If you’re like many of us navigating the evolving workplace, deciding on the right career path for your future can be truly challenging. After all, choosing incorrectly could land you in a career that doesn’t fit your unique personality or future goals and can ultimately leave you unfulfilled or downright unhappy! It can be particularly difficult in industries that offer a wide range of career choices, like the healthcare profession. With so many avenues to explore in the healthcare industry, how do you figure out what is right for you? A good place to start is illustrated in the famous quote by inspiring educator and artist, Sister Mary Lauretta, “to be successful, the first thing you must do is fall in love with your work.”

This might seem obvious, but it really does start with having a passion for what you do. It might also help to explore the various options for a career in healthcare; weighing the pros and cons as they relate to your specific career goals, and then hone in on what fits your lifestyle and personality. Not sure where to start? Not to worry! We’ve rounded up some info for you to check out on the healthcare programs offered at City College’s 5 Florida campus locations that might help you choose the path that’s right for your future!

If you like the idea of helping people in pain or, in many cases, helping them avoid pain, this is a great field to consider. Anesthesia Technologists provide direct support to the anesthesiologist and needless to say, this is healthcare specialty that is critically important. If you’re an excellent communicator and have physical stamina, solid critical thinking and decision-making skills – this could be right up your alley. As of 2015, many hospitals began employing only Certified Anesthesia Technologists. Candidates must have graduated from an accredited school to be able to sit in for licensure exam. At City College, the Anesthesia Technology program is offered in three locations: Altamonte Springs, Fort Lauderdale, as well as Miami. After completion you’ll have the opportunity to take the national licensure for the Certified Anesthesia Technologists certification exam.

 

What you’ll learn –

  • How to transport and properly position patients for procedures.
  • Setting up medical equipment and instruments
  • Sterilization techniques and best practices
  • Types of medical equipment and instruments

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Anatomy and physiology of organ systems
  • Anesthesia pharmacology
  • Medical law and ethics

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

Fans of technology and science, listen up. Because creating 3-D images of a patient’s heart is pretty cool and will have you working with some of the most advanced technology and equipment out there! With heart disease being the #1 cause of death in the U.S. today, it’s safe to say the cardiovascular sonography field isn’t going anywhere. So, if you like working with people from all walks of life, have strong communication and analysis skills and an eye for detail, think about a career that literally has you looking at people from the inside out.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians was $55,270 in May 2017. Employment of cardiovascular technologists, including vascular technologists, is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.

What you’ll learn –

  • How to operate ultrasound equipment
  • How to read imaging results
  • Echocardiography and cerebrovascular sonography
  • Venous Testing

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Medical laws and ethics
  • Ultrasound physics

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/diagnostic-medical-sonographers.htm

Making a difference is EMS 101 and if you’re someone who thrives on variation in your routine, a career as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) could be a good fit. EMT’s, paramedics and other first responders are not just an integral part of a medical team but are also a core part of the community. Being able to work well in high-pressure and often urgent situations is key and great communication and people skills essential.

City College offers a comprehensive EMS program at all five campus locations in Florida, designed to prepare students to provide life-saving treatment as first-responders. According to BLS.org, the median annual wage for EMT’s and paramedics was $33,380 in May 2017. Employment opportunities are expected to grow much faster than average at 15 percent from 2016 to 2026.

What you’ll learn –

  • Critical first aid and life-saving techniques
  • How to communicate with patients under pressure
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • How to treat a variety of injuries

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Emergency medical technician I
  • Paramedic I
  • Paramedic II laboratory

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 9 quarters

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm

For those of us who truly want to work in the healthcare field but don’t necessarily relish working in an actual medical capacity, medical office administration could be a good alternative. Medical office administrators focus on the individual practice. Like most healthcare careers, having great communication and interpersonal skills is important but some other traits that would be beneficial include possessing the following skills: detail-oriented, critical thinking & analysis, organizational skills, and a strong ability to work under pressure.

Medical office administration is offered at all 5 City College campuses, offering essential training not in just medical insurance billing and coding, but also a variety of other medical administrative tasks. According to BLS.org, medical office administrators earned an average of $39,180 in May 2017. With an aging population, our society will require more medical services. This career path is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026.

 What you’ll learn –

  • Medical insurance billing and coding
  • ICD and CPT coding
  • How to deal with insurance claims
  • Medical terminology and jargon

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Computerized medical office administration
  • ICD10 coding
  • Medical records management

Degree Type (Medical Office Administration): Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

In the world of healthcare, support personnel play an essential role on a medical team. If you love helping people and work well in a team-environment, a career in medical assisting is a good choice. You’ll be providing crucial support to physicians and nurses and more importantly, to patients. Being an organized, compassionate good listener with great communication skills are definitely a plus for a medical assistant.

This program isn’t all about just classroom lectures and instruction, it also includes a 160-hour internship in real medical clinics and other healthcare facilities. You’ll get valuable hands-on experience that prepares you for the reality of medical assisting in the workplace. The median annual wage for medical assisting was $32,480 in May 2017. Arguably the most exciting part about this career is the job outlook, this field is projected to grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026.  

What you’ll learn –

  • Fundamental administrative duties
  • The skills necessary to pass the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam
  • Proper wound care
  • How to properly give injections and draw blood

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Clinical lab procedures
  • CPR and medical emergencies

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

Helping people takes many forms in the healthcare industry and as a mental health technician, you’ll be focusing your efforts on helping those who suffer from substance abuse addictions and mental health issues. Being compassionate and empathetic are pretty much job requirements in this field but it also helps to be organized and able to communicate effectively with patients in some of the most challenging situations. But it’s hard to imagine a more rewarding feeling than helping someone find their way back from a very dark place.

Offered at the Gainesville campus, you’ll work closely with experienced mental healthcare professionals learning about the fundamentals of case management, addiction treatment and advocacy. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for psychiatric technicians was $31,760 in May 2017. With a job outlook that is projected to grow at 6 percent, about as fast as average for all occupations.

What you’ll learn –

  • Crisis intervention
  • Addiction treatment
  • Patient therapies
  • Psychology and counseling

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Abnormal psychology
  • Counseling skills
  • Mental health internship

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

Nurses are such a core part of healthcare and it is rare to hear of a hospital or medical facility having a surplus of qualified nursing staff, so prospects for employment in the nursing field are likely always going to be pretty solid. Nurses need to have a lot of physical stamina considering they are on their feet for long periods of time and often have to physically assist with patients and perform many other hands-on tasks requiring stamina. Nurses need to be quick thinkers, compassionate, empathetic but also able to keep their emotions in check. You’ll surely experience first-hand the feeling that comes with making a difference in people’s lives in a positive way on a daily basis.

At City College, the nursing program is offered at Altamonte Springs campus. This program is designed to prepare students to work as first-level professional caregivers, training is focused on fundamental medical procedures and a holistic care approach. This means you’ll be caring for the patient’s body, mind and spirit. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for registered nurses was $70,000 per year in May 2017. The nursing career is expected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, this is considered much faster than average for all occupations.

What you’ll learn –

  • How to provide more compassionate treatment by considering multiple factors
  • How to properly administer medication
  • Fundamentals of medical care
  • Patient triage

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Fundamentals of nursing
  • Medical – Surgical nursing
  • Obstetric nursing

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

You were the kid in high school biology that didn’t get queasy on frog dissection day. In fact, you are fascinated by what goes on in the operating room. Surgical Technologists are the surgeon’s right hand, literally. As a surgical tech, you’ll be the one handing life-saving instruments to the surgeon and keeping the OR running like a well-oiled and sterile machine. So, you’ll need to be organized, have a knack for detail, the ability to keep your cool under extreme pressure and not miss a beat. But talk about a career that will never be dull! This is definitely one of them. This program is offered in the Altamonte Springs, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami campuses.

A surgical technologist is responsible for setting the stage for an operation in the operating room, making the surgery seamless. According to the BLS, the median pay for surgical technologists was $46,310 in May 2017. Employment in this field is projected to grow by 12 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than average compared to all other occupations.

What you’ll learn –

  • Surgical procedures and techniques
  • Post-op patient monitoring
  • Sterilization techniques
  • Anatomy, physiology and microbiology

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Fundamentals of surgical technology
  • Surgical procedures
  • Surgical techniques

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

First and foremost, the life of a vet tech starts with a love of animals of course. But like other healthcare careers, some essential traits that make a good vet tech are: good communication skills, grace under pressure, not squeamish and compassion. If you’ve ever had a pet, you’ve probably experienced the joy they can bring. And for someone who has or is losing a pet, how devastating that can be. Keeping a cool head and a supportive mindset are important qualities for a vet tech to possess. Veterinary Technology is offered at the Gainesville and Hollywood campuses.

As a veterinary technologist you’ll be doing what is most important to you, helping those who can’t help themselves. Truly a rewarding career, but it has its benefits as well, the median annual wage for vet techs was $33,400 in May 2017. If you’re seeking a career with a stable future, this career path is expected to grow by 20% from 2016 to 2026, this is much faster than average.

What you’ll learn –

  • How to safely handle a variety of animals
  • Animal anatomy and physiology
  • Animal nutrition
  • Imaging and lab skills

Some classes you’ll take –

  • Anesthesia and surgery for veterinary nurses
  • Disease problems in companion animals
  • Veterinary dentistry

Degree Type: Associate of Science / Program Length: 8 quarters

There’s no shortage of options at City College to choose from if you’re looking for a career in healthcare. And many of the programs include hands-on internships that help students gain real-world experience to take into the workplace and include eligibility to take various certification exams that enhance your employability. Are you ready to get the ball rolling? Call City College today to learn more about the healthcare program that’s right for you! (844) 246-1971

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