Career: Talking with Your College Bound Teenager about Healthcare Majors

Are you the parent of a high school student who will be embarking on the road to college in the near future? Has your child made a decision on where they want to attend school or what they want to major in? If the answer was no, you’re certainly not alone as many high school students need guidance in determining which path they should take in life. While I certainly believe that parents should be supportive of whatever decision their children make as it pertains to career choices, giving them a helping hand is a great way to show them that you care.

A Promising Career in Healthcare

Aside from doing something that they love, parents should be talking with their teenagers about the importance of a college education and choosing a career field that has a promising outlook. Though there are plenty of industries to choose from, one that is particularly in need at the moment is healthcare. According to an article in Forbes, the healthcare industry will create approximately 28 percent of the new jobs on the market from 2010 to 2020. This is more than five million jobs over the course of a decade.

Benefits of Working in Healthcare

If having a promising outlook is not enough to convince your teen to consider a career in healthcare, going over some of the other benefits can help. When talking with your teen about college and their choices in the healthcare industry, consider benefits such as the following:

• Room for growth – the healthcare industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon. With more and more baby boomers retiring and healthcare becoming a concern for individuals of all ages, there will always be a need for highly skilled healthcare professionals. Hence, the healthcare industry’s longevity ensures room for growth. With more and more baby boomers retiring and healthcare becoming a concern for individuals of all ages, there will always be a need for highly skilled healthcare professionals. Solutions from CHG Healthcare can provide healthcare professionals with the skills and resources they need to meet these growing demands.
• Great benefits – many healthcare facilities offer their staff lucrative benefit packages. This includes decent salaries, health insurance coverage, and other benefits including tuition assistance and discounted memberships to health clubs.
• The opportunity to help others – this is advantageous for those that have a knack for helping others. The satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping someone to feel better is reward enough in and of itself.

 

Types of Jobs in Healthcare Industry

Another thing you want to talk with your teen about when preparing them to make a decision on their college education is the types of career options they can pursue. Your teen may assume that the only choices they have in the healthcare industry is to be a doctor or a nurse, however, this is far from the truth. There are plenty of career opportunities they can choose from, such as these listed below.

• Nursing – from an assistant nurse to a registered nurse, there is always a high demand for nurses in the healthcare industry. Many nursing careers also allow you to start working after only a few years in college. Your teen can then continue to attend school to upgrade their educational background and experience for higher paying jobs.
• Radiation Specialist – With cancer rates at an alarming high, one position that is in high demand is a radiation specialist. Such training and education would allow your teen to be a pivotal part of cancer treatment in patients. There are plenty of top notch schools where you can earn your radiation therapy degree in a short period of time.
• Pharmacist – pharmacists are also a high demand position in the medical field. Ensuring that patients get the proper medications to treat or cope with their medical conditions is of the utmost importance.
• Therapist – mental health is another issue that is becoming increasingly popular in society. As individuals learn to cope with their inner-most feelings, having a trained and specialized therapist to guide them is necessary. Whether your teen is specifically interested in helping families, children, or military veterans, there is a need for therapists in the medical industry.

At the end of the day, the decision your teenager makes as it pertains to their college education and career choice is up to them. However, as a parent, they may rely on you to give them proper guidance and understanding on which decision might be best for their life. By knowing all the facts, explaining the benefits, and letting them know where their education can take them, you can ultimately help them make a decision that they’ll be grateful for now and in the future.