Everyone knows that career opportunities in healthcare are booming. With 15 million healthcare workers, more than one in every ten jobs in the U.S. today are in the healthcare industry and according to the U.S. Department of Labor, hospitals, ambulatory centers and physicians’ offices are leading hiring. From technicians to those on the front line of patient care, opportunities in healthcare abound and many in-demand, well-paying healthcare careers require just two years of college to get started.
Aging Population
The demand for new healthcare professionals is being driven by a generational changing of the guard. The Baby Boomer generation is aging and they need more healthcare services. There are more Americans over the age of 65 than at any other time in U.S. history, and by 2030, about one in five Americans, 69 million people, will be elderly. About 80 percent of this population has at least one chronic condition, according to the National Council on Aging. A huge number of healthcare professionals are also at retirement age themselves, creating enormous demand for replacements.
Serving Our Region’s Employment Needs
Local and regional healthcare facilities alike are in dire need of skilled healthcare workers to fill immediate, good-paying career positions. At Northwest State, we actively listen to our region’s employers’ needs, and healthcare is no exception. To illustrate our ongoing commitment to providing quality healthcare to our service area, NSCC has established a goal of doubling our healthcare student count within the next year. “This goal directly reflects the conversations I have with our area’s healthcare partners,” said NSCC President Dr. Todd Hernandez. “We have the capacity to serve additional learners in our nursing and allied health programs, and we owe it to our healthcare partners to do everything we can to train tomorrow’s healthcare professionals today at Northwest State.”
Career Options
People are also living longer and leading more active lives, so the kinds of healthcare services offered are also changing. Increased focus on preventing illness and educating the public about healthy living has boosted the importance of some traditional roles at clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Healthcare offers a wide variety of careers from which to choose, with many requiring a two-year degree or less. Why not study at a top-ranked facility like Northwest State?
Allied Health Careers
Allied Health careers provide the opportunity for individuals to work directly with patients on a daily basis or provide technical support. These careers include medical assistant, health unit coordinator, medical lab technician, phlebotomy, and many others. These careers are often a launch pad toward additional future healthcare career goals.
Nursing Careers
Nursing careers range from Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aides to Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to Registered Nurses (RN).
Many start out at a community college to pursue their nursing diploma to become an LPN or associate degree to become an RN.
It may be surprising to learn that a two-year associate degree is all that is required to take the RN licensure exam. Some savvy students take a strategic career path – first earning their associate degree, taking (and passing) their RN exam and then working in the field while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Whatever the healthcare path, a Northwest State Community College education can ensure a successful beginning.
Allied Health and Nursing
Always ready to help? Fascinated with the science and technology of healthcare? Whether it’s about promoting health or treating disease, careers in allied health and nursing require a combination of skill and compassion.
ALLIED HEALTH
Medical Assisting
OH median hourly: $17.69
OH median yearly: $35,330
Potential career paths: Medical Assistant
Phlebotomy
OH median hourly: $17.59
OH median yearly: $35,770
Potential career paths: Phlebotomist
NURSING
Practical Nursing
OH median hourly: $22.73
OH median yearly: $48,030
Potential career paths: Licensed Practical Nurse
Registered Nursing
OH median hourly: $17.59
OH median yearly: $71,640
Potential career paths: Registered Nurse
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
