Choosing your career path is no small feat. Typically, it involves a lot of soul searching, research, and an honest look at your own skills and interests. If you’ve completed all these steps and are determine that a medical career is right for you, the next big hurdle is deciding what area to focus on and essentially specialize in. To say the medical field is vast is an understatement, as it is a whole lot more than a family physician and nurses. In fact, one of the top 10 medical careers out there is that of anesthesiology, which could be one you haven’t even considered yet.
So, let’s take a look at the many reasons anesthesiology makes the list of the top 10 medical careers out there.
Get a Job Anywhere in the Country
If you’re the type that doesn’t want to be tied down to one city or town your whole life, this career path will provide you with the freedom to relocate. Anesthesiologists are needed all over the country, so it’s not about finding an area where they are in-demand. You can work in a hospital or clinic setting, opening up additional employment options.
An Impressive Salary
As for the salary for anesthesiologists, the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has the annual wage listed at $133,080, with an hourly wage of $63.98. Now there are some industries that are known to pay more, such as the specialty industries (except psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals), where the annual mean wage is $280,400 and the Offices of Physicians with an annual mean wage of $276,990.
What this means is that it is considered one of the highest paying careers not just in the medical field, but any career path period.
Look Forward to Regular Hours
Another fabulous benefit is the fact you can look forward to regular hours. Unlike many other medical professionals, you likely won’t be on call 24/7. You typically are involved right before surgery, during the surgery, and then immediately after. Once that time period has passed, your job is done. You won’t have to worry about doing rounds and checking in with patients. And because the salary is so high, many anesthesiologists can afford to simply work on a part-time basis enjoying plenty of free time in their life.
Keeping Up to Date on Your Field
If you do decide you want to pursue a career in anesthesiologists, then it’s also wise to look into professional development courses that will keep you up-to-date. In fact, the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA), is now working to promote professional development throughout a career through programs such as the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) program, available through ValleyAnesthesia. These will help prepare professionals for NBCRNA recertification.
A Robust Path to Pursue
So, if it’s a medical career you’ve set your sights on, anesthesiology could certainly be well worth the consideration. The fact that there are so many older professionals either retiring now, or in the near future, also means there are plenty of opportunities for new hires.
