When asked to explain art therapy, I usually begin by saying that art, as therapy, goes way back. I say that before there were anti-depressants there was poetry and, before there was language, there were cave drawings. A person with the blues was given a poem to read to help lift their spirit. Using art to express yourself has its roots ...

h4. At a Glance • Employment is expected to increase much faster than average. • Job opportunities should be good, particularly in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings. • Physical therapists need a master’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program and a State license, requiring passing scores on national and State examinations. [widget:training_channel_physical_therapist] [widget:1102] • About 6 out of 10 ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become an emergency medical technician because of a great volunteer experience. When I was 16, I volunteered at the local fire department along with three of my best friends from high school. Early on, I took the necessary classes and became certified in cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and advanced first aid. I ...

Nature of the Work Physical therapist assistants and aides help physical therapists to provide treatment that improves patient mobility, relieves pain, and prevents or lessens physical disabilities of patients. A physical therapist might ask an assistant to help patients exercise or learn to use crutches, for example, or an aide to gather and prepare therapy equipment. Patients include accident victims and ...

With an ability to think quickly, act decisively and stay calm when lives are at stake, critical-care nurses are among the in-demand healthcare professionals who make life-or-death decisions about patient care every day. Critical-care nurses treat patients at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems and also tend to the emotional well-being of those patients' families. That's no small ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a surgical technologist because I entered a health occupations program as part of my high school curriculum, which I enjoyed very much. After completing high school, I entered the United States Air Force. There were lots of career paths from which to choose. Since I enjoyed working with people in a ...

Nature of the Work Dental assistants work closely with, and under the supervision of, dentists. (See the statement on dentists elsewhere in the Handbook.) Assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. Dental assistants should not be confused with dental hygienists, who are licensed to perform different clinical tasks. [widget:1102] Dental assistants sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, ...

h4. I chose this career because... I choose to become a dental hygienist because it offered independence and a chance to help other people. At first, I wanted to be a teacher. However, at the time when I needed to make a career decision, I realized that the teaching jobs were limited and very competitive. College Education • Associate of Science, ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a medical appliance technician because it allows me to be an integral part of helping disabled people regain their mobility and independence. After graduating from high school, I worked for a number of years in the repair and manufacture of boats. My grandfather's wide knowledge of tools, and my mother's appreciation ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a medial records technician because I found the right position that made use of my interests and education. I was trained to be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) as a member of the Army Reserves at Fort Totten, New York. Even though I completed the training, I was not sure about ...

Nature of the Work Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments, the most familiar being the x ray. In nuclear medicine, radionuclides—unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously—are used to diagnose and treat disease. Radionuclides are purified and compounded to form radiopharmaceuticals. Nuclear medicine technologists administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients and then monitor the characteristics and functions of tissues or ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a respiratory therapist because I was impressed with the college curriculum and the role of the respiratory care professional in the hospital setting. Actually, I could not make up my mind which career to pursue after high school until I attended a career day. After speaking with a respiratory therapy instructor, ...

When providing bedside care loses its luster, working in a nonclinical specialty can renew your love for nursing and draw on your clinical experience. The following positions exist at most healthcare institutions and are well-suited to experienced nurses. However, only a few such jobs may be available at a given facility. h4. Case Managers Case managers choreograph all aspects of patient ...

Nature of the Work Psychologists study the human mind and human behavior. Research psychologists investigate the physical, cognitive, emotional, or social aspects of human behavior. Psychologists in health service fields provide mental health care in hospitals, clinics, schools, or private settings. Psychologists employed in applied settings, such as business, industry, government, or nonprofit organizations, provide training, conduct research, design organizational systems, ...

Are you a hands-on person who likes a lot of patient contact? Or do you prefer to keep a little distance? Are you supercharged, or do you prefer a slower pace? Intrigued by watching live images, or are you content with still shots? Your answers to questions like these can help you choose a post-primary certification in radiologic technology (RT) that's ...

When most people consider a career in health care, they immediately think of becoming a doctor or nurse. The tides of conventional medicine are changing as there is a greater demand for holistic medicine. Acupuncture is the newest "oldest profession" to emerge to meet this demand. So, if you want to join the coolest profession on earth, here are 7 Tips ...

Nature of the Work Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses. (The work of physicians and surgeons and of registered nurses is described elsewhere in the Handbook.) The nature of the direction and supervision required varies by State and job setting. ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a medical technologist, because I liked the challenging college program and the job outlook. When I started college, I intended to major in sociology. However, one of my classes was called “the sociology of deviant behavior”. Course requirements included working with prison inmates on-site. I didn’t think I could do that, ...

h4. I chose this career because... I chose to become a dentist because it allows me to be self-employed, work independently, use my artistic ability, and express my creativity. Achieving gratification through helping others is most important to me. Education • Associate of Arts, Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, Miami, Florida • Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Howard University College ...

Entrepreneurial occupational therapists (OTs) are finding rich rewards by providing both rehabilitation and consulting services to assisted-living facilities and their residents. Assisted-living facilities occupy a niche between independent-living facilities and more-expensive skilled nursing homes, catering to people who are fairly independent but who need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or who suffer dementia or incontinence. [widget:occupational_therapy_quiz] As society ...