A Healthy Career Choice: Healthcare Jobs Defy the Recession

Listening to the economic news of late is probably best done from the safety of an in-demand job.  With many fields ailing and some on life support, healthcare continues to grow, making it a healthy choice for those looking for job security.    

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare sector will generate more new jobs by 2016 than any other industry.  In fact, seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related.        

“I’ve heard people say that healthcare is the recession proof career to go into,” says Martha Wright, a nurse recruiter for Chesapeake Regional Medical Center.  “And in our region the population has increased so significantly in the last 10-15 years that we’re seeing the need for even more medical facilities.  Here at Chesapeake General we’ve gone through an expansion in many of our units.”       

And there’s more good news – the average earnings of healthcare workers in non-supervisory roles are higher than the average for all private industry.  The field is also remarkable for the diversity of jobs it offers, from hands-on nursing care to a wide range of support functions.       

“There is definitely a demand for nurses, nursing assistants, imaging technologists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and medical technologists,” says Wright, naming a few of the hundreds of medical positions available in Hampton Roads, “but of course a hospital functions as a business, so we also need people in areas like accounting and payroll, we need secretaries and record clerks, and everything is computerized now, so information technology is crucial.”     

Besides excellent pay scales, healthcare workers can take advantage of some of the best, pro-active job advancement programs offered by any industry today.  Whether you start with a high school diploma, a GED, some college or a Bachelor’s degree or higher, at whatever level you enter, opportunities to advance up the career ladder are widely promoted.           

“You might start with a high school diploma or GED,” explains Wright, “ and take a six- or eight-week nurses aide training course, then sit for your CNA (certified nurse assistant) license exam.  Once you have that, it’s very easy to get a position with a medical facility.    

“CNAs who have been with us for 12 months qualify for tuition assistance, where we’ll help them pursue their dream job, whether it’s to be a registered nurse or a radiology tech – we’ll finance their education.”     

Another Chesapeake Regional Medical Center program allows a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to work part-time at full salary and benefits while studying to move up to a registered nurse (RN).     

“I think this level of career assistance is unique to the healthcare field,” notes Wright.          

If all of this sounds appealing to those in less than stable occupations, the good news is that healthcare graciously welcomes career switchers with open arms.       

“I’ve been getting more calls recently,” says Wright, “even from people up north.  Either they have relatives here or they were once stationed here while in the military and remember how nice it was; they’re tired of the weather and shortage of jobs up there.”     

For career switchers with a high school diploma or GED, there are a large number of jobs that require very little training to start.  Those with some college, or even a Bachelor’s degree in a non-medical field, can often get course credit toward a new degree instead of starting from scratch says Wright.       

“There are programs that help you earn a second degree without having to start completely over so that you can get a BSN (Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing) in two years instead of four for example,” she explains.                  

People who are empathetic, flexible and good communicators are likely to do best in healthcare Wright lists.  And at the top of the list – people who simply love helping other people.       

“That’s what every single person I interview says they enjoy most about their job,” she shares.  “I’ve had so many tell me that they’ll be out at a shopping center or a grocery store and someone will walk up to them and say, ‘I know you!  You took care of me,’ or ‘you took care of my father and I just want to thank you.’    And that’s why they go into healthcare – to make a difference.”