The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled healthcare systems all over the world. Within weeks of the outbreak, business systems worldwide were forced to shut down in attempts to curb the novel virus. People had no choice but to confine themselves in their homes, with millions of people agonizing over lost income and struggling businesses.
The human and economic costs of the pandemic are unprecedented and continue to rise alarmingly. The public health crisis has propelled healthcare professionals to the frontlines, armed with an enormous responsibility to save lives. The pandemic has brought to light numerous weaknesses and inequalities existing within the healthcare system.
However, it has also given rise to new job roles and skilled professionals to combat the rising challenges and successfully bend the curve. Let’s take a closer look at the trending healthcare professionals during the pandemic.
Here, take a look:
Public Health
The pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis, and there’s a growing demand for epidemiologists, researchers, and policymakers. This demand stems from the need to curb the spread of the virus, spreading awareness, and conducting research.
With all hopes set on the success of the vaccination drives, public health professionals play pivotal roles in ensuring public safety. These professionals redefine healthcare quality, diagnostic measures, vaccinations, treatments, and other processes. Public health experts work in numerous capacities, such as epidemiology and healthcare research.
Those who desire a research-focused career have much to gain by pursuing a masters in public health online to learn the ropes. Higher education equips public health researchers with the right tools and platforms to impact healthcare policymakers. Today, the world needs professionals who can undertake ground-breaking research initiatives, improve medicinal drugs, and introduce effective vaccines.
Skilled Nurses
Nurses are on the frontlines of hospital emergency rooms, surgical wards, and all other spheres of patient care. Nurse practitioners have played a dynamic role in combatting the rise of COVID-positive patients. These compassionate professionals have put themselves at risk to help patients combat the agonizing symptoms of the virus.
Healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly overwhelmed, and the acute shortages of physicians deepen the crisis. There’s a rising demand for skilled nurses who can effectively manage patient care and treatment responsibilities without clinical supervision. Nurses are pursuing higher education to advance their careers and carve out an active role in clinical processes.
Skilled and experienced nurses are prescribing medications, designing treatments, and facilitating patient care with timely interventions. Raising community awareness is another responsibility that falls on the shoulders of nurses. These professionals spread awareness to eliminate ambiguities that discourage people from getting vaccinated and taking preventive measures.
Laboratory Technicians
COVID-19 testing has emerged as an uncomfortable new reality that has transformed our lives. It is a mandatory exercise for traveling to a foreign country, and some employers also demand COVID-19 tests. Since last year, the workload for medical laboratories has increased tenfold. These laboratories are overwhelmed by the rise of COVID-19 testing, giving rise to an increased demand for trained lab technicians.
In 2021, laboratory technicians and technologists can enjoy a wealth of opportunities that come with job security. These professionals have essential roles in supporting patient care and treatment teams. They collect swab samples from millions of people to perform tests and deliver results.
Epidemiologist
As governments worldwide are gearing up to launch home-grown vaccination drives, the demand for epidemiologists is rising steadily. Epidemiologists have a crucial role to play whenever a disease breaks out or another healthcare crisis spirals out of control. These healthcare professionals have numerous responsibilities that revolve around curbing the spread of the disease.
Essentially, epidemiologists are investigators who identify the causes of the disease, populations that are risks, and measures to curb the spread. They establish preventive measures, mitigation and response measures, and post-pandemic recovery strategies.
There’s a growing demand for epidemiologists in the private and government sectors. These professionals work for governments, private hospitals, and medical research organizations.
Home Health Aides
The pandemic has created unprecedented difficulties for seniors, chronic patients, and disabled people who need 24/7 care and monitoring. Now that patients can’t head over to hospitals and clinics, they need home health aides to provide the care they require. There’s a rising demand for home health aides and personal care aides.
Nurses and home health aides look after seniors, disabled people, and chronic patients and maintain their life quality and well-being. These professionals are skilled and experienced in administering medications, examining vital signs, and managing life-threatening symptoms. They also provide patients with companionship, alongside helping with grooming, housekeeping, running errands, and other chores.
Conclusion
In 2021, it’s much easier to carve out a non-medical healthcare job that offers financial stability and security. Today, the healthcare industry is ripe with opportunities as systems worldwide are mulling reforms and innovations. There’s an enormous demand for skilled healthcare professionals as hospitals, and medical care systems are increasingly overwhelmed and overpopulated.
Governments and healthcare leaders focus on ushering innovations to prevent such a crisis from erupting again. Scientists and climate change experts observe that more pandemics and viruses are likely to emerge if the situation worsens. Healthcare systems need clinical researchers, technicians, medical investigators, and public health professionals to identify the risk factors and prevent healthcare crises.
