A career in healthcare is something that many of us consider when we’re young. The idea of going to work and helping people every day is an appealing one. You might have imagined yourself saving lives, inventing cures and making a genuine difference to both individuals and the community at large. However, while a healthcare career is something that most people give some thought, it’s one that only a select few follow through with. Training to be a doctor or nurse takes a long time. You spend years at school, even longer if you want to go into a specific speciality. During this time, you face tiring schedules, stressful exams, work placements and constant hard work. While racking up plenty of debt and struggling to get by. Even once you have graduated, there’s a lifetime of learning ahead of you. Being a healthcare professional is hard work, and it’s not something that many of us are cut out for.

The idea of helping others through healthcare might still be appealing to you as an adult. But, later in life, it might seem impossible. You might think that it’s too late to train to be a doctor or nurse, and even if it wasn’t, the long hours and uncompromising schedules might not suit your lifestyle. Fortunately, there are plenty of other careers in the healthcare industry, many of which offer more flexible hours and need less training. Here’s a look at some of the ones that you may not have considered.

Pharmacist

Doctors surgeries are exceptionally busy. Unfortunately, many people are forced to wait for days or even weeks for an appointment or find themselves waiting for hours at walk-in centres. Many of these minor injuries and illnesses could be looked at by a pharmacist. Pharmacists can’t prescribe. But, they can offer advice, assess symptoms, and refer you to a doctor if it’s needed.

Pharmacies are growing in responsibility all of the time, and they provide a valuable level of care in our busy healthcare system. Starting your own pharmacy, either as a trained pharmacist or manager, can be tough, but it’s certainly rewarding. Read up on profit in pharmacy business for more information.

Dentist

Another healthcare sector that often gets overlooked is dentistry. Looking after people’s teeth doesn’t seem as noble or interesting as taking care of the rest of their bodies. But, dentists don’t just give people a pretty smile (although, that’s an essential job on its own) they also take care of oral hygiene, prevent infections, and can spot symptoms of underlying health conditions, long before anyone else.

Dietician

Working as a dietician or nutritionist doesn’t need as much training as being a doctor, but the profession is becoming more critical than it’s ever been before, as we face a vast obesity crisis, but also as we fight more cases of childhood eating disorders. A dietician doesn’t just help people one on one; they also educate groups, at schools, community centres, workplaces and surgeries, about the importance of proper diet and healthy eating. This is a profession that probably saves a lot more lives than you’d imagine.