Have you given much thought to what you want to do when you

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Have you given much thought to what you want to
do when you finish high school?
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Little kids often say, I wanna be a

• Fireman
• Policeman
• Teacher
• Pro Athlete
• Doctor
• Nurse

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But youre not a kid any more . . . And its time
to weigh your options for the future.
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How do I get there? (And where is there for
me?)

• Do I need to go to college?
• Which college offers what I need?
• How long will I have to go to school?
• How will I pay for my education?
• Will it be easy to find a job?
• How much will I get paid?
• What will I be doing each day as a (blank)?

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What about medicine or nursing?
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Want to become a doctor?

• Very rewarding and honorable career
• Lengthy and challenging education and training (4
  yrs college, 4 yrs med school, 3 or more yrs
  residency)
• Selective process (two applicants for every one
  medical school spot)
• 50 of med students are now women
• Lifetime learning and maintenance of licensure
  and certification is expected

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Want to be a nurse?

• With nationwide shortage of nurses, many
  hospitals have openings and offer educational
  assistance/hiring bonuses
• More men are becoming nurses
• Three major paths to becoming an RN (associate
  degree, diploma, bachelors)
• Advanced opportunities include nurse
  practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse
  anesthetist, and nurse-midwife

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Okay, so what other choices do I have for
careers in the health care field?
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Some of these health professions may be familiar
to you . . .

• Laboratory technician
• Radiologic technologist
• Physical therapist
• Physician assistant
• Dental hygienist
• Dietitian

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And some may not . . .

• Art therapist
• Nuclear medicine technologist
• Cytopathology technologist
• Dosimetrist
• Cardiovascular technologist
• Health information administrator

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Okay, how do I choose which career is right for
me?

• Consider length of education, salary, job duties,
  current/future staffing needs
• And think about your interests and your
  personality type. For example . . .

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Are you a doer?

• Athletic trainer
• Dental laboratory technician
• Ophthalmic laboratory technician
• Orthotist/prosthetist

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• The ATHLETIC TRAINER functions in cooperation
  with medical personnel, athletic personnel, and
  athletes to keep athletes rehabilitated, injury
  free and able to perform at their highest
  potential.
• ? Education Bachelors Degree
• ? Salary Athletic trainers make an average of
  31,746 annually in SD.

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• DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS make dental
  prostheses-replacements for the natural teeth,
  including dentures and crowns.
• ? Education A high school diploma or equivalent
  is recommended for dental laboratory technician
  programs. Most dental laboratory technicians
  receive their education and training through a
  2-year program at a community college, vocational
  schools, technical college, or dental school, for
  which they may receive a certificate or an
  associate degree.
• ? Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
  23,254.

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• There are three levels of technical personnel in
  ophthalmology - ophthalmic assistants, ophthalmic
  technicians, and ophthalmic technologists. They
  work under the supervision and direction of an
  ophthalmologist to perform ophthalmic clinical
  duties. Ophthalmic Assistant/ Technician/Technolo
  gist are trained to take medical histories,
  administer eye medications, instruct the patient
  in care and use of corrective lenses, perform all
  the ophthalmologic tests necessary for
  preliminary and highly specific eye exams, assist
  in ophthalmic surgery, and maintain ophthalmic
  and surgical instruments, as well as office
  equipment. Ophthalmic technologists are trained
  for additional duties, such as taking ophthalmic
  photographs, using ultrasound, as well as
  providing instruction and supervision to other
  ophthalmic personnel.
• ? Education Training is generally six months to
  one year for ophthalmic assistants, one to two
  years in length for ophthalmic technicians, and
  two years for technologists.
• ? Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
  35,698. (salary.com)

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A Prosthetist/Orthotist designs and fits
artificial limbs, braces and appliances for body
deformities and disorders by carefully examining
the affected area for factors that would affect
the fitting and/or placement. Individuals
specializing in making and fitting artificial
limbs are designated a Prothetist. Individuals
specializing in making and fitting orthopedic
braces are designated an Orthotist. ?
Education Bachelors Degree ? Salary 57,002
(salary.com)
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Are you an artist?

• Creative Arts Therapist
• Medical Illustrator or Photographer
• Public Relations Specialist

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• Creative Arts Therapists help people improve
  their overall physical and mental health. They
  apply the principles and techniques of each art
  form in an effort to improve communications,
  allow expression of feelings, improve
  coordination, and increase cognitive and social
  function. Creative arts therapists usually
  specialize in a single area such as dance and
  movement therapy, drama therapy, art therapy,
  music therapy, or poetry therapy.
• ? Education Creative arts therapists are
  required to have a masters level education to
  practice. Each specialty has its own set of
  professional standards and requisite
  qualifications. Students interested in creative
  arts therapy should contact schools for
  information on admission and course of study
• ? Salary 36,600 (Mississippi Health Careers
  Center)

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• Medical Illustrators are those rare individuals
  who have both a demonstrated artistic ability and
  a detailed knowledge of human and animal anatomy,
  as well as knowledge of surgical and medical
  procedures. They create graphic representations
  of medical or biological subjects for use in
  textbooks, pamphlets, exhibits, instructional
  films, civil/criminal legal procedures, and
  teaching models.
• ? Education In order to become a medical
  illustrator, a student must have specialized
  training in art and the biological sciences. A
  bachelor's degree combining art and premedical
  courses is usually preferred, followed by a
  master's degree in medical illustration. There
  are only five accredited master's degree programs
  in the entire country, and they only accept a
  limited number of students. Therefore, an
  excellent academic record as well as an
  outstanding portfolio of your artwork is
  necessary. Students interested in medical
  illustration should contact schools for
  information on admission and course of study.
• ? Salary 42,300 (Mississippi Health Careers
  Center)
•  

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Public Relations Specialists prepare information
that keeps the public aware of their
organizations' policies, activities, and
accomplishments, and keeps management aware of
public attitudes. The main objective for these
specialists is to create a favorable image of
their company or organization among the public.
They often prepare and distribute fact sheets,
news releases, photographs, newsletters, scripts,
motion pictures or tape recordings to media
representatives and others who may be interested
in learning about or publicizing activities of
the organization. These specialists are involved
in promoting their organizations through such
publicity efforts as speeches, exhibits, films,
tours, and question/answer sessions. Many workers
in this field specialize in researching data,
creating ideas, writing copy or laying out
artwork. ? Education Bachelors Degree ?
Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
37,793.
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Are you touchy-feely?

• Massage Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Physical Therapist Assistant

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Massage Therapists apply manual massage
techniques to improve the health and well-being
of clients. They manipulate the soft tissue of
their clients by rubbing and applying pressure to
their body. ? Education Diploma or Associates
Degree ? Salary The average salary in South
Dakota is 29,764.
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Occupational Therapists plan and implement
purposeful, goal-oriented activities to diagnose,
evaluate and treat people whose function is
impaired by physical illness or injury, emotional
disorders, congenital or developmental disability
or aging. They use a variety of techniques to
help individuals develop or maintain daily living
skills and cope with the physical and emotional
effects of disability. They help patients learn
or relearn the tasks needed for everyday life at
home, work and school. Their goal is to help
patients have independent, productive and
satisfying lifestyles ? Education Masters
Degree ? Salary The average salary in South
Dakota is 50,398.
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Physical Therapists plan and administer treatment
for patients referred to them by a physician.
They work with the patient to improve mobility,
relieve pain or prevent permanent disability.
Their patients may be accident victims,
handicapped people, or victims of stroke,
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, nerve
injuries, heart disease, low back pain,
amputations, fractures or arthritis. ?
Education Doctorate Degree ? Salary The
average salary in South Dakota is 59,384.
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Physical Therapist Assistants, under the
supervision of a physical therapist, treat
patients who are disabled. As part of this
physical therapy team, the assistant helps
disabled people lead useful, productive lives.
They help patients restore physical functions and
prevent further permanent injury. Exercise,
massage, hot or cold packs, light and sound
treatment, traction, and electrical treatments
are a few of the procedures used. They also
instruct patients on the use of devices like
artificial limbs and braces. ? Education
Associates Degree ? Salary The average salary
in South Dakota is 28,038.
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Are you an investigator?

• Medical Laboratory Technologist
• Cardiovascular Technologist
• Chiropractor
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
• Pharmacy Technician

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Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and
cells. They look for bacteria, parasites and
other microorganisms analyze the chemical
content of fluids match blood for transfusions
and test for drug levels in the blood to show how
a patient is responding to treatment. These
technologists also prepare specimens for
examination, count cells and look for abnormal
cells. ? Education Bachelors Degree ?
Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
43,056.
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Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
assist physicians in diagnosing and treating
cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood
vessel) ailments. They help physicians perform
cardiac catheterization procedures, which
involves winding a small tube, or catheter,
through the patient's blood vessel from a spot on
the patient's leg into the heart to determine if
a blockage exists and for other diagnostic
purposes. In balloon angioplasty, a procedure
used to treat blockages of blood vessels,
technologists help physicians insert a catheter
with a balloon on the end to the point of the
obstruction. ? Education Associates
Degree ? Salary The average salary in South
Dakota is 40,747.
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Chiropractors treat patients by manual
manipulation of body parts, especially the spinal
column. Their system of treatment is based on the
principle that an individual's health is
determined largely by the nervous system. They
believe interference with the nervous system
impairs normal functions and that the
relationship between structure and function is a
significant health factor. ? Education
Post-Graduate, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) ?
Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
99,008.
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Diagnostic Medical Sonographers use sound waves
to generate an image used for assessment and
diagnosis of various medical conditions. This is
often referred to as an ultra sound. Perhaps one
of the most common uses for this technology is to
view the fetus in the womb, but ultra sounds are
used for many other diagnostic and treatment
procedures as well. Sonographers operate the
equipment, which collects reflected echoes and
forms an image that may be videotaped,
transmitted or photographed for interpretation
and diagnosis by a physician. ? Education
Associates Degree ? Salary The average salary
in South Dakota is 51,230.
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Pharmacy Technicians fill orders for unit doses
and prepackaged pharmacy goods under the
direction of a pharmacist. They also help with
recordkeeping, label and store supplies, and
clean equipment and work areas. They store
incoming merchandise in the proper location and
inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
Some pharmacy technicians also wait on customers,
answering simple questions, accepting their
payment for purchases, directing them to the
pharmacist for instruction on new prescriptions,
etc. Those working in hospitals may deliver
supplies which have been ordered by medical staff
and then filled by a pharmacist to patients'
rooms, surgery, etc. ? Education Associates
Degree, Diploma or Certificate ? Salary The
average salary in South Dakota is 24,752.
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Are you a people person?

• Mental Health Counselor
• Rehabilitation Counselor
• Home Health Aide
• Psychiatric Aide
• Human Resources Manager

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Mental Health Counselors help individuals or
groups who have problems related to their mental
health, with an emphasis on preventing severe
mental problems. They may help individuals deal
with addictions and substance abuse family,
parenting and marital problems suicide stress
management problems with self-esteem and issues
associated with aging and mental and emotional
health. ? Education Masters Degree ? Salary
The average salary in South Dakota is 38,563.
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Rehabilitation Counselors help individuals or
groups who are coping with personal, social and
vocational difficulties that result from birth
defects, illness, disease, accidents or the
stress of daily life. They counsel their patients
to help them become as independent and as
employable as possible. Rehabilitation counselors
coordinate activities for residents of care and
treatment facilities. They assess client needs
and design and implement rehabilitation programs
that may include personal and vocational
counseling, training and job placement. ?
Education Bachelors Degree ? Salary The
average salary in South Dakota is 30,347.
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Home Health Aides care for elderly, convalescent
and handicapped people in the homes of their
patients and help make it possible for these
people to live in their own homes rather than in
a health care facility. They provide limited
health care, housekeeping services, personal care
and emotional support for their clients. The care
they provide is "hands on." They may change the
patient's bedding, plan and prepare nutritious
meals, bathe, dress and groom the patient, and
assist patients in and out of bed. They also
provide health care on a limited basis. ?
Education On-the-job training ? Salary The
average salary in South Dakota is 20,363.
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Psychiatric Aides, also known as mental health
assistants or psychiatric nursing assistants,
care for mentally impaired or emotionally
disturbed individuals. They work under a team
that may include psychiatrists, psychologists,
psychiatric nurses, social workers, and
therapists. In addition to helping patients
dress, bathe, groom, and eat, psychiatric aides
socialize with them and lead them in educational
and recreational activities. Psychiatric aides
may play games such as cards with the patients,
watch television with them, or participate in
group activities, such as sports or field trips.
They observe patients and report any physical or
behavioral signs that might be important for the
professional staff to know. They accompany
patients to and from examinations and treatment.
? Education On-the-job training ? Salary
The average salary in South Dakota is 26,915.
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Human Resources Managers plan and direct all
aspects of employer-employee relations. They
recruit, interview, select and recommend
applicants to fill job openings. These managers
also must stay informed of rules and regulations
pertaining to policies governing hiring and
advancement. They also handle wage and salary
administration. Sometimes, especially in large
corporations and government organizations, they
specialize in one aspect of human resources
management such as training, education or
insurance. ? Education Bachelors Degree ?
Salary The average salary in South Dakota is
73,278.
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Are you into computers and technology?

• Computer Support Specialist
• Medical Records Technician

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Computer Support Specialists provide technical
assistance and training to computer users. The
computer users they help may be customers of the
company they work for or be co-workers in the
company or agency where they work. Regardless of
the situation, computer support technicians look
into problems that computer users are having with
either computer software or hardware (equipment)
and try to resolve the problem. ? Education
Associates Degree ? Salary The average salary
in South Dakota is 32,302.
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Medical Records Technicians maintain documents of
a patient's condition and treatment in a
hospital, clinic, or other health care facility.
The records they maintain contain the details
such as the 'who, what, why, where, when, and
how' of patient care during diagnosis and
treatment. Physicians, hospital administrators
and insurance companies rely on the records that
technicians organize. The records are also of
scientific and legal value. Although many
clerical skills are used, the technicians must
also code information such as diseases and
surgery, so accuracy is of utmost importance.
They must maintain records that meet the medical,
administrative, ethical, legal, accreditation,
and regulatory requirements of the health care
delivery system that they work for. ? Education
Associates Degree ? Salary The average salary
in South Dakota is 27,788.
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These are just some examples, there are many,
many more!

• Audiologist/Speech Language Pathologist
• Dental Assistant
• Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
• Medical Assistant
• Phlebotomist
• Physician Assistant
• Polysomnographic Technologist
• Radiation Therapist/Radiographer
• Respiratory Therapist
• Surgical Assistant

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The list goes on and on!
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Next time you think about what youre going to go
after high school, think outside the box!
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Consider a career in the health field!
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Thanks to www.healthpronet.org for much of the
information contained in this presentation!