Healthcare and Nursing

Allied health professionals are important to the healthcare delivery system. While there is not one strict definition of allied healthcare, generally speaking, allied health refers to those areas within healthcare that are distinct from medicine and nursing. The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions has more information here about allied health professions.

Clinicians are healthcare professionals qualified in the clinical practice of medicine. Clinicians work together to provide care and support the overall health of their patients in healthcare settings. Clinical researchers design, implement, and monitor studies designated for clinical development. The most common clinical paths beyond nursing for BC students include Physician, Dentist, Veterinarian, Physician Assistant, and Clinical Researcher. This section covers the various clinical professions within medicine that are beyond nursing (see the Nursing tab).

Healthcare administration incorporates a variety of business functions within a healthcare organization or system. The ultimate goal of healthcare administrators is to ensure effective and efficient healthcare delivery. While the work of healthcare administrators (from health policy to human resources) occurs behind the scenes, it is critical to the quality and accessibility of frontline healthcare.

Mental health providers help to address situational or chronic mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or addiction. Many mental health providers work with clients in individual or group therapy, but the environment may vary from private practice to an educational or government organization. This resource on types of mental health professionals explains the differences between psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists/counselors.

Nursing is the largest healthcare field. It combines science and technology with the desire to help people. The two most popular career options in nursing include becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP). Both RNs and NPs work closely with patients to monitor their health and provide care. NPs hold graduate degrees and specialize in areas such as family, adult, gerontology, psychiatry, women's health, anesthesia, and more. While a majority of nurses work in hospitals, opportunities are available in a variety of settings including private healthcare, nonprofits, education, the military, and more. 

Graduates of the Connell School of Nursing (CSON) undergraduate program will be prepared to fill RN positions and graduates of the Connell School of Nursing will be prepared to fill NP positions as well as research and education positions. Non-CSON students who are interested in a career in nursing will take a different path to nursing, as additional education is required to enter nursing as a RN or NP. 
 

According to the CDC Foundation, “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases.” Whereas clinicians typically take care of individuals, those working in public health think about and develop interventions to address the health needs of communities. This video from the American Public Health Association (APHA) explains the field of public health further. Public health workers can work in public, private, non-profit, or educational settings.

Careers in nutrition and fitness include those in which one is helping others to achieve healthy lives and lifestyles. Professionals who work in these fields need to have strong knowledge of health factors, nutritional facts, and the human body. Some of the key skills required to enter these fields include: communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.