I have previously received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and immediately started working as a Patient Access Representative, making an average salary of thirty-thousand U.S. dollars in healthcare settings. Before working in the healthcare environment, I literally did not think much about working in an environment where healthcare services are the operational output of the organization. I worked there for five years, and that was the time when internal transformation occurred. I began taking an interest in pursuing a professional degree in healthcare, especially an associate degree in Radiography and MRI Technology, which owes a great deal to the broader understanding of healthcare services in society. A professional degree in radiography will not only double my average annual income but also increase my ability to contribute positively to society as the healthcare sector continues to grow due to the nationwide demand for healthcare services.
Analysis
I have always dreamt of doing work that is considered most ordinary while they are a central part of the system’s functioning. Working in the healthcare setting over the last five years brought me to the conclusion of pursuing a career in radiography, which requires skills that I already possess. I always had a keen eye for ‘attention to detail,’ which means noticing things that can be meaningful but aren’t apparent. The role of a radiologist involves attention to detail because it requires developing complex treatment plans and making precise efforts to form a diagnosis. In the last five years, I have met several radiographers, and all of them had the ability to focus on ‘attention to detail’ despite having technical knowledge of therapeutic or diagnostic areas. Two other skills central to a career in radiography are problem-solving and communication skills, coupled with the skill of teamwork. To be honest, I am not the kind of person who is first to take the lead, but I always support leaders who believe in growth for everyone. I can take the team along and lead where needed. The suitability of my skills for a career in radiography is the cornerstone of my decision to pursue a professional degree in healthcare.
The recent estimates by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest a projected growth of seven per cent over the next decade in employment opportunities for radiologic and MRI technologists (Radiologic and MRI Technologists, 2021). It further states, “Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients as its work deliverables” (Radiologic and MRI Technologists, 2021). One obvious reason for the growth of work opportunities is the ageing population, which requires demand for diagnostic and imaging tools. Additionally, the present median annual wage for radiologic technologists and technicians is twice as high as my current salary package, which makes things rewarding in financial terms. The field of radiologic technologists requires experience and certification for rewarding work opportunities, and their work is in healthcare facilities with full-time work opportunities. Apart from being compassionate, problem-solving skills require precise decision-making within a limited time regarding the creation of treatment plans and diagnosis of patients. The ability to deliver knowledge related to treatment and diagnosis to patients requires efficient communication skills, along with technical know-how. Medical and technical knowledge assists in getting better at service delivery, but knowledge of communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for efficient work delivery.
The key skills and expertise required of radiologic technologists are appealing to me as they align with my personality traits and behaviour. I want to work in an environment where service delivery in humanitarian service and working more is incentivized not only in a monetary sense but also in the form of compassion for each other. I have always thought of living a meaningful life, and deep down in my life, I realized that it is important to remain a functional and productive member of society. However, my previous idea of contributing to lives through activities that require solely financial strength has been categorically rejected over the last five years. I met several people in healthcare settings with lives of content because they feel connected to a higher purpose in their lives. Serving humanity is at the core of peaceful coexistence in society and generally at a worldwide level. I wish to have a secure and long-term career with a professional degree in radiography.
Conclusion
Working for over five years in the healthcare sector opened me up to wider opportunities within the sector that require collective effort for reforms. Our healthcare sector is expensive when compared with other developed nations of the world, but we still manage to receive healthcare services that many as close as south of the United States border are lacking. We can collectively work to reform the system by providing the skills & resources. The choice to pursue a career in radiography was motivated by the times when I thought of doing something useful with my life. I did manage to explore available options for enhancing my skills and expertise through gaining a professional degree, and a career in radiography can open up wider opportunities available within the healthcare setting. The financial opportunities with a hundred per cent rise in average annual salary income are supplementary to the non-monetary benefits of gaining satisfaction from work for the overall benefit of society. Knowledge can provide insight into the merits and demerits of a career, but these careers are much more than just job positions waiting to be filled. They are real people with real feelings about the state of affairs around them.
References
Radiologic and MRI Technologists. (2021, April 9). Bls.gov; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm
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