Women have pursued nursing for centuries. It is now common for women to fill all types of healthcare roles. There are some specific medical careers that may appeal to women entering the healthcare field, including roles that focus on treating women’s health issues, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Medical Oncologists
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Approximately 1 out of every 78 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer during their lifetime. Medical oncologists are medical doctors who specialize in treating patients with cancer. These professionals may identify patients with a high risk of ovarian cancer or other types of cancer. They are trained to administer chemotherapy, hormone therapy and other treatments to their patients. Medical oncologists can also refer patients to have a hysterectomy, ultrasound, biopsy or other medical procedures. They can also confer with a surgeon to determine if a tumor can be removed.
Medical Assistant
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A medical assistant is a professional who completes both clinical and administrative tasks to assist doctors with patient care. It’s common for medical assistant interview questions to focus on medical billing, knowledge of Microsoft word, computer skills, and your clinical skills. During medical assistant training, you will learn to take a patient’s vital signs and withdraw blood for a blood test.
A person with both administrative and direct care skills is a good fit for a career as a medical assistant. Female medical assistants may opt to work with a pediatrician or a doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology so that they can focus on providing care to women or children.
Social Worker
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Some social workers opt to specialize in healthcare. They are required to have a high degree of professionalism and medical knowledge. Their objective is to help people cope with their medical diagnosis. They also provide patients with information about what resources may be available to help them during their treatment. They may provide ongoing counseling for patients.
Healthcare social workers may also provide support for any family member who is struggling with their loved one’s diagnosis. Some of these professionals are involved in research, while others specialize in a specific medical field. For example, a healthcare social worker may specialize in geriatric care and concentrate on working with older women and men.
Nurse Practitioner
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A nurse practitioner is a nurse who has completed graduate school and earned a master’s degree in their field. They must also complete the certification requirements. These professionals are qualified to perform many of the same tasks as medical doctors. They may complete physical exams on patients, oversee medical assistants, nurses and other medical professionals, order medical tests and provide patients with a diagnosis and prognosis.
Nurse practitioners may be a patient’s primary care provider. They commonly ensure people in remote areas receive medical care. Most work in a medical office, although many are employed by hospitals and clinics.
Phlebotomist
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A phlebotomist is a medical professional who can enter their field with less than a year of formal postsecondary training. In some cases, an individual may be trained through an internship and not be required to earn a certificate. Phlebotomy refers to opening a vein. In medical terms, it specifically refers to removing blood or injecting fluid into a person’s body.
Phlebotomists use a needle to extract blood from a patient. Phlebotomists need to have good communication skills and the ability to put patients at ease so that they can successfully withdraw blood. They also need exceptional organizational skills so that the blood is properly labeled and transferred.
Medical Billing Specialist
Healthcare facilities must transmit data to each patient’s insurance company to ensure they are compensated for the care they provide. A medical billing specialist is an expert who establishes a system for gathering the required insurance data and other pertinent information and submitting it for reimbursement.
Although postsecondary training isn’t mandatory to enter this field, training in bookkeeping and accounting may be an asset. Medical billing specialists must have attention to detail and the ability to multitask. They need good communication and organizational skills in order to ensure they gather all the information they need as efficiently as possible.