Pilot Media - Healthcare Prognosis Fall 2015

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Healthcare Prognosis Healthcare Prognosis

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Healthcare continues to dominate career stats, claiming 13 of the 20 fastest growing occupations and 14 of the 20 highest paying, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Harder to measure, but just as important to long-term career planners, is the exceptional opportunity to advance that healthcare offers. Licensed practical nurses often go back to school to become registered nurses, emergency medical technicians frequently move up to paramedic positions, and physical therapy assistants become physical therapists. There are specialized credentials to earn, management courses to take, and even career shifts that can propel you into entirely different areas of healthcare. One popular healthcare entry point is a CNA (certifi ed nurse assistant) position. CNAs can begin their careers in as little as six weeks after taking a training course and passing a national exam. Many CNAs build rewarding, life-long careers working in hospitals, physician offi ces, clinics, assisted living and other facilities, while others go on to earn nursing licenses or even move into administration. Liz Dammeyer, Administrator for Harbourway, an assisted living facility that’s part of Atlantic Shore’s retirement community, discovered a knack for working with senior adults when she was young, so going to work as a CNA in a nursing home was a natural fi t. “Too many people dismiss the elderly as frail people who are waiting to die and they’re not,” says Dammeyer. “They’re here to live, and I wanted to be able to infl uence how they were cared for.” Dammeyer went back to school to become an LPN (licensed practical nurse) before moving into administration. “I realized that I could do so much in management. I could still have wonderful one-on-one relationships and learn from our residents but also have an impact on how I wanted other people to treat and respect them too.” To earn her bachelor’s degree in business administration, Dammeyer took advantage of a perk common in the healthcare fi eld – employer-provided tuition reimbursement. She’s a strong

advocate for those who want to follow in her footsteps and grow into other positions within healthcare. “We have one LPN, Dave Daugherty, who is in school right now, earning an IT degree,” says Dammeyer, “and he’s going to be our master trainer, developing the curriculum to teach our new electronic records system.” Daugherty considered becoming a registered nurse – LPN-to-RN degree programs are widely available – but couldn’t make the scheduling work. Instead he earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences before entering a master’s degree program in information systems, with tuition help from Atlantic Shores. “I’ve always liked computers and my goal was to be able to couple my medical knowledge with a computer degree and get into electronic health records, an area that is in demand right now,” says Daugherty. “When I got out of high school, I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in. My dad gave me these guidelines for a good career: work in a fi eld that has jobs available, offers the ability to progress, allows you to work with knowledgeable people, and do something that helps others.” Healthcare met every point, including multiple career ladders. “There’s defi nitely a lot of mobility in the medical fi eld,” says Daugherty. Dara Wilson agrees. Wilson, Unit Manager and LPN at Atlantic Shore’s assisted living facility, began working for the retirement community as a dietary aide. “One of our residents with no living family members shared with me that one of his Atlantic Shores nurses not only made him happy, but made his life worth living. His story resonates with me to this day, and played a big part in my decision to pursue a career in senior nursing.” Wilson’s success has inspired several of her friends. “One is

going to school for healthcare administration and another fi nishes her RN (registered nurse) program in December,” says Wilson. “For those who are looking for something to do with their lives, I suggest healthcare because you always have opportunities, you always have room for growth, there is always someone who is willing to help you go back to school and advance further,” she says. “If you’re up for some challenges, this is defi nitely a good career path.” Valerie Holden started coursework in physical therapy before changing to a recreation program and earning her CTRS (certifi ed therapeutic recreation specialist) credential. Atlantic Shores hired her as an activities assistant, but Holden quickly added new job titles (director of recreation activities), new certifi cations (direct care), and new licenses (medication aide; assisted living administration) to her resume. She’s currently Assistant Administrator at Atlantic Shore’s assisted living facility. Her next goal? “Probably learning more about the technology side since we’re all going to electronic records,” says Holden. “Honestly, in healthcare,

if you’re interested you can do anything you want to do.” One way to see what the fi eld is like is to volunteer, says Holden. “There are so many positions and opportunities out there. Try shadowing someone for a day to see if this

is something you might be interested in.” Adds Daugherty, “Once you narrow the fi eld down to

something that grabs your attention and understand what’s involved in working in

that area of healthcare, pursue the entry level position by getting

the education needed.” If you’re not at a company that offers tuition reimbursement, “there are outside educational fi nancial resources – look into those,” says Daugherty. “Just get your foot in the door. Once that happens, the sky’s the limit if you’re willing to put in the effort.”

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Registered Nurses: For years registered nurses (RNs) were the quintessential face of healthcare, faithfully carrying out physician orders. Today? They’re still the linchpin of any medical practice, but their role has expanded considerably. RNs not only juggle leadership and educator roles, but they also manage patient care, contribute critical research insights and wield state-of-the-art technology, all the while maintaining that very personal link with the patient. It’s little wonder that the healthcare industry can’t add enough nurses to satisfy demand. RNs already make up the largest healthcare occupation, at 2.7 million, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for an additional half million nurses through 2022. With the job comes healthy paychecks – the Bureau notes that registered nurses claim the largest occupation with above-average wages. While an associate’s degree was a common entry credential not too long ago, a bachelor’s degree has become the preferred standard. “There’s a huge amount of technology they have to know in addition to more advanced patient care skills,” says Shelly Cohen, Dean of Sentara

College of Health Sciences. “Nursing is now high touch, high tech. For instance, when I got out of nursing school years ago I worked in the ICU at De Paul Medical Center and we didn’t have the kind of monitoring equipment we have now. If you came back from head surgery, it was just our own assessment skills. Now you have these highly specialized critical care environments, you’ve got trauma centers, you have heart hospitals.” RNs can pick and choose from an array of work environments, from traditional settings like hospitals, clinics and physician offi ces to home care settings, military facilities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, insurance companies, schools, even businesses. There’s an equally wide range of specialties to choose from, allowing RNs to easily fi nd an area that fi ts their interests and personality. ER nurses handle their bustling environment with ease, while long-term care nurses take advantage of their calmer workplace to get to know the residents under their care. Then there are the multi-tasking maestros who work on medical/surgical fl oors, the operating room nurses who thrive on precision, and the nurse educators who are passionate about wellness and prevention. Along with excellent pay, RNs are also able to take advantage of fl exible scheduling – most nurses work three 12-hour shifts a week with four days off. But the biggest draw, says Cohen, is the opportunity to help others. “Our nursing students are here because they want to make a difference, they want to contribute, and if that’s important to you, you’ll fi nd it in healthcare.”

Current employment: 2,711,500

Projected job growth by 2022: 526,800 new jobs

Growth rate: 19% (faster than average)

Annual median wages: $65,470. The highest 10% earned more than $94,720.

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Physical Therapists: Why is job satisfaction so high among physical therapists? They are well-paid, in high demand, and have the joy of helping patients reach measurable goals that restore quality of life. For healthcare providers who enjoy building relationships and working one-on-one with patients, physical therapy is an ideal fi eld. It’s one of the fastest growing areas of healthcare today, and with boomers aging at a steady pace and ongoing advances in the fi eld, the need for therapists is only going to increase. In fact, physical therapist jobs are projected to increase by 36% through 2022, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while physical therapy assistant positions should see a healthy increase of 41%. Physical therapists fi rst earn a bachelor’s degree, typically in a fi eld like exercise science or kinesiology, then enter a three-year doctoral-level program. Programs are competitive and applicants need strong science grades. For those who are attracted to the fi eld but can’t devote seven years toward earning a doctorate, there are two-year associate degree programs for physical therapist assistants. Once a physical

therapist has evaluated a patient and created a plan of treatment, it’s often the assistant who works with the patient to carry out that plan under supervision. “When you’re talking about getting a doctoral degree, you’re making quite the time and fi nancial commitment,” notes Thomas Calogrides, Dean of Health Professions at Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach campus. “The physical therapist assistant program puts you in the fi eld much faster. And in many cases, it puts you more hands-on with the patient.” Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants work in a variety of settings including hospitals, home health, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics and physician offi ces. Some therapists choose specialty fi elds such as pediatrics, sports medicine, orthopedics or gerontology, and this is a fi eld that accommodates full-time as well as part-time schedules that help balance family and career needs. Kay Kozlowski, Rehab Director at Atlantic Shores, an active adult retirement community in Virginia Beach, decided to become a physical therapist after a high school sports injury. “I went to physical therapy and I just thought it was awesome – they made me better,” she explains simply. Kozlowski enjoys the fl exibility of the nursing home setting and getting her patients back on their feet. “After having therapy with us for six or eight weeks, they’re walking up a fl ight of stairs again, they have their lives back. It’s really a great job – I love my work.”

Current employment: 204,200


Overall job growth: 36% (much faster than average)

Annual median wages: $79,860, with the highest 10% earning more than $112,020.

(Bureau of Labor Statics – www.bls.gov)

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EMTs/Paramedics: It’s not a job for the faint of heart, but people who possess quick reaction times and strong critical thinking skills are a perfect match for a career as an emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic. “Many of the situations we deal with are emergencies where someone’s life depends on how we react, so we have to be able to take in a lot of information rapidly and then make quick decisions – all while remaining calm when others aren’t,” describes Kyle Langley, Operations Supervisor with Sentara Healthcare’s Medical Transport, LLC. Just think of EMTs and paramedics as emergency room staff who make house calls. Langley received his EMT training as a volunteer for a rescue squad and says that’s one of the best ways to enter the fi eld. “There are volunteer rescue squads all over the state where you can get experience and fi nd out if that’s something you want to do,” he says. “In addition, many of those volunteer rescue squads offer training in-house or they’ll offer to help pay for your training.” Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services

(www.vabeachems.com) offers EMT training to volunteers in exchange for a commitment to do rescue work for the city for two years. “We usually do about four or fi ve EMT classes in-house a year,” says Captain Christi Budy, a paramedic with Virginia Beach EMS. Visit www.vbvrs.org or call 757-385-1999 for orientation information. In Virginia, there are four levels of certifi cation that an EMT can pursue all the way through paramedic, which is generally an associate’s degree program. “The EMT basic course is usually about a semester long,” says Jason Ambrose, EMS Program Coordinator at Tidewater Community College, “though we also have an accelerated 3 ½ week program. The paramedic program ends up being about two years. “The EMT basic role is more or less assessment – they are taught to recognize life threatening emergencies and provide basic treatments,” says Ambrose. “By the time you get up to paramedic, you can do things like start IVs and give a pretty extensive list of medications.” EMTs and paramedics work for hospitals, medical transport companies, municipal rescue squads and fi re departments, retirement communities – “There are even government contracts that take you overseas,” Langley adds. The job is a rewarding one, whether dealing with a life or death situation or simply holding the hand of an elderly patient during a routine medical transport, says Langley. “It’s the smile, the appreciation,” he says. “You go home every day knowing you made a difference. It’s a great fi eld.”



Growth rate: 23% (much faster than average)

Median wages: $14.91/hr.; $31,020/yr. Top 10% earn $53,550+.


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Licensed Practical Nurses: Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) can be found providing hands-on bedside nursing in hospitals, giving injections at community health facilities, performing wound care during home health visits, and handling routine laboratory tests in physician offi ces. LPNs are in special demand in skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities where they often work in supervisory roles. They are, very simply, the hands-on caregivers who defi ne the heart of nursing. “Your job will never be boring,” says Sheena Bailey, an LPN at Atlantic Shores Retirement

Community. “There is always something different every day and we’re learning all the time.” Bailey says that’s one of the things that makes her job so satisfying. “The other is to watch somebody you’re caring for go from not feeling well to feeling great, to see that healing process make their lives better.” Bailey started out as a medical assistant before going back to school to become an LPN. Today she works in Atlantic Shores’ Wellness Clinic, which operates much like a doctor’s offi ce she says. “We triage the patients, check blood pressure, give a lot of injections, do wound care, assist the nurse practitioners and doctors as needed, and do simple procedures like suture removal and staple removal,” she describes. LPNs also serve as the eyes and ears for physicians, says Bailey, in case a need for care arises between patients’ scheduled appointments. “We become like family to our residents, they know we’re here for them consistently,” she says. “We just had a resident who had to move, and

this was a man we had taken care of every day for two years. His family lived out of town and his daughter came in to tell us how grateful she was to us for the way we had cared for her father.” Bailey says the appreciation the nurses receive from residents and their families makes an always interesting job even more rewarding. “That’s what we’re here for, to help them maintain optimal wellness so they can enjoy their lives,” she says. To enter the fi eld, most LPNs complete diploma programs at vocational or career training schools in as little as a year, then sit for the national licensing exam. Many LPNs, like Bailey, start out in healthcare as medical assistants or certifi ed nurse assistants (CNAs) before going back to school to become nurses. “You can always move up in healthcare, especially in nursing,” Bailey says. “And there are so many areas of nursing you can go into – geriatrics, pediatrics, emergency room nursing – and it’s all rewarding.”



Growth rate: 25% (much faster than average)

Annual median wages: $41,540. The highest 10% earned more than $57,360.



If you’re looking for a rewarding career fi eld that offers excellent growth opportunities, then healthcare is the perfect cure for the job search blues. “It’s pretty common knowledge that healthcare is where the positions are and where they will be in the future,” says Shelly Cohen, Dean of Sentara College of Health Sciences. “I think the primary thing I’ve heard from our students in the last three or four years is that I know I can always fi nd a job.” For students who need to enter the workforce quickly, the school offers a nine-week Care Partner program that covers all of the basics that a nurse’s aide needs to know, along with additional training in areas like phlebotomy and EKGs. There is also a bachelor’s degree program in nursing, and associate’s degree programs for surgical technologists and cardiovascular technologists. The school focuses on graduating professionals with skills that match ongoing healthcare needs, so jobs are readily available after graduation. “What’s really unique about us is that we’re a college owned and operated by a healthcare system,” says Cohen. “So for instance if there is a new procedure going on in the Heart Hospital,

we get information and access on that procedure; we’re constantly revising and refi ning our curricula based on what the practice setting is requiring.” Many of her students enter the school because they want to work for Sentara or gain clinical experience there, Cohen says. “One of the hallmarks of our program is that we have a lot more clinical time than the average program. And we’re affordable,” she notes. Hampton Roads has a number of other well-regarded career training schools, community colleges and universities that cater to a broad spectrum of healthcare career goals. Associate’s degrees are the norm for people who want to work as radiology techs, respiratory therapists, cardiovascular techs, physical therapy assistants or occupational therapy assistants. Medical assistants can chose diploma programs that take a few months to complete or earn their associate’s degree. CNAs and personal care assistants are eligible to take a medication aide course, which, in Virginia, allows them to administer medications under a nurse’s supervision in assisted living facilities and adult group homes. At Tidewater Medical Training, the 68-hour program takes 2 ½

weeks to complete and is a welcome enhancement to any resume. Nurses have a choice of academic paths. Licensed practical nurses can complete diploma programs at a career training school in as little as a year, then sit for their national licensing exam. Registered nurses need at least an associate’s degree, though a bachelor’s degree is becoming the new standard. In fact, the statewide goal is to have 80% Virginia’s nurses armed with bachelor degreesby 2020. Healthcare offers a wealth of jobs to choose from, and almost every school has career advisors available to help you select a program that’s a goodfi t for your interests and to go over fi nancial aid options. Many schools host regular open houses to introduce their programs, such as Sentara College of Health Sciences’ upcoming events November 12, November 16, and November 18 (visit Sentara.edu for more information). So, select a school, choose a healthcare program, complete your training and head right into a fi eld with no ceilings and no dead ends – few prescriptions for job success are as potent.

Healthcare Techs: As technology continues to spur healthcare advances, more and more technicians are being called on to harness new equipment, new techniques and even new occupations, in labs, imaging centers, monitoring stations, cardiac units and operating rooms. These allied health professionals often fl y under the radar when people think about jobs in the medical fi eld. “But these are all occupations in

demand, most of them pay very well and there’s a relatively short academic curricula to move through,” says Thomas Calogrides, Dean of Health Professions at Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach campus. Two good options? Radiology technician and ultrasound technician, says Calogrides. Shelly Cohen, Dean of Sentara College of Health Sciences, points to monitor surveillance techs, who keep an eye on cardiac rhythm readouts. “And surgical techs are doing things that an OR nurse used to do, prepping the operating room and assisting,” she says. Then there are the relative newcomers. “Our cardiac electrophysiology technologist program is only about two or three years old,” says Cohen. “This is a highly skilled position working with heart rhythm disorders and pacer insertions.” The jobs are interesting, well paying, secure

– and they’re also portable. “The majority have some sort of national certifi cation or registration process,” says Calogrides. “Once you have that credential, you can go anywhere.” Nathen Green, a registered vascular technologist who went through Sentara’s cardiovascular technology program several years ago, is now running the imaging lab for a vascular surgery practice in Arizona. “The Sentara program was excellent and allied health is a great career fi eld to go into,” he says. “You make good money and there’s a lot of fl exibility as far as the hours you work or the setting you choose. Also, I get to interact with people one-on-one every day. It may sound clichéd, but this an area where you really can contribute something meaningful.”

Cardiovascular Techs: $60,350/yr. Growth rate: 39%

Medical Laboratory Techs: $47,820/yr. Growth rate: 22%

Radiologic Techs: $55,910/yr. Growth rate: 21%

(Median Annual Pay & Growth Rates Through 2022 from BLS.gov)

Getting Started: The ABC’s of Healthcare Education


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Pilot Media - Healthcare Prognosis Fall 2015