Medical Careers

One of the fastest growing areas of employment today is the field of medical careers. As more people become aware of health in general, and show concern for the state of their own current and future health, the demand for professionals in this field increases. The demand for health professionals is also increasing due to the fact that the nation’s largest population, the baby boom generation, is rapidly approaching old age. As more of these citizens need constant or increased care and supervision, growth will occur exponentially between 2002 and 2012 (around 16.3 for all areas of the industry), especially in the areas of nursing home workers (35%), and home health care aides (56%). However, the field of medicine is not limited to conventional medical occupations such as nurses and physicians. There is also an increased interest in the field of alternative, or holistic medicine, especially as people are tending to turn away from traditional methods of healing. The increased costs of medicine and treatments, as well as safety concerns, are bringing people back to ancient and older forms, as well as Eastern methods of medicine and healing such as acupuncture, herbology, and Ayurvedic medicine. Those patients with terminal diseases are also showing interest in alternative methods of treatment, as chemotherapy and other such harsh treatments may not always work. Massage therapy in its many forms is also enjoying a growth in both occupation and public interest as people look for ways to relieve and reduce stress, as well as prevent it in the future.Some medical careers are experiencing extreme shortages in many areas, especially that of nursing. A large part of the nursing population is approaching retirement age, and enrollment in nursing schools is down from previous years. It is becoming extremely hard to hire retain nurses in some areas because of this, and the nursing occupation is still expected to grow. As such, nursing is a good field to enter, because there will be several jobs open.The decision to go into the medical field is one that should not be made based on the easy ability to find a job or a high salary, however. It is extremely hard work, with irregular and long hours, and you are constantly in a position to fulfill the demands of clients and patients. All of these factors must be considered before choosing to pursue a career in medicine. In spite of the demand that this type of career can put on you, it is an extremely fulfilling one, as you are constantly contributing to the health and well-being of other people.