PLANNING FOR

HEALTH CAREER
S U B M I T T E D B Y: M A R I E K AY B U M A N L A G
WHA T I S
HEALTH C A R E?
T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F A G O O D H E A LT H
CARE SYSTEM
DEFINITION OF HEALTH CARE

• It includes all activities whose primary purpose

is to promote, restore or maintain health
• A system responsible for providing health
services for patients, persons, families,
communities and populations in general
Health care is a public necessity. Having a good health care
system is a universal right.
PURPOSE OF A
H E A LT H C A R E
SYSTEM

The goal of a health care

system is to enhance the
health of the population
in the most effective
manner possible
considering the society’s
available resources and
competing needs of
individuals.
CA REER IN
HEALTH
S ERVIC E S
A S T U D Y O N T H E D I F F E R E N T H E A LT H
CAREERS
WHY PURSUE A HEALTH CAREER?
• Job security: Health care field is growing rapidly.
• A career in health can lead in many directions.
• Almost every country has a demand for health care professionals
in various fields. You can choose the setting you want to work in.
• You can practice what you learned in school.
• It provides a clear path to career advancement.
• Health care workers make good money.
• You can make a difference in the lives of others.
A big part of healthy living includes health care, be it from
traditional health care providers such as physicians or
alternative care providers such as acupuncturists.
• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Focus on wellness and prevention THE ROLES OF
H E A LT H C A R E
of disease PROFESSIONALS
• They can help improve the quality
“You treat a disease, you
of life and guide people on making
win, you lose. You treat a
healthy choices person, I guarantee you,
• Operate medical technology and you’ll win, no matter
what the outcome.”
interpret data from its use
– Patch Adams
EXAMPLES OF CAREERS IN HEALTH
F O C U S O N T H E B O DY F O C U S O N T H E M IN D

• Physicians • Psychologists
• Registered nurses • Acupuncturists
• Physical therapists • Art therapists
• Psychiatrist
• Medical technicians
• Music therapist
• Paramedics
• Occupational therapist
• Dietitians and Nutritionists
• Mental health counselor
• Pharmacists
PLANNING A HEALTH CAREER
USING A CAREER FRAMEWORK

The Four Stages of Career

Planning

1. Self-Assessment
2. Exploring your options
3. Decision-making
4. Applications and Interviews
STEP 1:
SELF-ASSESSMENT

This step involves an

honest appraisal of
yourself to be able to
discover what job role
suits you. Identify your
values, skills, and interests
and how they can be used
when considering your
career in health.
What are my skills and interests
Five important skill sets successful health professionals have:

• Science and quantitative skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
STEP 2:
EXPLORING YOUR
OPTIONS
With the use of good
research, you can be
guided in choosing a job
role in health. This step is
about knowing where to
look and what to look for.
A better choice can from a
selection of good career
options.
Where to explore career options
Discover different work environments in the following:

• Career Fairs
• Online search
• Meetings
• Internship and On the job training
• Alumni network
• Professional groups and organizations
STEP 3:
DECISION MAKING
Once you have developed an
understanding of yourself
and the job roles you are
interested, you’re in a great
place to start making
decisions. You can now
integrate your career options
with your self-assessment to
be able to put your career
plan together.
How to make a career decision
Evaluate your options by:

• Listing the pros and cons. Weighing the value of choosing one from
the other
• Comparison of strengths and interests. Look at where your skills
can be of greater use. In which career will you give more value.
• Mapping the career path by identifying which career fulfills both
current and future goals
STEP 4:
APPLICATIONS AND
INTERVIEWS
Now that a career choice
is made, the next step is to
apply to a job posting or
attend an interview invite.

As a professional, proper
decorum is expected.
Create a plan of action
• List down achievable goals and develop a strategy to
achieve each
• Organize them into smaller steps
• Identify actions for each step
• Utilize the assistance of people and resources available to
you.
• Review your plan regularly and make adjustment should
there be a need to change some steps
HEALTH CAREER
PATHWAYS
Clusters of occupations that
are grouped together because
of the skills shared, common
interests and function.

These assists you in choosing

the right health career and
developing a plan.
EXAMPLES:
1. PERSONAL 2. DISEASE PREVENTION AND
HEALTHCARE CONTROL

Health care professionals Their work involves

perform tasks in a personal care immunization, newborn
level screening, promotion of
breastfeeding, adolescent health
care, infection control services
They include geriatricians,
clinical nurses, nursing aides,
caregivers, physician assistants
EXAMPLES:
3. MENTAL
HEALTHCARE
They deal with interpersonal and
intrapersonal relationships and
practice of life skills
Some of them are guidance
counsellors, psychometrician,
psychiatrist, mental health
advocates
4. MATERNAL AND CHILD
CARE
Their work involves public
health issues that affect women,
children and their families such
as a midwife, OB-Gyn, family
planning specialist, or a
reproductive health counselor.
EXAMPLES:
5. DRUG PREVENTION
AND CONTROL
They aim to reduce community
and individual struggles related
to substance abuse by
advocating for policy changes
and evidence-based programs.
6. NUTRITION
It is their job to balance the
intake of food of an individual
and the corresponding impact
on their health. It involves meal
planning, preparation of food
and some economics.
EXAMPLES:
7. DENTAL HEALTH
Dentists, Orthodontists, and
Dental technicians deal with
various oral conditions of the
teeth, gums and bone fragments
in the dental region.
They try to address mouth pains,
gum sores and diseases, tooth
decay.
8. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
These are professionals dealing
with the safety, health and welfare
of laborers, employees and
workers.
Some of them are occupational
therapists, health inspector, and
labor advocates
 END

B O O K 4 M O D U L E 1 6 : P L A N N I N G F O R H E A LT H C A R E E R