5 In-Demand Healthcare Jobs with Online Degrees

The healthcare industry is developing rapidly, and one of the consequences of this is that new opportunities are opening up in healthcare education and employment. The healthcare sector has a rich variety of careers, and as it continues to grow, new employment opportunities will be created, an estimated two million jobs.

Though attending medical school is the common path into the healthcare sector, alternative approaches are now possible, specifically online school. Numerous online degrees will help you secure prestigious and high-paying jobs.

There are so many advantages to taking online classes. Online degrees allow students to pursue their education while giving them the time and flexibility to sustain the success of their other commitments. Here are 5-in-demand healthcare careers with online degrees: 

Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators manage and direct the affairs of hospitals, clinics and other healthcare-related organizations. They manage operations involving services, facilities, programs, budgets, and interactions with other organizations. 

However, it is important to note that healthcare administrators do not treat patients directly but oversee the activities that make treatment possible. They also help create the policy of the particular organization they work in and help to improve its systems. 

A healthcare administrator must understand healthcare delivery and have a thorough knowledge and understanding of medical language. A healthcare administrator must also be well-organized with an understanding of how healthcare organizations are structured.

This job might seem out of reach, but it is an accessible position and is in high demand in reality. There are opportunities for entry-level jobs and positions like risk management analyst, director of marketing, managed care analyst, director of admissions, vice president of human resources, sales consultant, etc. 

Another great thing about this job is that there are opportunities both in rural areas and cities- wherever healthcare organizations exist, there will be demand for healthcare administrators. 

Nursing

 Nursing is one of the most important occupations in every society. Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry and are always in high demand. Nurses are hardworking people that are competent enough to provide healthcare directly to patients. They have so many responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are: 

• Performing physical exams and researching patient's health histories to provide accurate healthcare

• Counseling and educating patients about health-related issues

• Administering medications and other forms of healthcare

• Studying and documenting the progress of their assigned patients

• Studying symptoms and behaviors exhibited by patients to make accurate diagnoses etc. 

Nurses are needed now more than ever, and there is a growing shortage of nurses. This means that there are many opportunities to get nursing jobs, and nurses are almost guaranteed job security. 

Besides, you don't have to work at a hospital if you don't want to. Opportunities are available to work in non-traditional environments such as government agencies, schools, offices, parks etc. There are also various specialties within nursing, so you'll find a specialty that interests you. 

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help people increase their productivity and overcome any hindrances to their execution of daily activities. Specifically, occupational therapists work with patients who have illnesses, injuries or disabilities and help them adapt to their situation, develop, improve their ability to perform everyday tasks and regain the skills they need to live and work. 

Occupational therapists work with people of different ages to help them settle back into their everyday lives despite illness, disability or other such obstacles. They also perform home assessments to ensure that their patients' living environments are conducive for them and safe to live in. 

An occupational therapist also helps patients regain their ability to perform everyday tasks such as cooking, getting ready, using gadgets, eating, doing chores, driving etc. And there are numerous online occupational therapy degrees available. You can receive online healthcare training with UMA.

Physician Assistant

A physician assistant is a healthcare professional that performs similar duties as surgeons, doctors, nurses etc. They specialize in the provision of primary medical services and are usually supervised by doctors. 

A common misconception is that physician assistants are assistants to doctors. While doctors supervise them, the doctors are rarely present when physician assistants perform their duties. They are primary care providers and aren't physician's assistants. They perform various duties, including:

• Recording detailed medical histories

• Performing physical examinations

• Interpreting the results of diagnostic tests

• Making accurate diagnosis

• Prescribing medication etc. 

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Occupational health and safety specialists are in demand and for a good reason too. They have the important job of ensuring that work environments and procedures adhere to the government's health, safety and environmental regulations. They carry out various inspections, evaluations, and tests on workplace practices and equipment to determine if they are in line with the government's safety standards. 

Final Thoughts

There are so many great healthcare jobs with online degrees that are in demand. This list is just the tip of the iceberg. In a broad, diverse and constantly evolving industry like healthcare, there will always be opportunities for you to get a high-paying job with an online degree. 

The most important thing is for you to find a specialty that suits you, and you'll be able to perform optimally. Fortunately, there are more than enough options.