Health Care Assistant Jobs

With the rapid development of medical technology and the rising number of elderly people needing care in the United States, there is an increasing demand for qualified health care professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts that employment opportunities for the health care assistant positions will grow between 21 and 50 percent through 2018.

Medical Assistant

• Working under the supervision of health care practitioners such as doctors, chiropractors and podiatrists, medical assistants perform a variety of practical supportive tasks that contribute to the efficient operation of a medical office or clinic. Duties of a medical assistant may include filing medical records, scheduling appointments, arranging billing and insurance forms, recording medical histories, providing basic patient care, performing laboratory tests, preparing medications and conducting basic diagnostic tests. A one- or two-year certificate, diploma or associate's degree is required to become a medical assistant. The typical income of a medical assistant ranges from $23,700 to $33,050. In 2008, the top 10% earned over $39,570.

Surgical Assistant

• A surgical assistant, also referred to as a surgical technologist or technician, performs supportive tasks before, during and after surgical procedures. Surgical assistants sterilize the instruments, equipment and environment required for surgeries, which may also include shaving and disinfecting the incision areas on patients and transporting patients to the operating room. Additional duties include holding and passing instruments to surgeons, disposing of medical waste and specimens, preparing and applying dressings, securing the safe operation of equipment and cleaning the operating room following procedures. A 9- to 24-month certificate, diploma or associate's degree program is the typical training requirement for a surgical assistant. The average annual salary of a surgical technologist is $38,740.

Personal and Home Health Aides

• The projected 46 to 50 percent increase in demand for personal and home health aides is among the highest expected growth rates of all health care professions. This growth is largely due to shifts in demographics; an increasing number of elderly people will continue to require assistance with basic day-to-day activities. As an alternative to the high expense of inpatient nursing home and hospital care, personal and home health aides provide basic care to elderly, chronically ill or disabled clients in their own residences. Duties may include housekeeping, personal hygiene care and basic nursing tasks such as distributing medicine and monitoring vital signs. Training is typically provided on the job, although certificate and diploma programs are available. Personal and home health aides typically earn between $7.81 and $10.98 per hour.

Practical Nurse

• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also referred to as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), provide basic health care under the supervision of registered nurses and medical physicians. LPNs assist in the delivery of nursing care by performing general duties, including preparing and administering injections and enemas, monitoring and recording vital signs, dressing wounds, attending to personal hygiene and collecting laboratory samples for testing. Required preparation includes a one-year certificate or diploma program followed by a national examination administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). On average, LPNs can expect to make $39,030 a year.

Physician Assistant

• Under the supervision and direction of medical doctors and surgeons, physician assistants provide a range of preventive, therapeutic and diagnostic services within the health care field. They may specialize in certain areas, such as family medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, emergency medicine, geriatrics or internal medicine. Duties include recording patient histories, conducting basic physical examinations, diagnosing and treating illnesses, educating patients on preventive care, administering prescriptions and assisting during surgical procedures. Required prepation includes a two-year associate's degree or four-year bachelor’s degree, followed by a national licensing examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). As of 2008, the median yearly income of a physician assistant was $81,230.