Many are amazed to learn that it takes a wide variety of skills and talents to make a hospital run smoothly. Like a city, a hospital requires all kinds of people with a wide variety of skills and talents.
Of course, you’ll find nurses and physicians in the hallways of a hospital. But you’ll also find opportunities for cooks, electricians, graphic designers and security officers – along with many other surprising careers.
Steven L. Jones is the director of diversity and inclusion and recruitment at Indiana University Health – one of Indiana’s largest employers with nearly 23,000 full-time employees statewide. In this month’s edition of “Ask the IU Health Expert,” Jones addresses common misconceptions about health care careers and sheds light on the wide-range of job opportunities that can be found in the health care field.
What are some common misconceptions people seem to have about career opportunities in a health care system?
Many applicants are under the impression that they must possess a four-year degree or more and that the only career opportunities are to be found in direct patient care and clinical areas. Clinical expertise is valuable; yet, the IU Health system resembles a “city within a city” and has thousands of occupations.
What are some health care occupations that seem to surprise people the most?
Applicants often think of clinical roles but don’t realize that we have athletic trainers, lawyers, security officers, librarians, logistics specialists, electricians, Web designers and locksmiths within our organization. Also, in addition to physicians and registered nurses, you’ll find accountants, computer programmers, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, certified surgical technologists, unit secretaries, and more.
Does someone need to have a medical or clinical background to secure a job in the health care field?
Not necessarily. But in a highly competitive market, a medical or clinical background is beneficial. Ultimately, we look to recruit and retain talented individuals who can contribute to always providing patient-centered care and assuring that the patient’s total experience is preeminent. This includes all employees – from the admissions staff, to food service and the billing department.
Which careers are in the highest demand in the health care field right now? Which careers are in high demand at IU Health specifically?
Some careers in high demand include: central service technician, certified surgical technologist, clinical coding specialist, electroneurodiagnostic technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, physical therapist, radiation therapist, radiologic technologist, registered nurse and respiratory therapist.
How many people apply for jobs at IU Health in a given month?
In a given month, we see nearly 26,000 applications throughout our statewide system. In the Indianapolis-area alone, we see approximately 18,000 applications per month.
What are some key things recruiters at IU Health look for in applicants?
We look for applicants with clean criminal records that demonstrate a positive attitude; a deep respect for patients, families and co-workers; and an understanding that serving patients and the community is a sacred trust.Find out more
• To learn more about IU Health’s commitment to diversity and professional growth, benefits and educational opportunities, or to search for job opportunities from across its statewide system, visit http://iuhealth.org/careers.
• For a list of health care jobs that are in high-demand, visit: http://iuhealth.org/images/uploads/say-ahh-job-discovery.pdf.
