There are pros and cons to every career – nothing controversial about that. However, the healthcare industry is a bit different. Many people think that all they want to do is to help people get better. While this is quite noble, there are some sad realities of life that need to be accounted for. However, there are also certain benefits of getting a career in healthcare that most people don’t think about. This is why we wrote up this article.
Below you can find the pros and cons of choosing a career in healthcare. Some of them you might now, other you won’t, but we are certain you will find something useful from all of this.
Pro: Solid to amazing pay
While of course money shouldn’t be your main concern if you are looking for a career in healthcare, it’s a pretty nice bonus all the same. Namely, most medical professions pay a pretty nice annual sum. Salaries also correspond rather neatly to educational level, but even low-level aides can make a solid living in this field.
And of course, surgeons and private practice owners are famed for their insane paycheques.
Pro: Altruism
A special part of this work, its altruism. Simply put, there is no other job that is focused so directly on helping human lives. Even administrative healthcare jobs show you how much you can actually help people in need. But the feeling of helping humanity cannot be diminished. Whether you are an aide or an intern nurse helping an old person feel a bit better, or a neurosurgeon who saved the life and the wellbeing of an individual who was thought hopeless, you are still there, helping people in their most dire time of need.
There is also prestige that accompanies this altruism. Doctors, nurses, anybody connected to the nursing industry is widely respected and held in high esteem. While this type of prestige shouldn’t be your main, core motivation, it is still a pretty nice addition to the job.
Pro: Carrer security
The medical field is growing. Opportunities abound when it comes to this industry, and you will certainly not find trouble getting a job here. Also, once you are in the hospital, you can be pretty certain that you are going to stay there. All aspects of the industry are growing, and they are in need of new people, no matter if its nursing, surgery, or assistant work.
Hiring the services of proper locum agencies goes a long way if you are interested in that kind of work. Or, you can get help from your educational programs and med schools. Getting assigned to a specific location might not be easy, but you still won’t have to worry about not finding work.
Pro: Growth and specialization
Another fantastic benefit of this industry is the sheer breadth of specializations and lines of focus you can go with. No matter where you start, you can always specialize, get some more education, and move more closely towards your passion. Hospitals and healthcare centers offer their employees extra education and training. With enough training and work, you can switch departments, or go even deeper into what you are doing.
Con: Long hours
Probably the most important con, similar to the next one – the hours. Your life will be dedicated to healthcare because disease and injury wait for no man. Working long hours, long shifts, suffering through grueling schedules, all of this is important if you want to get a job in this industry.
While this may not be that true for administrative work, anybody on the frontlines will definitely feel it.
Con: Hard on the body
It’s a hard job. You are on your feet all the time, you are working nonstop, you need to be on call during specific times, and you are, of course, exposed to a lot of sick people a lot of the time. It’s safe to say that handling all of this will not be easy. You need to be tough, and to power through the initial stages of this job.
Con: Can drain you
This is an emotionally draining job as well. Surrounded by death, diseases, and sadness, you need to be ready to mentally and emotionally handle this if you want to do your job right. Feeling spent and burnt out is a common and real issue for many healthcare professionals. Learning how to manage this is vital.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks, a couple of advantages and disadvantages if you want to get into healthcare. You have pretty solid to amazing pay, with great job security, and a relatively easy job search in front of you. However, the realities of healthcare workers can be too much for some people. That might refer to both the tragedy such a job entails and the strain it poses on your health.
