When many people think of healthcare careers, the first thing that comes to mind is attending medical school and becoming a doctor. However, if a person has an interest in medicine but does not wish to attend medical school, there are a variety of jobs to consider. The time required to train for these positions can range from a few weeks to several years.
A home health aide is one of the healthcare jobs that can be applied for without going to medical school. Depending on where he or she wants to work, a person can become a home health aide with just a high school diploma or GED and a few weeks of training. Home health aides frequently visit the homes of the elderly and those suffering from chronic, debilitating illnesses to assist them with personal care tasks such as bathing, grooming, and maintaining a clean environment. A home health aide may also assist the patient in remembering to take his or her medications. They frequently keep track of the patient’s vital signs as well.
There are also a lot of technical healthcare jobs that don’t require you to go to medical school. A person could, for example, work as a radiology technician and take x-rays for a living. Depending on the laws in the area, this job may only require one to four years of training. Some professionals in this field choose to further their education gaining experience and training in MRI procedures, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and other diagnostic procedures. These procedures do not necessitate medical training.
Nursing is another field in which a person can work without going to medical school, and it has a wide range of opportunities. Nurses work in a variety of medical settings, including schools and doctor’s offices, as well as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. They can work with patients of all ages, from newborn babies to the elderly. Medical school is not required for these positions in the healthcare field. With just one year of training, a person can become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN) in two to four years.
Without going to medical school, one type of healthcare job allows a person to do the majority of what a doctor does. This is a nurse practitioner’s job. Nurse practitioners have completed advanced nursing training and are qualified to provide primary care to their patients. Patients are seen for routine checkups, medications are prescribed, conditions are evaluated, illnesses are diagnosed, and treatments are prescribed. The majority of people who choose this career path have a master’s degree in nursing.