Your Complete Guidebook to Training and Jobs
in Allied Health, Nursing, Medicine, and More
SECOND EDITION
This extensive, authoritative resource includes
Detailed descriptions of 100 health-care careers Education and training required, plus details on admission tests and
financial aid Thousands of training programs, with complete contact information Salary ranges, career potential, and
advancement opportunities Sample health-care resumes and cover letters Certification and licensure procedures
Advice on choosing and planning a health-care career
Dr. Saul Wischnitzer
and Edith Wischnitzer
Health-Care
CAREERS
Top
110000
Top
Health-Care
Careers
Your Complete Guidebook to Training and Jobs
in Allied Health, Nursing, Medicine, and More
SECOND EDITION
Dr. Saul Wischnitzer
and Edith Wischnitzer
110000
frontmatter.qxp 2/4/2005 9:14 AM Page i
Top 100 Health-Care Careers, Second Edition
© 2005 by Dr. Saul Wischnitzer and Edith Wischnitzer
Published by JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing, Inc.
8902 Otis Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
Phone: 1-800-648-JIST Fax: 1-800-JIST-FAX E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our Web site at www.jist.com for information on JIST, free job search tips, book chapters,

case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews. Making copies of any part of this book for
any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright laws. For
permission requests, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center at www.copyright.com or (978)
750-8400.
We have been careful to provide accurate information in this book, but it is possible that errors and
omissions have been introduced. Please consider this in making any career plans or other important
decisions. Trust your own judgment above all else and in all things.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks,
trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
ISBN 1-59357-178-X
frontmatter.qxp 2/4/2005 9:14 AM Page ii
This book is dedicated to the memory of our parents,
Solomon and Ray Wischnitzer
and
Miksa and Gali Lefkovits,
who, through their devotion and by example, provided us with the ethical and spiritual
values that have served as our guiding lights throughout life.
We are grateful to our son, Judah M. Wischnitzer, who, in this edition, as in the last one, applied
his ample computer skills to incorporate the new material into the text.
Dedication and
Acknowledgments
iii
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iv
Arnold G. Boldt, CPRW, JCTC
Arnold-Smith Associates
625 Panorama Trail, Building 1,
Ste. 120C
Rochester, NY 14625
Phone: (585) 383-0350

Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 352-8969
Fax: (703) 991-2372
E-mail: bkinser@tothepoint
resumes.com
www.tothepointresumes.com
Deborah Ann Ramos, CPRW
Aerobi’s Computerized Typing
Service
446 Pelton Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10310-2132
Phone: (718) 815-4638
Fax: (718) 815-2431
E-mail: [email protected]
www.aerobisresumeservices.com
Janice M. Shepherd, CPRW,
JCTC, CEIP
Write On Career Keys
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: (360) 738-7958
Fax: (360) 738-1189
E-mail: janice@writeoncareer-
keys.com
www.writeoncareerkeys.com
Edward Turilli, MA
Director, Career Development
Center
Salve Regina University
ARC—Anthem Résumé and Career
Services

28
Sources of Health-Care Education 28
Choosing a Program 29
Getting In 31
Admission/Aptitude Tests 33
Financial Aid 34
3
2
1
Contents
v
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PART 2
H
EALTH
PROFESSIONALISM 41
The Health-Care Professional 43
Your Education 43
The Professional as a Helper 46
The Professional’s Personal Life 47
Understanding the Patient 49
The Impact of Hospitalization 49
Patient Status 50
Patient Privileges 50
Post-Hospitalization Anxiety 51
Patient Adjustment 51
The Outpatient 52
The Professional-Patient Relationship 53
Communicating Effectively 53
Cultural Influences 54

EALTH-C
ARE CAREER
DESCRIPTIONS AND E
DUCATION PROGRAMS
87
Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners 89
Chiropractors 90
Dentists 92
Optometrists 97
Physicians 100
Podiatrists 110
Veterinarians 113
Associated Health-Care Careers 117
Dental Hygienists 118
Dietitians 130
Genetic Counselors 137
Licensed Practical Nurses 142
Nurse Anesthetists 144
Nurse-Midwives 150
Nurse Practitioners 154
Nutritionists 155
Pharmacists 158
Physician Assistants 164
Registered Nurses 170
Surgeon Assistants 174
Adjunctive Health-Care Careers: Technologists,
Technicians, Assistants, and Aides 177
Anesthesiologist Assistants 178
Blood Bank Technologists and Specialists 179
Cardiovascular Technology Personnel 182

Perfusionists 264
Pharmacy Technicians 266
Phlebotomists 272
Pulmonary Function Technologists 274
Radiation Therapy Technologists 275
Radiological Technologists 277
Surgical Technologists 280
Veterinary Assistants 282
Rehabilitation Careers: Therapists,
Therapy Assistants, and Aides 284
Art Therapists 284
Dance/Movement Therapists 289
Home Health Aides 291
Horticultural Therapists 293
Music Therapists 295
Occupational Therapists 299
Occupational Therapy Assistants 307
Patient Representatives 314
Physical Therapists 315
Physical Therapy Assistants 323
Psychiatric Aides 324
Recreational Therapists 326
Rehabilitation Counselors 328
Respiratory Therapists 333
Respiratory Therapy Aides 335
Respiratory Therapy Technicians 336
Social Service Aides 337
Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists 339
Substance Abuse Counselors 347
Administrative Health-Care Careers 353

Medical and Psychiatric Social Workers 414
Medical Illustrators 416
Medical Secretaries 418
Mental Health Workers 420
APPENDICES 425
Health-Care Education Admissions Tests 427
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) 427
Dental Admission Test (DAT) 428
Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) 428
Optometry Admission Test (OAT) 429
Graduate Record Examination 429
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) 430
Miller Analogies Test 431
Health-Care Professional Organizations 433
Job Search Resources
439
General Sources 439
Web Sources 440
Journals 442
Index 443
C
B
A
14
Contents ix
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x
The state of the national economy has a profound effect on career interests and the choices
of prospective job seekers. This is reflected in part by the variation in the number of people
seeking admission to vocational schools, colleges, universities, and professional schools at

with a wide range of educational backgrounds, from high school through graduate school,
because it offers such a variety of career options. The explosive growth of the health-care
industry stems from a variety of factors:
• Our growing and aging population continually demands more health care.
This translates into explosive growth in home health care and clinical outpa-
tient services.
• Managed-care and cost-control efforts generate positions such as physician
assistant and dental hygienist. These workers do many of the routine tasks
doctors and dentists used to perform—at a much lower cost to patients and
insurance companies.
• Technological advances create entirely new jobs, such as sonographer and
nuclear medical technologist.
• Our society’s increased health consciousness has placed a strong emphasis on
the role of health advocates and counselors—in fields as diverse as enhancing
nutrition and improving mental health.
This book is a complete career guide and directory. It will help you choose a health-care
career, find the education or training you need for that career, and walk you through the job
search process.
The book is divided into four parts.
Part 1 helps you determine whether you want to work in the health-care field and, if so,
which career is best for you. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the field, listing the kinds of
positions that are available and where you can find them. Chapter 2 offers several checklists
and exercises to help you assess where your skills and interests lie. It also outlines the major
categories of career options. Chapter 3 looks at where and how you can get the education
and training you need for your chosen career—from finding the best program to financing
your schooling.
Introduction
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Part 2 gives you a feel for what it’s like to work in health care. Chapter 4 outlines the
basic characteristics and skills a helping professional needs. Chapter 5 presents the profes-

Thus, in addition to practitioners, professionals in many allied
health-care fields have direct patient contact in offices, clinics, and
hospitals. These professionals educate and advise patients on ill-
ness prevention, proper nutrition, and therapeutic management
of health-related problems.
In the past, allied health-care workers were not in great
demand; nor did they receive the recognition they deserved.
Today their impact on treatment outcomes is more fully appreci-
ated—and rewarded.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, some professions
will see greater growth than others. This is reflected in the follow-
ing list, projecting the percentage of anticipated increase in
employment in a variety of fields by occupation from 2000 to
2010.
1
PART
Part 1.qxp 2/17/2005 2:12 PM Page 1
Health Area Percentage Increase
Medical assistant 60
Physician assistant 58
Social and human services assistant 58
Home health aide 50
Health information technician 50
Physical therapy aide 47
Occupational therapy aide 46
Physical therapy assistant 45
Audiologist 45
Athletic trainer 40
Many people expect a major restructuring of the health-care industry over the next
decade; as a result, it is difficult to project personnel needs with absolute certainty. In addi-

others. At least an additional 1 million are employed as health support personnel, holding
clerical and maintenance staff positions in health facilities. Their skills and knowledge are
vital to the routine operations of the workplace. Many thousands more work in facilities that
manufacture drugs and other health supplies.
The Health-Care Field:
Where the Jobs Are
3
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At least one of these many challenging careers in the health-care industry might be the
right one for you!
Employment Sites
Where you work is an important issue. Health service workers generally are employed in
one of two kinds of facilities: inpatient or outpatient. Inpatient facilities include hospitals,
senior residences, and other residential homes. Outpatient facilities vary widely in function
and style.
Inpatient Facilities
Inpatient facilities that employ health-care workers include hospitals, senior residences, and
other special residential facilities.
Hospitals
The greatest number of health-care workers are employed at hospitals. But not all hospitals
are alike. They are categorized by the nature of their ownership and by the type of service
they provide.
Hospital ownership is categorized in one of three ways: government, voluntary, or pro-
prietary.
• Government hospitals are operated by federal, state, or local government
agencies. The federal government operates the nationwide Veterans’ Adminis-
tration hospitals, states maintain psychiatric hospitals, and cities are responsi-
ble for municipal hospitals.
• Voluntary hospitals are local, private, not-for-profit institutions. Many are
owned by religious organizations.

Outpatient Facilities and Services
More than half a million people work in a wide variety of facilities that provide direct
health-care services:
• Ambulance services transport patients to hospitals and other health-care facili-
ties. These services are operated by both municipal and private agencies.
• Blood banks, located in hospitals or operated independently, draw, type,
process, and store blood for medical use.
• Clinical laboratories usually are located in hospitals, but they can be operated
privately. Workers in these labs draw blood and secure other body specimens
for use in diagnosing illnesses.
• Community mental health centers offer 24-hour emergency assistance, inpa-
tient or outpatient help, and counseling for mental health problems.
• Dental laboratories employ people to prepare crowns, bridges, and other den-
tal appliances based on specifications submitted to them by dentists. Most are
privately owned and operated.
• Family planning centers employ trained professionals who provide counsel-
ing on birth control, sterility, and questions concerning abortion.
• Genetic counseling centers usually are located in hospitals. Trained profes-
sionals counsel couples who are concerned about the possibility of birth
defects—either because of hereditary problems or because the mother is espe-
cially at risk. These centers also arrange for fetal testing during pregnancy.
• Government health agencies, operated by all levels of government, promote
and maintain public health. They employ scientists to determine whether stan-
dards are being observed in food preparation, water supply, and waste dis-
posal facilities. They may also evaluate whether industrial health and safety
standards are being met. In addition, they promote health education and offer
inoculations and other health-care services to low-income people.
• Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are prepaid insurance programs
that provide medical coverage for office and hospital care at their own or affili-
ated institutions. They employ physicians, physician assistants, nurses, clinical

level. They represent the members of specific health professions or types of
health facilities. They work to improve standards of practice or operations,
enhance the professional education of their members, and perform research.
They employ members of their profession to help meet their commitments; for
example, the American Physical Therapy Association employs physical thera-
pists as administrative personnel.
• Rehabilitation centers may be hospital-affiliated or independently operated.
They serve patients who have been disabled because of accidents, injuries,
strokes, or birth defects. They employ a variety of therapists who help patients
recover as much of their functional abilities as possible.
• Voluntary health promotion agencies function on all three government levels
to address specific health problems or services. They provide health education,
make health services more available, and support research (usually through
grants). The American Cancer Society is an example of this type of agency.
Employment Opportunities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics—a division of the U.S. Department of Labor—makes 10-year
employment projections for most job categories, including those in the health field (see Fig-
ure 1.1). Their data shows that many of the fastest-growing occupations are found in health
services, which are expected to increase more than twice as fast as the economy as a whole.
The validity of the data, however, depends on the state of the economy, government sup-
port, geographic location, technological advances, and changes in existing facilities to meet
population changes.
6 Part 1: Choosing and Planning a Health-Care Career
Chapter 1.qxp 2/4/2005 9:19 AM Page 6
Figure 1.1: The fastest-growing occupations reflect growth in computer technology and health-care
services, 2000–2010. Health-care careers are shown in bold. The numbers at the bottom represent the
percentage increase anticipated.
Chapter 1: The Health-Care Field: Where the Jobs Are 7
Computer software
engineers, applications

of such support is worked out between the current administration and Congress. This has
been the subject of intense debate in recent years, with strong pressures holding down
expenditures. Thus, the availability of future funding is uncertain.
Geographic Location
Health services employers are unevenly distributed in this country. As a result, there are job
opportunities in some areas and scarcities in others. Thus, there is a shortage of health-care
professionals in both rural and inner-city areas—even though rural areas are underpopu-
lated and inner-city areas are overpopulated.
Population shifts due to changes in economic opportunities also greatly affect the num-
ber of job opportunities. For example, when people began flocking to the West Coast and
Sun Belt states, thousands of new job openings were created for health-care workers.
Expanding Careers
The time of diagnosing and treating practitioners is both valuable and costly. Thus, there has
been a drive to reassign certain routine tasks to suitably trained and qualified allied health
workers. As a result, workers such as physician assistants and dental hygienists are in high
demand. With the restructuring of the medical profession under managed care, the use of
physician assistants in a wide variety of settings is increasing significantly.
Technological Advances
Modern technology has created many career opportunities for health-care personnel. Early
in the 20th century, for example, the use of X rays for diagnostic purposes virtually created
the field of radiology and the need for qualified technologists and technicians. In the later
part of the 20th century, the development of CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound equipment
resulted in even more new career opportunities.
Facility and Service Expansion
Health care is undergoing a major restructuring because of the expansion of HMOs. HMOs
put an increased emphasis on primary care and preventive medicine. As a consequence, the
family practice specialty has grown, creating the need for support personnel. On the other
hand, cost-cutting efforts on the part of the federal government and HMOs will hold down
job opportunities in other fields. However, increased pressure for services by the growing
population of elderly has generated a strong demand for home-care services in various cat-

suits your personal needs, abilities, and goals, rather than simply “falling into” a job or let-
ting someone else decide for you. This chapter helps you make your decision for yourself.
Choosing a health-care career that’s right for you involves a three-step process:
1. You must prove to your own satisfaction (not just to your parents, your friends,
or your teachers) that you want to focus your attention on possible employ-
ment in the health professions.
2. You must determine which of six health occupational groups, discussed later,
is most interesting to you.
3. You must decide which of the career options in that occupational group you
want to investigate further.
The following sections discuss each of these steps in more detail.
Choosing the Best
Health-Care Career for You
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Step 1: Choosing to Pursue a Career in
Health Care
Your first step is deciding whether you are well-suited to a career in health care. To do this,
it’s helpful to match the characteristics of your “ideal job” to those commonly found in
health-care careers. In the following list, mark with an X each of the characteristics that must
be a component of your future career.
Characteristics of Your Ideal Career
____ Using instruments. You enjoy using your manual dexterity or skills and
working with your hands.
____ Teaching others. You like instructing or showing people how to do or under-
stand things.
____ Being precise. You expect to meet high standards of accuracy in your work.
____ Complex tasks. You enjoy jobs with many specific details and steps.
____ Frequent public contact. You enjoy working with people—for example, clients
seeking services.
____ Evident results. You want to see your progress or tangible results of your work.

Veterinarians • • •••••••••••
Associated Health Careers
Dental hygienists • • • • • • • • •
Licensed practical nurses • • • • ••••• • ••
Pharmacists • • •••• •••
Registered nurses • • • • • ••••• • •••
Technologist, Technician,
Assistant, and Aide Careers
Dental assistants • • • • • • • •
Dental laboratory technicians • • • • • • • •
EEG technologists and technicians • • • • • • • •
Electrocardiograph technicians • • • •••• ••
Emergency medical technicians • • • • • • • • • • •
Medical laboratory workers • • • • • • • •
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants •••• • ••• ••
Operating room technicians • • • • • • • •
Optometric assistants • • • • • • •
Radiological (X-ray) technologists • • • •••• •
Respiratory therapy workers • • • • • • •
Rehabilitation Careers
Occupational therapists • • • • • • • • • •
Occupational therapy assistants • • • • • • • •
Physical therapist assistants and aides • • • • • •
Physical therapists • • • • • • • • • • •
Speech pathologists and audiologists • • • • • • • • • • •
Other Health Careers
Health services administrators • • • • • •
Medical records administrators • • • • • •
Medical records technicians and clerks • • • • • •
Problem-solving ability