The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on the world, and this will continue for some time yet.
While it’s difficult to take any positives from this, it has inspired some people to pursue careers in healthcare and related fields.
They want to be able to help people in a meaningful way.
These Careers To Consider If You Want To Help People include:
Table of Contents
Health Administrator
The role of the health administrator is to coordinate the operations of healthcare facilities.
They plan and are responsible for medical services, budget monitoring, and other administrative duties.
Health administrators usually have a public health postgraduate degree alongside other general qualifications.
The health administrator is an essential part of a well-functioning healthcare facility.
Paramedic (EMT)
Paramedics are often first on the scene and can be the difference between life and death.
They drive the ambulances which respond to all types of emergencies and provide emergency first aid.
There are a number of routes to becoming an EMT, and this takes between 1-3 years.
You need to complete EMT Basic Training pass a national exam certification. There are more advanced training courses to take for those wanting to advance further.
Nurse
Nurses and health workers are the backbones of the health sector. They carry out much of the day-to-day care people receive.
Those wanting to become registered nurses need to complete study from an accredited program as well as pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
Each state has its own guidelines on which qualifications are needed to become a registered nurse in that state.
Nurses can work in a number of settings including hospitals, primary care practices, or in the community.
As a nurse, you can also specialize in a range of areas depending on your interest and skills.
Social worker
A social worker supports people under pressure or who are in danger due to mental or physical issues.
It is a very demanding career, but ultimately, a rewarding one too.
Social workers can specialize in a range of sectors including working with vulnerable adults, children, families of prisoners, etc.
They signpost people to other medical services that they may need.
If you’re thinking about becoming a social worker, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree and choose your area of specialism.
From there, a period of internship is a good way to reinforce your choice of specialism.
Many then go on to complete a master’s degree
Teacher
The pandemic has been difficult on children too.
They are very sensitive to the pressures around them and during periods of lockdown, have been isolated away from their friends and extended family.
Teachers continue to play an important part in children’s lives.
Not only do they educate children but can be important in identifying children who are experiencing anxiety or other issues.
They have faced extremely challenging conditions in trying to ensure children’s education is not affected by various lockdowns or periods of isolation.
To be a teacher, you need to hold a bachelor’s degree, which can be in any subject.
Each state has its own rules on the required exams that need to be passed in order to be certified as a teacher.
Check with the state you wish to teach in what the specific requirements are.
Child psychologist
Professionals have predicted that COVID will trigger a mental health crisis in children across the world.
Lockdown, stress, school closures, fear of illness, and the death of relatives are all having a profound effect on young people.
It is something that we, as a society will be dealing with for decades to come.
Child psychologists work with children to help them cope with trauma, phobias, and depression.
Training to become a child psychologist is a lengthy process but in general needs a minimum of a master’s degree in clinical psychology and child development.
Practicing psychologists also need a Ph.D. with a focus on clinical practice.
Conclusion
A career helping others is always a rewarding one.
The challenges of the last year have brought into focus just how essential these careers are.
Being inspired to commit to a career helping others means that at least there are some small positives to come out of the experience.
Depending on the career you have chosen, they all require specialist certifications and qualifications.
Whether you’re switching career paths or choosing what to do after school, it is well worth the effort for a rewarding career helping others.
In some cases, there are scholarships and bursaries available to study which can help you to offset the costs.
