How to Get Out of Healthcare: Alternative Degrees & Careers

Anyone wanting to get out of healthcare can pursue different jobs with current knowledge and experience or increase new opportunities by earning an alternative degree. There are professions for adults who want to get out of healthcare and pursue a different career path. More information about getting out of healthcare is below.

How Do I Know When It Is Time for a Career Change?

The time to change careers depends on an individual's personal, educational, and professional situation. It can be time for a career change if a job continues to negatively affect someone mentally, physically, or emotionally.

It may also be time to change careers to support a professional dream or goal. It is better to plan for a change in a current career to support work-life balance, but it is possible to suddenly start a career change if occupational burnout hits hard.

What Transferable Skills Do Healthcare Workers Have?

Healthcare workers have transferable skills to assist with being successful in a new role. They know how to work in stressful work environments, have problem-solving skills, and a lot more. Other transferable skills include:

• communication skills
• organization skills
• time management skills

Best Careers to Transition to From Healthcare

Healthcare professionals have skill sets to transition from the healthcare field to a new job outside of healthcare. Some of the best careers to transition to in the healthcare industry are listed below.

Customer Service Representative

Healthcare jobs require certain soft skills that customer service representatives (CSR) need to successfully perform their jobs. Professionals in the healthcare industry can use the following customer service skills to become a CSR:

• active listening
• communication
• time management

Human Resources Manager

There are human resources managers in most professional industries. Human resources managers for healthcare organizations will have experience in recruiting, staffing, and managing human resource issues in other careers.

Professionals in the medical field who have experience maintaining medical records and other important documentation should consider a career in human resources. Human resources managers require organizational skills and skills in valuing people.

Information Technology (IT) Consultant

Transferring credits from a regionally accredited institution to earn a bachelor's degree in information technology can help aspiring career changers become an information technology consultant.

Information technology consultants have communication skills, technology skills, and skills for working independently and with a team. These are all skills that most workers can carry over from a position in healthcare.

Social Worker

Social workers must have patience, empathy, and critical thinking skills, and be more like registered nurses and professionals dealing with patient care. Healthcare workers will have the soft skills needed to transition to a social worker role.

Healthcare social workers typically already have the education to become a different type of social worker such as a clinical social worker or a child and family social worker.

Mental Health Professional

With knowledge of public health, home health, wellness, and more, lots of individuals with healthcare careers may be successful in transitioning to a mental health professional role.

Individuals with a nursing career have skills in communication, active listening, trauma-informed care, and more to start a new career as a mental health professional.

Occupational Therapist

Skills such as adaptability, compassion, and communication are as important for an occupational therapist as they are for careers in healthcare. Professionals in healthcare positions can start a career as an occupational therapist by returning to college for a master's degree in occupational therapy.

Teacher or Professor

A teacher or professor is another option for getting out of the healthcare industry. Teachers and healthcare workers have many of the same qualities. Examples of qualities that teachers and healthcare workers share include:

• preparedness
• collaboration
• life-long learning

Teachers and healthcare workers must demonstrate patience, empathy, and respect for students and patients. Healthcare professionals can earn a degree in teaching to become a teacher.

Business Analyst

People in healthcare careers that involve improving processes and changing policies have the experience and skills to become business analysts. A college degree in business or a related field can help healthcare workers transition into a business analyst.

There are online degree programs that provide the flexibility most adults need to continue working and transition into a new career.

Grant Writer

A grant writer can be an excellent choice for a career change from a healthcare role. Medical writers and other positions in healthcare must have writing skills and pay attention to details, as does a grant writer.

Healthcare workers interested in grant writing can attend workshops and find classes and programs that provide an introduction to grant writing. Other transferable skills include:

• individual and teamwork
• people skills

Realtor

Healthcare professionals can get out of healthcare and become realtors by earning a real estate license. Realtors must possess problem-solving, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Healthcare workers have many of the needed skills for a realtor. Time management is another skill in healthcare roles that can transfer to a realtor role.

Tips for Transitioning to a Non-Clinical Career as a Healthcare Professional

Tips for transitioning to a non-clinical career as a healthcare professional include:

• earning an undergraduate or graduate degree in the new field of interest
• using different tools when searching for a job
• being confident with current skills

Another tip is to use a career coach to help reduce the time it takes to transition into a non-clinical career. Also, it is important to check your well-being during the transition phase.