In healthcare as in many industry sectors, most professionals are either generalists of specialists. If you are looking for a job in a hospital, clinic, physician’s practice, laboratory or other healthcare organization, it’s important to know which of those categories best describes your interests and talents. Otherwise, you may find yourself uncomfortable in your new role.
In medicine, for example, a specialist focuses his or her talents on a certain type of disease or area of the body, such as an endocrinologist or ophthalmologist. On the other hand, a primary care physician sees a wide spectrum of patients with many different types of acute or chronic conditions. Most hospital and home healthcare nurses tend to be generalists, although many gravitate into a specialty such as pediatrics or oncology. In fact, one of the common career paths for all healthcare professionals is to enter the field as a generalist and then move on to a specialty after several years of experience.
So, before you start applying for positions, it’s good to ask yourself a few basic questions:
- Do I enjoy having a relatively limited set of responsibilities? Or do I get bored doing the same things again and again?
- Would I rather develop in-depth knowledge and expertise in a particular area of healthcare? Or would I rather be a “jack of all trades” in my profession?
- Do I like coming to work and knowing the day’s schedule in advance? Or do I enjoy dealing with the unexpected - patients, problems or emergencies?
There’s no right or wrong to any of these responses, as both specialists and generalists are needed in healthcare. But knowing your own preferences will help you find a job that’s a more satisfying match with your personality. And if you want to explore your career options, All Medical Personnel can help you find a position that suits your evolving skills and preferences.
