Most people focus on the highest-paying medical jobs in health care, but that often means going to school for eight to 10 years! You may decide that you want to get started in your career before that.
With so many healthcare professionals available, you don’t have to be a medical doctor. We will discuss some non-physician roles and also help you understand what a Doctor of Naprapathy is and why you may choose to become one instead because of the lower cost investment.
Everyone deserves to have a job they love where they can care for others. You’re also focused on career growth, and these positions are all part of the healthcare team. We’re all focused on preventative care, disease treatment, and overall health and wellness. Let’s take a look at the top medical careers to consider!
Top Medical Careers to Consider
Doctor of Naprapathy
Most people think of chiropractors when they focus on alternative medicine. These professionals use joint adjustments and spinal manipulation for pain management and mobility improvement. However, naprapathy is another therapy that’s based on osteopathic medicine and chiropractic care.
Naprapathic medicine doesn’t focus on fast or intense joint adjustments like chiropractic medicine. Instead, it uses gentle and deep tissue manipulation and nutritional counseling to provide the best results. With naprapathy, you locate constricted and strained connective tissues, returning them to their healthy state.
Rigidity in the connective tissues and muscles might impair normal functionality of your nerve pathways, which limits blood flow and can lead to inflammation, restricted movement, pain, and a longer recovery time. Naprapathic medicine treats spinal problems, including low back pain. However, it also helps with plantar fasciitis, bursitis, sports injuries, whiplash, shoulder pain, and more.
Many people find that they can’t take intense bone or joint adjustments and shy away from chiropractic medicine. However, naprapathy is often gentler and better. There’s a significant need for naprapaths because the treatment is now more widely accepted with few professionals who can help.
Respiratory Therapists
If you’ve ever had trouble breathing, you probably spoke to a respiratory therapist. They treat various breathing disorders and chronic respiratory diseases, including emphysema and asthma. Patients can include premature neonates or elderly patients who suffer from lung disease. You only need an Associate’s degree to get started, though certification is necessary.
Nutritionists and Dietitians
Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the field of nutrition and food. They can help patients manage obesity and promote a healthy diet and healthier lives. Traditionally, they’re valuable resources, and a narapath also offers this service!
MRI Technologists and Radiation Therapists
Radiation and MRI technicians are also paid well and don’t have to go through so many years of schooling to get started in their careers. These professionals are called radiographers and perform imaging services. MRI technologists use magnetic resonance imaging scans to help diagnose diseases.
Cardiovascular Technologists or Technicians and Medical Sonographers
Diagnostic imaging workers include vascular technologists, cardiovascular technologists/technicians, and medical sonographers. They use specialty equipment to run diagnostic tests for physicians so that they can make informed treatment plans.
Typically, they work in hospitals, but some perform diagnostic tests right in the doctor’s office or laboratory.
Prosthetics and Orthotic Professionals
Prosthetic and orthotic professionals are highly paid healthcare providers. They create, fabricate, fit, and measure orthotic and prosthetic devices for any age. Likewise, they work with braces, artificial limbs, and surgical/medical prosthetic devices and are found in hospitals, health and personal care, and manufacturing.
Generally, you require a Master’s degree to get started with this career.
Occupational Health/Safety Technicians
Organizations must meet workplace standards for health and safety, and these professionals are always on the front lines. They’re highly paid healthcare providers who analyze and collect data in various work environments to ensure that the company meets industry regulations. Likewise, they offer recommendations and help resolve compliance problems.
Chiropractors
Chiropractic care is one of the highest-paying jobs, and they must be thoroughly educated. In fact, chiropractors treat patients with spinal adjustments or manipulation and other interventions. They alleviate health problems within the neuromusculoskeletal system and often work independently.
Such medical professionals require a chiropractic degree (doctoral or professional).
Registered Nurses
If you want to be in the medical profession without going to school for over a decade, a registered nurse could be the best choice. They’re skilled in the nursing position and focused on patient care. There are multiple ways to become a registered nurse, but you generally require a Bachelor’s degree in nursing.
RNs coordinate patient care and offer support and advice to patients and families. They’re often found in nursing homes, home health care, physician offices, and hospitals.
Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists are crucial in dental offices. They’re responsible for cleaning a person’s teeth and checking for decay and oral disease, such as gingivitis. Likewise, they offer other preventative care measures, including X-rays and fluoride treatments.
The hygienist focuses on educating patients on how to improve their oral health and maintain a healthy mouth.
Dentists
Dentists generally treat patients, focusing on the teeth and diagnosing oral health problems. The general practitioner is the most common, but there are other professions. These include oral and maxillofacial surgeons, prosthodontists, and orthodontists.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Nuclear medicine technologists utilize sophisticated and specialty medical equipment, such as scanners, to create images of different body parts to treat medical conditions. They often prepare radioactive drugs, administering them to the patient. That means the abnormal areas within the body look different. Doctors can easily locate and treat issues.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech therapists diagnose, assess, and treat swallowing disorders and communication issues. They tend to work with adults or children who struggle because of autism, developmental delays, brain injuries, and strokes. Most of them work in schools, but they’re also found in hospitals and require a Master’s degree before they can practice.
Genetic Counselors
Genetic counselors have specialized training in counseling patients and genetics. They offer education, support, and risk assessment to those who want information about inherited conditions. Likewise, they serve as patient advocates and interpret genetic tests.
You often find them in diagnostic laboratories, private/public hospitals, and medical centers.
Radiation Therapists
A radiation therapist must administer high dosages of radiation to treat cancer patients and other diseases. They analyze and collect patient data to plan for treatment. Generally, radiation therapists require an Associate’s degree, though licensure requirements vary based on their state. Radiation therapy jobs are found in a hospital setting, outpatient clinics, and physician offices.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists have extensive training and can treat sick, injured, and disabled patients with the therapeutic use of normal activities. Generally, the occupational therapist works with patients to recover, develop, and improve the skills necessary for daily life.
Traditionally, occupational therapy happens in clinics and hospitals, but you can find home-health options. These therapists are also in schools and nursing homes.
Occupational therapy requires a Master’s degree.
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists can help patients manage pain caused by injury or illness and improve their range of motion. Often, the physical therapist has a critical role in the rehabilitation and recovery of individuals who have recently had surgery or must recover from their loss of function.
Traditionally, the physical therapist creates a physical therapy program for each individual and completes assessments.
To get into the physical therapy field, you require a professional or doctoral degree.
Biomedical Engineers
A biomedical engineer is responsible for designing and analyzing solutions using science and medical principles. They are there to improve the effectiveness and quality of patient care through advancements in software, computer systems, devices, and equipment.
Medical and Health Services Managers
Medical and health services managers are often referred to as healthcare managers, healthcare administrators, and healthcare executives. They’re responsible for directing and coordinating medical services in many settings. The professionals could manage the full facility or focus on one department or clinical area.
Sometimes, they manage medical practices for many clinics and physicians. They must understand technology, healthcare laws, finance, ethics, and business.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants are highly educated and paid well because they diagnose, examine, and treat patients. Typically, the physician assistant focuses on prescribing medication when necessary and works full-time in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and physician offices.
You must have a Master’s degree to become a physician assistant.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
An advanced practice registered nurse can include midwives, nurse anesthetists, or nurse practitioners. These registered nurses offer primary and specialty healthcare. However, they must have a Master’s degree and pass a national exam and state certification test.
Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners
Nurse midwives are part of the APRN network and often perform physical exams, run diagnostic tests, counsel patients, and create treatment plans. Sometimes, they work with a nurse practitioner, as well.
Pharmacist
Pharmacists work in many settings and are responsible for providing prescription medications to patients and instructing them on how to safely use the medicine. They also offer advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and give immunizations.
Pharmacy Technicians
This healthcare professional performs various pharmacy-related functions and works with a pharmacist. Training and certification vary between states and employers.
Naprapathy vs. Chiropractic Care
Many people are confused about the differences between chiropractic care and naprapathy. While both disciplines can be highly effective, it’s important to know they aren’t the same. However, naprapathy and chiropractic medicine have similarities.
For example, they both manipulate the joints, but naprapaths focus more on connective tissues. Naprapaths and chiropractors aren’t trained to diagnose ailments, but their methodologies vary.
While chiropractic care is often jolting and quick, naprapathy is gentler and focuses on the deep tissues. Likewise, chiropractors generally use X-rays to determine how bad misalignment is, but naprapaths use a charting system to find the cause of the pain.
Chiropractors only treat the body itself, so there’s no focus on nutrition or emotional health. However, these are interconnected. Naprapaths include all three when treating a patient, offering a more holistic approach.
Why Choose Naprapathy Instead of Becoming a Medical Doctor?
Naprapathy offers many benefits to patients. You can learn about connective tissue, which is its own system that provides the architectural support your body needs. You’re focused on functional movement and transporting nutrients to make it all possible.
An injury to one component of such a complex system can have ripple effects throughout the body. Overall, naprapathy has many benefits, such as:
- Enhanced physical and mental well-being
- Reduction or elimination of headaches
- Reduction or elimination of pain medications
- Improved posture
- Improved range of motion
- Improved sleep
- Increased blood flow and circulation
- Stress reduction
- Relief of muscle tension and pain
If these things sound good, you might want to consider becoming a naprapath. These medical professionals are in short supply, but they’re crucial. Many people are turning away from traditional medicine and focusing on the whole body. You can get trained now to offer assistance to those in need.
While you may wish to seek a traditional medical career, there’s often a lower investment on your part when you become a Doctor of Naprapathy. The healthcare industry is booming, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a nurse or MD. In fact, you can diagnose and treat people holistically, earn decent money, and still be part of the medical profession!
Receive Education from SUNM Today
Are you interested in becoming a naprapath? Many would-be health care professionals are turning away from traditional medicine and focusing more on alternative treatments. That’s what Southwest University of Naprapathic Medicine is all about!
You may want to get an appointment yourself to see the difference naprapathic care offers. However, if you wish to jump-start your career and earn a decent salary, it’s time to think about attending Southwest University of Naprapathic Medicine.
Learn how to treat aches, stress, and pain without drugs! You’ll find out how to chart the spine and offer hands-on manual therapy to others. The health care industry is sure to grow, with many people focusing on non-traditional medicine. Be part of this!
Visit the SUNM website now to apply, learn about tuition, or ask questions. We’re here to teach you and help you start a new career!
