Choosing a healthcare career path is one of the smartest long-term investments anyone can make. Right now, the US is experiencing a significant shortage of healthcare workers, which is expected to worsen due to increased demand, an aging workforce, and staff burnout.
Healthcare jobs are also less likely to be replaced by AI, offer strong opportunities for professional growth, and come with competitive salaries. Just as importantly, many healthcare professionals report high job satisfaction, knowing their work directly improves lives every day.
For those who have already chosen a career in healthcare, that decision puts you on a promising path. Still, selecting the right specialty can feel overwhelming. If you’re weighing your options, this guide will walk you through the key factors to consider.
Your Current Skills and Passions
What motivated you to choose a career in healthcare? What type of activities would you like to do? Do you feel fulfilled working directly with patients, or do you prefer working in a more secluded environment (like a lab)?
Questions like these will help narrow down your interests and identify the career paths that fit your skills and passions.
Let’s take nursing as an example. Good communication skills, mental resilience, critical thinking, and physical stamina are traits that set you up for success as a registered nurse (RN). On the other hand, if you’d like to be more involved with patient treatment, you may be more suited for the role of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
Either way, as a nurse, you are always in direct contact with patients, helping them feel more comfortable with the medical process and ensuring they understand each procedure.
Career Growth Potential
Today, healthcare is one of the few industries that still offers long-term job stability. That said, it’s important to choose a career path that gives you flexibility as your goals and circumstances change over time.
Nursing is a strong example. It’s one of the most vertically and horizontally mobile career paths in the modern workforce. Compared to many healthcare roles, you can enter the field relatively quickly and continue advancing as you gain experience and education.
Many nurses begin as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), which has a lower barrier to entry, and can transition to Registered Nurse (RN) in as little as one year. From there, RNs can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and move into leadership or management roles. For those who want to go further, advanced practice options are also available.
Of course, there are other practical nurse career opportunities, equally as interesting and well-compensated. LPNs are in demand across hospitals, clinics, residential care facilities, and other healthcare settings, so you can grow horizontally by gaining experience in different work settings.
Education Requirements
The path you choose makes a huge difference in terms of when you can start working and earning. For those who are in a hurry, there are roles where you enter the workforce quickly but pursue further education on the side.
Here are a few examples of such career paths:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): 4–12 weeks of training
- Phlebotomist: 4–8 months
- Medical Assistant (MA): 6–12 months
- Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN): ~12 months
While these roles make it easy to break the ice and get employed, they’re also on the low end for payment. For instance, the 2024 median pay for an LPN was $62,340 per year, while for CNAs it was $39,430 per year.
If you’re looking to start your career with a higher salary, you’ll need an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, which usually takes 2 years of study. For hospital-based roles and leadership, you’ll need a Bachelor of Science (BSN or BS) or another advanced degree, which takes 4+ years of study.
Work-Life Balance
Everyone knows healthcare workers are some of the most overworked active professionals. While things are changing, burnout is still among the most cited reasons workers cite for leaving healthcare.
To avoid such a scenario, make sure you understand what it means to be successful in your chosen field. Check the level of worker shortage and the reasons behind it. Talk to professionals who already work in the field and gauge their work-life balance before committing to anything long-term.
Take the First Step Forward
Once you’ve considered your skills, passions, education requirements, growth potential, and work-life balance, you’ll know which path you want to pursue. Next, pick a direction, map the first small move, and execute. There’s no need to wait any longer.