A Guide to Retraining in Healthcare While Working a Full-time Job

Throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, healthcare workers around the world have worked tirelessly to care for patients and administer vaccines. Indeed, you may have been inspired by these healthcare heroes to pursue a career change in the medical field. However, with bills needing to be paid and a family to support, you might be unable to give up full-time employment in order to pursue your training, which might leave you despondently thinking that your dream healthcare career is unattainable for your situation. Fortunately, there are solutions. Read on for a guide to retraining in healthcare while working a full-time job. 

Study a flexible online degree program

Whether your dream is to become a registered nurse, health administrator, or care worker, many positions in the healthcare profession require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Universities and colleges have implemented flexible programs that allow you to fit your degree around other commitments. For instance, an online master of healthcare administration degree program removes the commitment of regularly attending a campus for the classroom, meaning that you do not have to compromise on either your income or study time. Visit https://onlinemha.bc.edu/ for more information. 

Develop a study routine

Studying for a degree or other healthcare training program is a commitment, especially if you do not have a medical background or healthcare experience. Furthermore, you cannot skimp on any lessons – the information you are learning could quite simply be the difference between life and death for a patient. It is therefore important that you develop a regular study routine in your life. It is possible to fit this around work and family commitments; however, it might mean making sacrifices. For example, instead of settling down to your nightly TV series, use this time to complete an hour’s worth of study. If you have a supportive partner, or other family and friends, you could arrange with them to look after your children once a week, allowing you a greater amount of time to study, particularly before exams.

Sneak in extra study time

Take some time to analyze your daily routine; you might be surprised by how much dead time is involved that could be used for extra study time. From your daily commute on public transport to waiting for your kids to finish soccer practice, this is all time that could be better utilized to fit more study time in. To facilitate this, make sure that you have essential study notes written out on index cards and keep them on you at all times, ready to whip out whenever you get a spare ten minutes.

Practice self-care

With a full-time job, family commitments, and study commitments, you are going to be left with very little time to yourself. However, practicing self-care is important for your mental wellbeing, especially when you are exposed to emotional new situations as part of your new healthcare career. Fit in some me-time every week to rest and recharge, ready for the week ahead.