There is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
Date: July 14, 2022
“Sometimes, soundwaves travel slowly. For instance, what one says to a child when they’re a teenager may take until they’re forty to be heard.” This humorous remark was recently shared on social media. But, boy, is it true!
Things Parents Say
Parents commonly say to their growing children, “There’s no such thing as free lunch.” Ultimately, this parental advice infers one must work hard for everything in life. In brief, this means exerting energy and effort while making sacrifices for one’s future. As the maxim states, “Get up. Dress up. Show up.”
Whether you listened to your folks or flagrantly disregarded their sage counsel—the good news is healthcare education offers ample opportunities to make something of oneself. Yes, this means you, even if you’re ‘hitting the books’ much later than intended.
By and large, healthcare education is a venue for change. Further, allied health instruction equips one with crucial, tangible skills to be of service to one’s community.
The Time is Now
According to the California Senate Committee on Health, statewide shortages currently exist in several major health professions. Additionally, healthcare workforce needs are projected to increase dramatically. Primarily this growth is due to the population’s aging, growth, and diversity.1
Contributing to healthcare shortages is national healthcare reform. Accordingly, the scale of change within healthcare reform is unlike anything the state has prepared for in the past. Overall, shortages are felt in Registered Nursing (RNs),2 allied healthcare support personnel, and imaging professionals at large.5 While experts project the needs will only increase.
Advantages of ‘Jumping’ Into a Vocational Nursing Program
Meanwhile, data like the above may convince one it may be time to enter nursing. Generally, getting into an accredited RN program requires a wait time of many years. Due to this obstacle, many students first opt to obtain a Vocational Nurse (VN) license. Then sometime later, they enter a bridge program en route to becoming an RN. Because of this, an accelerated VN program is often a viable choice.
Of note, one may obtain an LVN diploma in approximately one (1) year. Completion then makes them eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam. Subsequently, they may enter the workforce sooner than later. Joining the workforce provides clinical experience. Later, should they choose to pursue more education and become an RN, they may do so with fewer total in-class hours.
Some say the time is right, as the employment of RNs is projected to grow by nine percent from 2020–2030. This growth is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Ultimately, more than 194,500 openings for RNs are expected each year, on average, over the decade.3
The Upside of Entry-level Medical Assistant Roles
Likewise, Medical Assisting can be a forever career or simply a way of “wetting one’s” feet in new terminology. While as a Medical Assistant (MA), one may learn about specific diseases and patient-care practices. Additionally, MAs may immerse themselves in entry-level healthcare environments, consequently learning within laboratory and externship sites.
Overall, MA graduates join one of the most in-demand careers. They are vital parts of healthcare teams. Most often, they complete administrative and clinical tasks in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. By and large, these entry-level positions are an excellent way to work in the field.
Notably, MA employment is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020–2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. On the whole, more than 104,400 MA openings are launched each year, on average. Many of these openings are to replace those transferring to different occupations or exiting the labor force for retirement.4
Imagine an Imaging Career
Still another future career worth pursuing is in Medical Imaging Technology. “Medical Imaging refers to several technologies used to view the human body for diagnosing, monitoring, or treating medical conditions. Each type of technology provides different information about the area of the body being studied or treated, related to possible disease, injury, or the effectiveness of medical treatment.”6
Moreover, a Radiologic Technology degree can take as little as two years and commence with an associate’s degree. The field commands an average salary of more than $62,280 per year.7 Additionally, students can use and apply real-life work experiences within accredited programs.8
Notably, Gurnick Academy offers the following imaging programs, among numerous others:
- X-ray Technician with Medical Assistant Skills;
- Associate of Occupational Science in Radiologic Technology;
- Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology.
Summary
So while we hate to sound like your parents, we would like to offer you some entry-level programs. Ultimately, these may go far in creating the life you once imagined. Yes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. All things considered, sacrifice, hard work, and skill-building are “ingredients” needed to make your way.
Contact Us Today
We would like to help you get started. Who knows, maybe even make your parents proud? Kindly let us know how we can help with your future. Contact us today.~
Citations:
1 Senate Office. “A Review of California’s Health Care Workforce Shortages and Strategies to Address These Shortages.” Senate Committee on Health, California Legislature. Feb. 2012. (Accessed April 1, 2022.)
2 Keating, S., Sechrist, K. “The Nursing Shortage In California: The Public Policy Role Of The California Strategic Planning Committee For Nursing” Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 6 No. 1, Manuscript 2. Jan. 31, 2001. (Accessed April 1, 2022.)
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants. Sept. 13, 2021. (Accessed March 14, 2022.)
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses. Sept. 8, 2021. (Accessed April 1, 2022.)
5 “Radiology Staffing Shortages Nationwide?–AHEConline Blog.” Sept. 27, 2021. (Accessed April 1, 2022.)
6 Medical Imaging. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Aug. 28, 2018. (Accessed April 4, 2022.)
7 “Radiologic Technologist” EHC ExploreHealthCareers.org, Liaison International, 2016. (Accessed Jan. 5, 2021.)
8 “Preparing to Perform MRI of the Brain.” American Society of Radiologic TechnologistsⓇ (ASRT)Ⓡ Centennial American Society of Radiologic Technologists. (Accessed Jan. 5, 2021.)
