The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. The number of healthcare jobs is expected to grow faster than in any other field – by approximately 26 percent by the year 2020. Many of the estimated 5.6 million new jobs will be in the government sector. The Federal Government already employs hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals in several departments: the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, the Indian Health Service, the Military Medial Commands, the Bureau of Prisons, the Health and Human Services, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the Animal Plant health Inspection Service.
Working for the Federal Government comes with a plethora of perks and benefits, aside from the fact that pay is stable and advancement opportunities are bountiful. Government employees typically have great health insurance coverage, a generous leave policy, 3-part retirement plans and several life insurance coverage options for themselves and their families. Furthermore, healthcare professionals who wish to start a career in the government can work across the country and even abroad, which is especially convenient for those who need family friendly flexibilities.
Government jobs are identified by the General Schedule (GS) Payscale, which are identification numbers that are useful when you want to find out how much you would be paid with a specific level of education. GS levels are also broken down by education, from GS-1 (No High School Diploma) to GS-12 (Ph.D. or Equivalent Doctorate or Advanced Law Degree). If you are looking for a job in the Federal Government, it is important that you understand what GS level you have, as many jobs will have a minimum requirement.
Below you find five examples of health care careers that you can pursue in the Federal Government.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses perform a wide variety of tasks in their job, from caring for the sick to educating about medical conditions and providing emotional support. They work in hospitals, physician’s offices, home healthcare services, nursing facilities, correctional facilities, schools, and the military. An RN ought to have clear communication skills, good problem-solving skills, ability to work in a team, great attention to detail, high ethical standards, and high stress tolerance. Whereas an associate’s degree in nursing is the minimum requirement, employers are increasingly demanding a bachelor’s degree. RNs also often pursue advanced degrees while working to further enhance their job opportunities these days. Nurses who want to work for the government can find openings by code GS-0601.
Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical therapy assistants work under the direction of physical therapists. They help people who have been injured or have undergone strenuous medical treatment like surgery. Physical therapy assistants usually work in private offices or clinics, hospitals or nursing homes, helping patients improve their movement and manage their pain. As a physical therapy assistant, you should be physically fit, with the ability to kneel, bend, and lift. Besides, you ought to have excellent social and communication abilities, as well as good organization and administrative skills. Most states require an associate’s degree in physical therapy assisting. You can find physical therapy assistant positions in the Federal Government by code GS-0636 for rehabilitation therapy assistant (the code for physical therapists is GS-0633).
Medical Assistant
Medical assistants typically work in physician’s offices, urgent care facilities, hospitals, assisted living facilities, or other healthcare facilities, performing diverse administrative and clinical tasks like assisting physicians with patient examinations or preparing tissue samples for laboratory tests. However, their responsibilities really depend on the location, specialty, and size of the facility. As a medical assistant, you must have strong communication skills, reasonable problem-solving skills, a great amount of empathy, high ethical standards, good attention to detail, as well as trustworthiness and high stress tolerance. While formal education is not necessarily required, a certificate or degree from a medical assisting program is certainly preferred by employers. The code for medical assistants who seek employment within the government is GS-0697 for medical support assistant.
Dental Assistant
The duties of a dental assistant vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work. Typically, their responsibilities include greeting patients in the treatment area, passing instrument to the dentist during procedures, sterilizing instruments, take impressions of teeth, applying fluoride and sealants, scheduling appointments, or ordering supplies. Dental assistants must be reliable, work well with others, and have good manual dexterity. They should also have high ethical standards and good communication skills. There are several ways how you can become a dental assistant. Some states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass a state or national CDA exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements. Dental assistant positions in the Federal Government are identifiable by GS-0681.
Radiologic Technologist
Radiologic technologists or medical radiographers work independently, but they do cooperate with radiologists, physicians and other medical professionals. As a radiologic technologist, you commonly work in hospitals, yet some also work in physician’s offices or imaging clinics. One of their main responsibilities is to position patients and equipment in order to take X-rays, which helps healthcare professionals identify various illnesses or injuries. A radiologic technologist should have good communication skills, high ethical standards, outstanding attention to detail, great empathy, as well as physical strength. Radiologic technologists typically need an associate’s degree. At least, they need to be licensed or certified in radiologic technology in most states. While the code for diagnostic radiologic technologists working for the government is GS-0647, it is therapeutic radiologic technologists is GS-0648.
