Steps to Success for Healthcare Students

By Nancy Giguere, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: March 25, 2004 - 10:00 PM

Are you a student interested in healthcare? Then get on the right path by taking these important first steps to career success: Gather information, get solid academic preparation and explore volunteer opportunities.

Gather Information

The Internet offers useful and up-to-date information about healthcare professions. Here are some helpful Web sites:

www.bls.gov/oco/.
Occupational Outlook" Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information. Each entry includes detailed descriptions of job duties, working conditions, training, advancement opportunities, job outlook and earnings.

www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm.
"Health Services" is a general guide to the healthcare industry produced by the U.S. Department of Labor. It offers an overview of industry growth and occupational needs. Direct links are provided to careers descriptions in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

www.mncareers.org.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development publishes "MnCareers" annually. It includes practical information about a wide variety of occupations, including healthcare careers. Entries on specific careers include a description of the work, wages, education and job outlook in Minnesota. This site also offers a host of useful links.

www.myfirstday.org
Myfirstday.org, created by the Minnesota Hospital Association, focuses on seven priority careers for which the long-term need for workers will remain high: registered nurses, pharmacists, health unit coordinators, radiology technologists, physicians, nursing aides and laboratory employees. Visitors will find descriptions, including required education, amount of patient contact and average salaries.

www.healthpronet.org/ahp_month/index.html
Health Professions Network profiles a different allied health profession every month. Among the professions featured in 2003 were art and music therapists, certified athletic trainers and nerve conduction studies technologists. This is an excellent place to learn about lesser-known health careers. An archived file of professions profiled is also available.

www.ahc.umn.edu/ahc_content/education/Health_Careers_Center/index.cfm
Health Careers Center at the University of Minnesota offers information on degrees in medicine, nursing, medical technology, physical therapy, nutrition and more. This site is a must for prospective U of M students.

Get Solid Academic Preparation.

Since most healthcare fields require two or more years of education beyond high school, students should fulfill the usual college admission requirements. These include four years of English; at least three years of math; three years of science, including laboratory experience; two years of a single foreign language; and three years of social studies. College students should consult an adviser to find out about prerequisite courses and admission criteria, since these vary by program.

Explore Volunteer Opportunities

High school students might consider working or volunteering in a nursing home or care center. Some high schools collaborate with local hospitals to offer experiential learning as part of the school curriculum.

For college students considering healthcare careers, volunteering is essential. It allows them to decide if they have the necessary personal characteristics and aptitudes. In addition, many professional schools and programs, such as pharmacy and physical therapy, now require volunteer experience as a condition for admission.

Nancy Giguere is owner of Wordsmith, and is a freelance writer from St. Paul, MN.

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