If someone asked you if you enjoy autonomous, meticulous work with a high degree of responsibility, the answer might be heck no! Doesn’t sound like too much fun BUT I bet you never considered being a cytotechnologist. What kind of job is it you might ask?
Cytotechnology is basically the detection of minute changes or abnormalities in cells. Cytotechnologists make initial and secondary determinations on the status of a specimen before it is given to a pathologist for final interpretation. It may not sound exciting but you could be the first person to detect the early stages of cancer or other pathological diseases that could affect a patient’s health. Being a responsible decision maker and efficient problem solver may be the difference between life and death for these patients.
Those interested in this field would need to acquire a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA or Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA are a few of the schools across the country that offer this program. Tuition generally runs from $7000 residential to anywhere around $32,000 for non-residential based on the information listed on www.cytopathology.org.
Employment opportunities for this field aren’t too shabby either. Right off the bat there are two factors that will attribute to job security; one is a normal population increase while another is the rapidly aging community. Also, with an influx of laboratory tests that occur with new advancements and developments in diagnostic testing, there is expected to be a 10-20% increase in the next eight years.
Since you know a little more about this field of study you might want to check out mshealthcareers.com or even eHow.com for some more detailed info. For those more patriotic readers keep in mind that the military has a program for this as well. More info at usmilitary.about.com
Have you considered a career in this field? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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