A career in healthcare appeals to many of us. It’s a chance to help others and use our knowledge and skills to make the world a better place for the people we treat. Unfortunately, we aren’t all suited to a life in front-line medicine. If the idea of blood and gore makes you feel faint, you probably aren’t going to enjoy a career as a surgeon. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t work in healthcare.
In fact, there are many jobs in the healthcare industry that you could do without ever (or at least hardly ever) having to see so much as a drop of blood. Here’s a look at some of the best healthcare careers for squeamish people.
Healthcare Management
Healthcare is a very complex industry. Managers are an essential part of keeping things running smoothly. To keep things organized and productive, healthcare managers work in primary care centers, hospitals, research centers, government roles, and other areas. A healthcare management degree can be a great way to enter this lucrative and blood-free side of healthcare.
Administration
Administrative assistants are another crucial element, without whom things would quickly descend into chaos. Administrators work in all areas of healthcare and often liaise between patients and doctors, so communication skills are essential.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists today have more responsibilities than ever, often offering advice on minor injuries and ailments and prescribing medicines and treatments. This growing responsibility means it’s a growing field and a great time to get involved.
If this still sounds too hands-on, there’s also the option to work as a pharmacy assistant, providing excellent customer service and a friendly face to put customers at ease.
Psychiatrist
Mental health is another growing field as our knowledge and understanding of mental health grows. While psychiatrists and counselors provide in-person patient care, there’s much less likely to be any blood, and this can be an excellent option for those wanting to provide direct healthcare without needing a strong stomach.
Radiologist
Radiologists and other healthcare technicians provide a vital service. Without these positions, diagnosis and treatment wouldn’t be possible.
Medical Records Assistant
Medical records assistants carry out administrative tasks related to patient records. This can include storing and retrieving records, collecting information, and communicating concerning records between different settings and doctors.
Medical Research
Medical research is a vital field, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved with new developments and breakthroughs coming all the time.
While much work is done in the lab or at computers, there may be some blood and mess during your work. Research could be the ideal choice if you can handle this but would rather avoid direct patient care.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists work with patients recovering from injuries or treatments to help them return to full strength, fitness, and range of motion. You’ll work with patients and even build long-term relationships, but most messy work will already be done by the time they get to you.
Doctors and nurses might get all of the glory, but remember, much more goes into patient care, treatment, and the advancement of the field. You could have an important part to play, even if you are squeamish and don’t want to get your hands dirty.
