Full Careers - Thinking about going to back to school in the health care/medical field?

Thinking about going to back to school in the health care/medical field?

I am thinking about going back to school in the fall to begin training for a new career in the medical/healthcare field. Can anyone please give me some info on different options (nurse, x-ray tech, mri tech, etc, etc, etc) and what they involve and what they pay? I am not sure exactly what field I would like to get into and what is involved with each field. I am also wondering what has the best job outlook and what pay scale to expect for different things. Thanks!

Public Comments

I just want to commend you for going back and furthing your education while your young. It took me till I was 52 to do it. So koo-doos to you, you go girl!
Try working in the hospital first to get a feel for what you would like to do there are so many different careers to choose from and most pay well. But it is hard to get into the programs in any health-care program especially nursing. I am currently in nursing school and I am not going to sugar coat it, it is HARD. Nursing is a good field to get into if that is what you want to do. My friend will graduate in May and she will be start off making $28/hr. I also have another Friend that is an ultrasound tech and she loves it she makes around 22-25 bucks an hr but she just graduated. One thing about about the medical field you will always have a job security
As you're considering several degrees, why not use this link for info on the jobs, education, outlook, etc? http://www.bls.gov/oco/ Use the right term in upper right hand search box. In all cases, as med careers are competitive, you MAY face a waiting list and you will want to talk to an advisor or counselor ASAP about your options. Try not to run up debt--start at a community college at least for the first two years. ALL of these fields are demanding, so watch your health and don't believe the line you can do the schooling full-time, work full-time, and have a full social life. Good luck.
The correct title for x-ray tech is radiologic technologist. An MRI tech is a radiologic technologist first, then receives training in MRI. You can find information about radiologic technology careers here: https://www.asrt.org/content/abouttheprofession/_AboutTheProfession.aspx
First no matter what you do make sure the school you go to has clinicals and job placement. I did the phlebotomy thing and the school I went to did not offer clinicals, so even though I am certified I have no experience and only 120 punctures. Nurse that is the best and probably the highest paid. You get sign on bonus' at hospitals. But it's allot of school, and if you live on your own you will need money, so most people I know started out as a CNA working at hospitals or old folks homes. Some places have tuition reimbursement, but you have to stay at that place for a number of years. Say they pay for 3 years of school they want 2 years of service. The new thing is patient care tech. It is CNA, phlebotomy and EKG all in one. Sounds great for hospitals, they get away with only paying one person instead of three. So you get paid a little more then a CNA but not as much as a nurse or LPN. The one great thing about the health care field is you will almost always be needed ( unless you do what I did) and you can go to different states and take that state exam and get a job. But, there is allot of competition out there everyone wants to do now.
go to www.bls.gov/oco/ they have all the information you need.job description, school needed, salary. health care jobs are and will be be in demand until 2016. x-ray, ultrasound are just 2 year programs.it would also be a good idea to talk to people in the field ask them what they do, do they like what draw backs are there.good luck