Overview
Your choice of profession is excellent for several reasons. First,
you will be provided with powerful opportunities to minister to both
the physical and spiritual needs of humans. Health professionals are
respected in the community and provide enough earning power to support
a family. Another positive aspect of a career in health care is stability
of employment. Health care has been one of the most rapidly expanding
areas of our economy for the past 15 years. Careers
in the health professions are expanding in numbers and variety. The
U.S. Department of Labor projects a continuing demand in most health care
areas for the foreseeable future.
Health careers allow a considerable degree of mobility. Whereas professions
must stay "where the jobs are," almost any community large
enough to support a local hospital will support a wide spectrum of health
professionals. Even though the degree of opportunity will vary with
time and location, some professionals are always in short supply.
When determining if a health care career might be most
appropriate for you, consider these questions:
- Is this where you feel God is leading you?
- Are you comfortable in a health care setting? Can you spend most
of your working life in the company of sick, complaining, hurting,
or dying people? Can you deal with a wide variety of not-so-pleasant
personalities? Do you have a spirit of service?
- Will you be willing to spend the time and effort required to keep
up with the ongoing changes and advances in your field?
- Are you a "people person"? While not all fields require
personal contact, most do. Some of the most important contributions
the health professional makes are the caring, empathetic interactions
with patients.
- Are you comfortable with a curriculum in science? While you don't
have to be a genius, some programs do require an excellent record
in a rigorous science curriculum.
- What lifestyle do you envision for you and your family? Some health
professions demand long hours and much personal and family sacrifice
of time together. Many are considered high-stress positions and can
exert profound effects on the life of your family.
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