7 Online Degrees for Healthcare Workers to Advance Their Careers
Professionals who want to never have to worry about finding work or making a solid living may consider getting a healthcare degree, especially a doctoral degree. According to the Department of Labor, employment in all healthcare jobs will increase by 13% in the ten years running up to 2031. To take advantage of that kind of career development, you should get a healthcare degree, which you can also get online these days.
The following are the best online graduate healthcare degrees:
1. Online Advanced Practice Nursing Degree
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) play a significant role in primary and secondary healthcare today. Whether you choose to be a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist, you will deliver critical healthcare services to all populations while also earning good compensation. To become an APRN, you must first obtain a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and then choose an APRN specialty to concentrate on during the two or three-year program.
A two-year online MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) program leads to certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Through online conversations, clinical experiences, and simulations, the FNP curriculum merges practical application and theory of advanced nursing practice. Each student must complete a minimum of 700 hours of clinical work in their community.
2. Online Healthcare Management Degree
Healthcare administration is a rapidly expanding field that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The majority of healthcare management degree programs are primarily MBA programs with a healthcare management concentration. By enrolling in an MBA program with a healthcare concentration, you will get useful business capabilities with an emphasis on healthcare management.
Students going for an online MBA in healthcare management degree can work while keeping up with their studies. Students working in the healthcare administration field while also pursuing their MBA for a managerial position can apply their daily work experiences to the material that they cover in class. Plus, they can avoid any loss in earning potential (that they might have to face if they leave the workforce) and can easily finance their MBA program. With an online MBA in healthcare management, you will gain business skills that will enable you to play an important role in the administration and leadership of your healthcare firm.
3. Online Medical Coding Degree
Medical coders are in charge of keeping accurate patient records and billing paperwork. A degree in medical coding may be right for you if you are detail-oriented, proficient with computers, and want to work in a medical context.
Coursework in this discipline often begins with fundamental lessons that introduce vocabulary used in healthcare settings as well as basic information about operations, treatments, and medications. You should also research medical procedure categories and codes and the methods used to record them. Your program will most certainly include lessons on patient privacy and healthcare ethics.
4. Online Pharmacy Degree
Consider a profession as a pharmacy tech if you want to present a friendly face and helpful services to patients picking up medicines. When you pursue an associate’s degree in pharmacy technology, you can learn how to help pharmacists and handle many jobs behind the pharmacy counter.
Your introductory classes for this degree should introduce you to medical terminology, pharmacy processes, and tech responsibilities. Following that, you must research drug categories, pharmacy systems, ethical issues, and safe and sanitary methods. To determine prescription dosages, you’ll need to employ math skills. Clinical experiences in a real pharmacy may be part of the program.
5. Online Health Science Degree
Consider pursuing health sciences for a flexible healthcare bachelor’s degree. This curriculum can prepare you for success in clinical or administrative healthcare professions, or it can serve as a solid basis for continued professional development.
As the curriculum name suggests, this is a science-heavy degree; you may need to take physics, microbiology, chemistry, and anatomy. You’ll also need to learn medical terminology, healthcare insurance coverage, nutrition, and psychology.
Majors in the health sciences provide numerous job choices. You could work as a health services manager or a medical administrator. Other options include health teaching, medical supply sales, and insurance work.
You could work directly with patients as a treatment facility registrar or technician, or assistant. Alternatively, many students opt to continue their studies after getting this degree; they might enroll in a professional program to become a medical assistant, audiologist, pharmacist, or dentist.
6. Online Mental Health Counseling Degree
If you want to help individuals maintain their mental health, you should consider a mental health counseling degree. This degree program can be used as a stepping stone toward becoming a certified mental health counselor.
This degree entails the study of several disciplines of psychology, such as social, cognitive, and pathological psychology. It also covers counseling strategies and evaluation procedures and may discuss working with different or multicultural groups.
You could learn to work with statistics and perform research. With this degree, you may be able to work as a mental health technician, providing supportive services under the supervision of a certified counselor. Other options include working as a caregiver in a residential facility or organizing cases for social-services clients.
7. Online Nutritional Sciences Degree
If you value eating well-balanced meals and assisting others in achieving optimal health through food, you might become an excellent nutritionist or dietitian. Earn an online bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences to get ready for these jobs.
You might study Chemistry, which is concerned with the composition of food, and Behavioral Science, which can help you understand the motivations behind people’s food choices. You can learn how to analyze the health benefits of various foods and examine how dietary demands change over time. Other courses might teach you how to give dietary advice to consumers. Some universities require an internship.
Conclusion
Students who are looking for a job that provides not only the chance for significant societal influence but also financial gain should look into the wide range of careers accessible in the healthcare business. While some may choose to attend medical school despite the significant time and financial investment, there are other options for high-paying employment in the healthcare field. If you’re someone looking to earn while also pursuing career growth in the healthcare industry through further education, then online degree options in healthcare might be the best option for you.
