Kids Into Health Careers: Presentation to Parents

Presentation to Parents

A. Why am I here?

Has your son or daughter considered a career in the health care field? I am here to tell you that there are lots of health care jobs out there, and there are going to be even more in the future. For instance, in the State of California, 43,000 new nurses are going to be needed in the next 10 years; 74,000 in the next 20. That's a whole lot of new jobs and California is only one State out of 50.

Here, in this area, we're going to need....

B. What are the health professions?

When I talk about health care careers, you are probably thinking physicians, dentists, and nurses. But those are only three of 250 different health care professions. Health care professions are jobs that maintain the health and condition of the human body. For instance, did you know that an athletic trainer is a health care professional? That's because athletic trainers get athletes in shape after they've injured themselves. Nurse-midwives are also health care professionals. Why? Because they deliver babies. They look after the health of the baby and the mother.

So, we're talking about 300 different kinds of jobs, something to appeal to every kind of kid, no matter how smart they are, no matter what their interests are. Some of these jobs, like being a physician, require a lot of schooling, others can be had with a 2-year associate's degree or even less time spent in a certificate training program. What this says is that every kid can qualify for a health profession.

A kid can move up in the health care field, too. He or she can start at one level and then use that experience to build on, get more training and get an even better job. So, if your child starts out as a physician assistant or a pharmacy technician, there's nothing to stop him or her from going back to school and becoming a physician or a pharmacist.

Let me show you some examples of nontraditional health professions:

Physician Assistants perform physical examinations, diagnose illness, recommend treatment and order laboratory tests under the supervision of a physician. Physician assistants attend an accredited Physician Assistant program, usually after going to college. The median salary, that is the salary that's right in the middle of the range, for a physician assistant is $61,910 a year.
Pharmacy Technicians are support personnel in pharmacies. They attend community colleges or vocation-technical schools where they earn associate's degrees. Pharmacy technicians make between $9 and $11 dollars an hour.
Radiologic Technologists use radiation for diagnostic imaging. Diagnostic imaging, for example X-rays, is taking pictures of a part of the body for the purposes of making a diagnosis, that is, figuring out what the patient's problem is. There are programs for radiology at the certificate, associate's, and bachelor's degree levels. The median salary for radiologic technologists is almost $36,000 a year.
Respiratory Therapists work with physicians to treat and care for patients with breathing problems, such as asthma or emphysema. They must complete a formal training program, which can be a 4-year bachelor's degree or 2-year associate's degree. The median salary for respiratory therapists is almost $37,680 a year.
Athletic Trainers prevent, care for and rehabilitate athletic injuries as directed by a physician. A certified athletic trainer must graduate from an accredited program, fulfill an internship, and pass a certification exam. This is a growing field offering a range of salaries.
Physical Therapists work with people who have been disabled by illness or accident. Treatment may include exercise, massage, the application of heat, and other techniques. There are both 4-year college and graduate degrees for physical therapists who earn a median salary of $54,810 a year.
Occupational Therapy Assistants teach disabled patients how to get around, perform strengthening or muscle toning exercises with patients, and work with them in other ways. An associate's degree from an accredited training program is required for these jobs, which pay $34,340 a year.
Dispensing Opticians make and fit eyeglasses and lenses. Opticians can be trained on the job, either informally or as part of an apprenticeship program. Salaries range from $14,400 to $39,660 a year.
Surgical Technologists prepare operating rooms for surgery, assist during operations, and carry out post-operative procedures. Training programs range from 9 to 24 months. Salaries range from $20,490 to $40,310 a year.
Emergency Medical Technicians are those who come when you dial 911. They perform basic life support skills, such as restoring breathing, controlling blood loss, and treating shock. This job requires some 120 hours of classroom exercises and 10 internship hours. The median salary is a little more than $22,460 a year.
Certified Nurse-Midwives are registered nurses with advanced training that allows them to care for mothers-to-be, deliver babies, and care for both mother and baby afterwards. To be nurse-midwives, registered nurses must enroll in a 1-year certification program. While nurses earn about $44,840 a year, nurse-midwives usually make $70,100.
Genetic Counselors provide information and support to people with birth defects or genetic disorders, or those who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. A master's degree is required and the course work includes medical genetics, counseling, and hands-on experience in the field. The salary ranges from $35,000 for an entry level position to $75,000 for an experienced counselor.
Public Health Program Specialists identify those at risk from a specified health problem. They also implement and evaluate interventions to prevent such health problems. Many colleges and universities award a bachelor's degree in public health, most advanced positions require a master's degree. Public health professionals' salaries vary by specialty, experience, geographic location, and level of education. Average salary for all specialties is $70,700.

[See Appendix B for more information on these jobs]

These are only a few of the health care professions available. For instance, let me give you a short list of just some of the health care jobs that can be had with only a certificate or on-the-job training: Cardiovascular Technologist, Dental Assistant, Histotechnologist, Human Service Worker, Massage Therapist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Phlebotomist, and Psychiatric Mental Health Technician.

Other health care careers I am familiar with include:

If you are interested in learning more about health care professions, check with your school guidance counselor or look in the reference section of your library under Health Professions Occupations. (See Appendix A)

C. Who hires all these health professionals? Where do they work?

Health care professionals are in demand in alot of places, including:

Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, mental health facilities, etc.
Managed care organizations
Federal, State, and local government agencies
Colleges and universities
Public/private research organizations
Medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceutical industries
Private practice

Locally, health professionals work at...

What all of these places adds up to is opportunity. If all of them need health care professionals to staff them, that's alot of health care jobs, and also alot of choice in where your daughter or son works and the kind of environment she or he works in. Some of you may have children who like a little action, a more pressured, exciting work atmosphere. Other kids may prefer something a little more laid back. In the health care professions, they can choose.

D. Why be a health care professional? Alot of reasons:

Earn a good living and support a family. Health care jobs pay well and those paychecks come regularly, every week, or 2 weeks.
Have a job that is stable and secure. These jobs aren't going to go away. The health care profession is here to stay and if your kids don't like the health care jobs they choose, they can always build on them with additional training and move up to something that suits them better.
Attain skills that are in high demand. There are only going to be more health care jobs in the future and they're everywhere, so if your son or daughter has to pick up and move, you can be pretty sure they will find a job on the other end.
Make a difference. There is a critical need for health care workers in this country. Your child would be making a contribution on three important levels:

a) Providing health care to people who need it. There is tremendous satisfaction in making somebody feel better. As a health care professional, your child would do that every day.

b) Providing better access to health care in the community. At the moment, many people in this country have no health care services whatsoever. Your son or daughter could do something to improve that situation.

c) Helping improve the standard of health care in medically underserved and under-represented communities. If your child does choose a health care career, she or he will be raising the standard, making health care not only available, but also better.

Other reasons for choosing a health care career include...

E. What are the academic requirements and how are they met?

To become a health professional, first and foremost your child must complete her or his high school education, this means getting either a diploma or GED. They must get national test scores that are acceptable to whatever program they want to get into whether it's a 4-year college, junior college, vocational school, or a training program. National tests include SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), ACT (American College Test), and Miller's Analogy.

Right now, the most important thing kids who are interested in health careers can do is to take as many math and science classes as they can, including biology, chemistry, general math, algebra, geometry, business math, statistics, etc. The better they do in these courses, the more opportunity they will have to get into health care training programs.

Encourage your child to talk to teachers, guidance counselors, role models, and community health care professionals about health careers and training programs.

Other things I suggest they do to prepare for a career in the health professions...

F. How can I afford health professions training for my child?

The cost of training is going to vary depending on the profession your child chooses, but the good news is there is money out there. There are many ways to pay for an education, including scholarships, loans, and grants. The key is to find the right program for your kid and do exactly what they tell you to do to apply for financial assistance.

Sources for financial aid include Federal, State and local government financial aid programs. In the private sector, you might be able to get education money from: (see Appendix C)

Companies, including businesses in your neighborhood; ·
Professional associations, such as the Rotary Club; ·
Hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities; ·
Medical supply, equipment, and pharmaceutical companies;
Community-based organizations like your church;
Social groups, such as sororities and fraternities;
National organizations (4H Club, YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs); and
Financial institutions (banks, savings and loans, and credit unions).

I have a list of places that offer educational financing and how to contact them which I would like to give you [Appendix C]. This list has also been made available to your school's guidance counselor.

Locally, you may want to check out...

G. What are some of the benefits?

If your child is interested in math or science, he or she can do alot of good. The truth is, all of your kids are needed out there. There are shortages in health care today. More than 3,000 communities in this country - most of them minority or rural - do not have enough health care to meet the needs of the people who live there. Think about that, about how many people that is. If current trends continue, the situation will only get worse.

By encouraging your child to get into a worthwhile, rewarding, and respected career, you are also helping your community and giving medical care to many people who simply don't have it right now. You will be providing for the future of your child and grandchildren... and for the well-being of many of your neighbors as well.