Student question - What are some good jobs in the healthcare field that aren't as messy as being a Nurse?

Question

My girlfriend wanted to be a nurse. Right now she works as a outpatient specialist at a hospital while she is going to community college. She is pretty tough, but doesn't think she can take some of the messier things that nurses do. What other profession, without steering too much away from nurse/healthcare, would be good for her? Keep in mind that she goes to community college... Thanks!!

Thanks guys! And, I'm not saying nursing is bad, of course it's great! Some people just can't stomach it. If you can, then that's great! And you deserve a big pay check.

Answer 1

I can think of no field in helthcare that is totally without mess. The recommendations you have been given are all wonderful occupations, and very neccessary, but virtually none, are available from a community college, at least in the job titles recommended.

Radiologist = 4 yrs college, 4 yrs med school, then residency.
Physical Therapy = 4 yrs college + masters
Pharmacy = colege and PharmD degree.
Speech Therapy 4 years college + masters
Occupational Therapy 4 yrs college + masters.

Jobs possible from Community College

Physical Therapy Assistants have less mess but often get into dressing change issues with whirlpools and rehab situations.

Occupational Therapy Asst same as PT asst

Radiology Tech see answer above regarding vomit,trauma and barium

Dental Asst - hands in peoples mouths which have more bacteria than the rectum

Mental Health Tech - frequently deals with excrement and other human waste in psychiatric settings.

Probably the cleanest in a community college setting would be pharmacy technician, but their work in retail pharmacys is mostly either working the sale or transferring pills from one bottle to another. In a hospital, there is virtually no patient interaction.

Answer 2

There are several to look into. A number of them have already been mentioned like physical therapy, radiologist and pharmacist. But you could also look into respiratory therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist or even dental hygiene. To some degree, each one of these areas will at some point in time deal with things that are gross, but the exposure might be limited depending on the situations that you are presented with.

Good Luck. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

then i should say she must quit nursing as early as now...i am a nursing student and though i was only forced to take this course, i learned to love it.. Nursing is not a messy job..we provide care ,and yes if you consider blood a mess,to patients of all kind yet we protect our selves from contamination and man, i don't call it mess...i call it service!
I say we do things on the very clean way we knew how>

Answer 4

Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy might be a good route. She'd still be working with people toward recovery, but there's no blood and guts involved.

Answer 5

Radiology - Good career path, very low messy

Physical Therapy - Rehab and such... generally less messy; especially if its non-disability based rehab

Pharmacy - no messiness

Answer 6

I think Radiology is a good field. The pay is good.

Answer 7

I just want to comment to those who said radiology - it is messier than people imagine. We have to deal with barium enemas, operating room cases, traumas, ICU, children, and we get everything imaginable - blood, urine, stool, mucus, vomit...