Ever since 2020, there’s been a rising demand for various skills in the healthcare sector, due to the need for professionals who can care for and cure the people who were affected by the pandemic. In 2022, the world still sees a steady rise in the demand for more healthcare workers, even though things are slowly going back to normal with regards to the pandemic.
Though “skill shortages” seems like a negative term, it actually means more opportunities for people who want to choose a career in the healthcare field - which also means that you’ll be compensated well for your service.
In this article, we’re going to list out some of the current skill shortages that are faced in the healthcare sector, and help you choose a path which will suit you best! Let’s get started.
1. Travel nurses
Travel nurses are nurses who work on a contractual basis in areas where they’re in demand. Since the pandemic hit in 2020, clinics and hospitals all over the world have been in need of nurses, so travel nursing became popular - since hospitals were willing to hire nurses on short-notice from anywhere in the world.
Since the pandemic is still ongoing, there continues to be a need for travel nurses in various healthcare centers in different countries. In fact, many Millennials are opting to become travel nurses, due to the better benefits and work life balance they get from the role. Some of the perks of being a travel nurse includes:
- Having a better work-life balance since they can take a break when their contract ends.
- Choosing which shift they’d like to work in (and getting paid as per the shift they choose).
- A better CTC since they get paid by the hour in most companies.
- The chance to travel around the world and explore new cultures while working.
- The ability to build their careers while also working on personal hobbies during their free time.
Those who aspire to be travel nurses can find careers in this field quite easily, especially with the help of a travel nurse agency such as Medical Solutions which enables travel nurses to get in touch with healthcare centers around the world.
2. Medical assistants
Medical assistants are currently growing in demand - it’s expected to continue to grow in the coming years as well, so this might be the right time for you to enter the medical field as an assistant.
One of the perks is that you don’t need to have a medical degree, but can get into the field with a postsecondary degree such as a college diploma. However, some employers also require their candidates to possess a degree or a diploma in medical assisting, which usually takes no more than 10-11 months to complete.
A medical assistant's duties can vary between different companies. While some employers hire assistants for administrative work, others also use assistants to carry out clinical tasks as well.
Needless to say, you can get the training you need to carry out both tasks in your place of work, and elevate your chances of landing a good position as a medical assistant in a reputable hospital within a matter of a few years.
3. Physical Therapist Assistants
Unlike medical assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) are required to have an associate degree from a PTA program conducted in certain universities. The degree usually takes around 20 months to complete, after which you’ll have to pass an examination before you can receive your license to practice in the US.
Physical therapist assistants help patients who have injuries or conditions that limit or prevent them from moving around. Through therapy and treatment, PTAs will help them learn to perform their everyday tasks and record the improvement in their performance under their supervision.