earn a master’s or doctorate to advance their career. Regardless of the degree you choose, you’ll also need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse (RN).

Occupational Therapist

The role of an occupational therapist is to help adults and children function better in day-to-day life. Every patient you treat will have different needs. So, it’s your job to have empathy and compassion for their situation and provide the best course of treatment to improve your patient’s quality of life.

Occupational therapists need to be patient when helping others, be enthusiastic about their work, and possess excellent interpersonal skills. In order to become a registered occupational therapist, you must: Graduate from an accredited educational program with a master’s degree in occupational therapy, complete fieldwork requirements, pass your certification exam, and apply for licensure.

Home Health Aide

Throughout your career as a home health aide, you will make a positive difference to other people’s lives. There are vulnerable members of the community who are very dependent on home healthcare care workers to look after them.

In order to provide home health aide services in New York State, you must successfully complete a HHATP or competency evaluation program conducted only by a NYSED or NYSDOH-approved HHATP. To become certified, an HHA will need to complete a 76-hour classroom training program, plus one day of clinical training. An up-to-date physical exam may also be necessary.