With so many different and unusual options for jobs in health care, where will you go next?
Whether you’re entering the health care field for the first time or are a long time professional searching for a new career path, your job options are vast. Some of them are even unusual. From working with humans, animals, veterans, and vacationers to engaging with evolving technology, you have a plethora of unusual and fulfilling jobs in health care that you can choose from to find the perfect fit.
Veterans’ Social Worker
You can help a hero. Even within the area of veteran care, there are many different kinds of jobs social workers can pursue. Specializations include suicide prevention, mental health, readjustment counselor, substance abuse, and homeless assistance. While this job can be taxing, it is incredibly fulfilling to serve those who have served this country. Eager to get your social work career started? Here at Concordia, we offer both a bachelor’s in social work as well as a master’s in social work.
Hippotherapist
What about working with people AND horses? Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech & language therapists can be a part of treating patients through experiences with horses. Typically, the therapist guides both the horse and the rider to improve the patient’s neuromuscular disorders, walking ability, and general motor function. This work can be not only enjoyable but also powerful.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is needed in many different settings. One of those settings is school. As a pediatric physical therapist, you will likely work with children who have physical development or motor skill delays. Typically, the therapy will focus on active play and positioning. This job is rewarding as you see evidence of your ability to improve the lives of young people. Explore our physical therapy program to see how you could catapult your PT career forward.
Ultrasound Technician
Ultrasound technicians get to look at people’s (including children’s) organs! Although more common than some of the other careers on this list, ultrasound technicians have very unique experiences. Within this truly fascinating career, technicians specialize in obstetrics, breast, or vascular sonography. If you want to be an ultrasound technician, consider a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Radiologic Technology.
Nuclear Pharmacist
This job is not for the faint of heart. These specially trained and licensed pharmacists dispense and compound radioactive materials. The materials are then used for medical procedures and imaging. If you want to be a pharmacist, but aren’t interested in working directly with patients, this job is for you. Nuclear pharmacists work strictly with their scientific peers.
Veterinary Pharmacist
So you love pharmacy and have a passion for animals? Then this job might be for you. As a pharmacist, job responsibilities still include dispensing drugs and prescription information. However, the patients are much cuter. This unusual job is very rewarding as you care for our favorite pets. Check out our School of Pharmacy to see the different degrees that we offer.
Forensic Nurse
Forensic nurses deal with victims and perpetrators of abuse, assault, and neglect by caring for the patient’s medical needs, collecting evidence, and testifying in court. The service that forensic nurses offer is truly one of a kind. In this career, you can specialize in sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, elder mistreatment, death investigation, corrections, or the aftermath of mass disasters. Nurses aspiring to become forensic nurses will receive special training in the legal system before entering the field.
Cruise Ship Nurse
Forget about taking time off of work for a vacation. Why not be on vacation as you work? Cruise ships hire nurses to work throughout the journey. However, this job can be very challenging. Because access to hospital care is very limited while at sea, nurses will treat everything from bumps and bruises to heart attacks and dehydration. That being said, who wouldn’t want to be able to relax in the Caribbean between shifts? To get started on your nursing career, check out our School of Nursing.
With so many jobs in health care to choose from, where will you go next in your career?
Here at Concordia, we prepare our students to lead a career marked by excellence, compassion, and service no matter what direction they go in. We do this because we believe that if you build a solid foundation of care through thoughtful education, you really can go anywhere and do anything in the health care field. To learn more, check out our School of Pharmacy, School of Health Professions, or School of Nursing.
This blog was originally published on November 12, 2018. It has been updated to reflect current information.