The medical profession is a rewarding one, and it’s no surprise that many people want to be a part of it. But what if you’re considering a career in the medical field and have children? Can you still have a family and work in this field?
Absolutely! Here are some things to keep in mind:
-You don’t have to sacrifice your family life for your career. There are plenty of ways to balance both.
-If you’re considering having children, make sure that you factor into your decision how much time off will be needed before they are born (at least 6 weeks) as well as after they’re born (6 weeks). This will help ensure that everyone is prepared for the transition into parenthood.
-If there’s anything you can do at home or online, other than working directly with patients, take advantage of that opportunity! You’ll be able to spend more time with your family and still contribute to your overall goal of getting through school and becoming a doctor.
Medical Careers With Children
Many medical careers offer specialization in pediatrics for those wishing to focus on the unique needs of children and adolescents. Medical careers working with children offer tremendous personal reward. Emotional support from caring professionals helps children and their families deal with stress, trauma and injury.
Licensed Pediatrician
Pediatricians are licensed medical doctors who focus their practice on treating babies, children and adolescents. Their days are spent examining patients, ordering tests, administering vaccinations and writing prescriptions for common childhood illnesses like bronchitis, strep throat and pink eye. A soothing bedside manner is needed to calm nervous children and explain procedures.
Education requirements start with pre-med courses in biology, chemistry and physics leading to a bachelor’s degree. Medical school takes another four years followed by a three-year residency in pediatrics, and possibly a fellowship for sub-specialization like pediatric oncology, according to Careers in Healthcare.
Pediatricians earn an average salary of $232,000, as reported in the 2020 Medscape Pediatrician Compensation Report. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that job openings for physicians will grow by 4 percent over the decade ending in 2029, which is on par with the predicted average growth rate of other occupations.
Pediatric Nurse
A fun and fulfilling health care job with kids is that of the pediatric nurse. Working in clinics, pediatrician offices and hospitals, they provide compassionate nursing care to young patients. Duties may include careful monitoring of vital signs, calming upset children and explaining a health condition. They may use songs or games to develop rapport and put a child at ease during a hospital stay.
Pediatric nurses are registered nurses (RNs) with a two- or four-year degree who have passed the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. They also have special interest and training in working with children. Experienced pediatric nurses are eligible to sit for the pediatric nursing certification exam offered by organizations such as the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.
Registered nurses earn a median annual wage of $73,300, according to the BLS. Those in the top earning 10 percent wage make more than $111,220. The NurseJournal organization indicates that experienced pediatric nurses can expect to earn close to the upper end of the pay scale. What’s more, the BLS projects that job openings for nurses will grow by 7 percent between now and the end of 2029.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
A child and adolescent psychiatrist specializes in the early detection and treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders. They review family history, medical records, symptom progression and overall health when diagnosing young patients and developing treatment plans. Medications or recommendations are given for problems such as disordered eating, aggression, self-harm, extreme anxiety, mood swings and out-of-control tantrums.
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, this medical job with kids generally requires a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, pediatric internship and two to three years of general psychiatry residency followed by two years of specialized training. The average salary of a child and adolescent psychiatrist is $220,923, as reported by Salary Expert, and job demand will be on par with other jobs in the U.S. through 2029.
Child Life Specialist
Jobs that work with kids in clinics and hospitals include child life specialists. Their primary role is to provide more intensive emotional support than doctors or nurses can provide. Like other types of social workers, they listen and offer reassurance. They may use stories, puppets or games to distract a child who is lonely, frightened or in pain. Sometimes they work with anxious children whose parents are hospitalized.
The path to becoming a child life specialist includes earning a bachelor’s degree and taking classes like family systems theory, child development and child life. Completion of a supervised 600-hour clinical internship is required for those wishing to sit for a child life certification exam administered by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
The BLS groups child life specialists in the category of health care social workers, paying an average annual salary of $59,300, the BLS adds. Further, demand for health care social workers will increase an impressive 14 percent between 2019 and 2029.
