Jobs in healthcare have always provided workers with good job security, good benefits and higher than average pay for the duties performed. There are basic jobs in housekeeping, dietary services, supplies and distribution, and purchasing that are available for people with just high school diplomas.
For most of these jobs, experience is not necessary. These are often entry-level positions and the employees can work hard at their job and return to school to further their education. If employees choose courses that prepare them for other needed jobs in the hospital, they may be reimbursed for the cost of tuition and books. They can then move into other healthcare jobs that offer more money and prestige.
Physicians and nurses are two groups of people that are heavily recruited by the healthcare community. There are a number of jobs in healthcare settings that require their specialized services. Physicians are sought nationally to fill vacant ER positions at many of the hospitals. OB positions are also desperate to attract new and experienced physicians to their ranks.
Physicians and nurses can also find a number of open positions in areas like CCU, geriatrics, and burn units that will welcome their applications. Some of the healthcare openings that are located in small cities or rural settings have a great deal of difficulty in finding physicians that are willing to come and work on a permanent basis.
Physicians can pick and choose exactly where they want to set up their practice. Many of the newer physicians look for positions in larger cities with bigger hospitals and modern equipment. Cities offer higher overall salaries and a huge patient base. Physician support and back up is easier to arrange in cities. However, in some of the smaller communities and rural towns there may be only 1 physician in around 100 miles and this can mean huge demand on the doctor available.
Today a physician can work with a large group, which cuts down on the amount of overtime and on- call time that will be required. These groups also have bonuses and profit sharing available and lucrative salaries. Many of the younger physicians are finding that working with a group in a large city is preferable to starting a brand new practice in a very small locale.
Rural areas are trying to create new offers to entice physicians to move to their towns. Some of the bonuses that can be found include free housing and the construction of new clinics. Nurse practitioners are also being recruited to work in tandem with these physicians so that the workload is lessened.
Nurses have been in high demand for over 15 years and the shortage is now more critical than ever before. This means that salaries and benefits have climbed astronomically for this group of healthcare workers. New graduates of nursing programs can have their entire school debt forgiven if they agree to work on some of the Native American reservations or agree to work in other government jobs that have critical shortages of nurses.
Mental healthcare jobs are available for both physicians and nurses. Employers are willing to do on the job training to prepare candidates for any of their open positions. There is a great need for qualified mental healthcare workers and both private and public facilities are working hard to create benefits and pay scales that will attract more candidates to apply for these open positions.
Both physicians and nurses are being greeted with travel healthcare jobs as a viable option to standard employment roles. These travel jobs require a commitment to a contract with a specified number of weeks or months. The assignments available are in all 50 states and almost all specialties are available.
OB, ER, OR and ICU are all critically short of qualified personnel and physicians and nurses who are trained and qualified in any of these areas can accept contract assignments at the location of their choice. These contracts give higher pay, benefits, free travel, and free or subsidized housing for the duration of the contract.
Some hospitals even pay an extra bonus upon completion of the contract and another bonus if the healthcare workers agree to a contract extension. The job duties are just the same as they are for regular workers at the hospital, the difference is that at the end of the contracted time, the traveler is free to go stay or take another assignment. For many of the smaller hospitals these contract workers provide much needed staff support.
