Health spending per capita in Ireland is above the average of the EU, but salaries for healthcare workers in this part of the world are higher. As a result, this can be a great place to work within the health industry.
It is an exciting field with constant new developments and a wealth of knowledgeable, hardworking individuals.
There are many healthcare jobs in Ireland that are rewarding in different ways, but how can you choose the one that is right for you?
If you’re a student that is about to graduate, and you’re not sure which field you want to get into, keep reading below to learn about 8 great options that can’t be missed.
1. Internist
A general internist, which is also called an internal medicine doctor, is trained to give care to adults for regular check-ups and general care.
Your internist will be the primary care provider that you see for regular medical attention, such as annual exams, preventative care, or treatment of illnesses. They will also be able to give you screenings or coordinate care with other medical specialists on your behalf.
Many people use the terms general practitioner and internal medicine doctors synonymously, but they are not the same thing. The main difference is that internal medicine doctors can have more variety in their specialties, but they also only work with patients that are 18 years and older.
An internist can choose from many different specialties, including cardiology, hematology, or pulmonology. As a result, they may go by a different title (i.e. an internist specializing in gastroenterology is called a gastroenterologist).
2. Nursing Staff
Nurses and nursing staff are the backbone of a healthcare system. They have a lot of different duties and support the rest of the medical professionals and all patients in a very important way.
In almost all healthcare systems, nurses are a huge necessity and are regularly in demand for practice nurse jobs.
If you’re considering healthcare jobs for nursing students, you’ll find there is a lot of variety here as well.
Nurses in Ireland will generally run tests on patients, assist with medical procedures, monitor patient recovery, document interactions with patients, and provide exceptional quality of care.
The duties that a nurse and other nursing staff, like nursing assistants, may have will depend on the location they work. A surgical nurse, for instance, is not going to have the same duties as a ward nurse.
Nurses do have the chance to get specialized training in order to work in different areas. In many situations, specific knowledge is needed to provide patients with the highest level of care with nurse jobs in Ireland.
3. Pharmacist
When people think of healthcare jobs, pharmacists are not likely the first role that comes to mind. Pharmacists are an integral part of general care, however, and they provide care to patients in a unique way.
Pharmacists are required to make sure that every patient gets the correct treatment for their illness or condition. This means that they have to know and understand their illness, medical history, personal situation, and dosage requirements.
In addition to those requirements, pharmacists must help physicians and nurses regarding a patient’s prescription drug use and potential interactions. This acts as a way to protect the patient from further issues as a result of medication.
One of the best things about being a pharmacist is that the working hours are much more standardized than those of a physician or nurse. You likely won’t have to work varying hours and may even have a more typical business hours schedule.
4. General Practitioner
General practitioners have a lot of different responsibilities and their roles vary greatly throughout the whole country. Overall, a general practitioner (GP) will work with local patients that come from a variety of backgrounds.
A GP’s job is to diagnose a patient, recommend treatment, and refer to specialists for further assistance. This means that a GP will usually see a patient over the course of several years as one of their main doctors.
As mentioned earlier, a GP is not the same as an internist. A GP will work with children and can continue to see a child well into their adult years. GPs may refer patients to internists for specialized treatment.
GPs can specialize in different areas, including family medicine. Similarly to a pharmacist, a GP will typically have standard working hours that are fixed rather than varying each week or month.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GPs, like other medical professionals, have had to adjust how they see their patients. Many have been using telehealth as a means to continue providing care to patients.
5. Medical Receptionist
When it comes to the best entry-level healthcare jobs for college students, a medical receptionist is one option that has to be considered.
In this role, you’ll be asked to welcome patients or patients’ visitors upon arrival. You’ll also answer the telephone, provide answers to questions, schedule appointments, and help patients complete required documentation.
Medical receptionists are one of the first faces that people see when they come to the facility, so it is important that you have a friendly attitude and are willing to help those that need it.
Because this is less of a medical role than other options in healthcare, it is a great starting point for someone that wants to get experience working in the field. You get exposure to a lot of different things that impact the healthcare system.
You may be able to learn more about different potential work areas and get more insight into what you’d like to do after college. In addition to that, it can be a career that people keep for a lifetime if they find the work enjoyable.
6. Home Health Aide
Home health aides provide support to some of Ireland’s most vulnerable populations in the comfort of the patient’s home.
They play a crucial role in supporting patients of varying ages and backgrounds. Some home health aides will also work in other settings conjunctively, including hospitals or clinics, to provide additional support to patients.
Because healthcare resources have been more scarce and inaccessible for people during the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for this type of healthcare professional has increased. If you’re looking for healthcare jobs in Ireland and are considering student health jobs before graduation, this is a great role to think about trying for yourself.
If you’re a people person that likes to develop relationships with patients and visit them regularly to assist with daily activities, a home health aide might be the perfect job for you.
7. Database Administrator
Database administrators manage the data that healthcare systems use to provide care to patients.
As a result, this role is very important and is one of the healthcare administration jobs that you’ll want to consider as a student if you’re interested in tech more than direct patient care.
The role of a database administrator is good for someone that is detail-oriented and good with computers. They help doctors and nurses get access to all of the information about patients and treatment options necessary to provide care. In addition to that, they will work hard to make sure that the information is always kept up-to-date and accurate.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this role has been essential in information collection from patients.
They have been collecting crucial information about disease, symptoms, infections, and treatments for patients during this time, which helps medical research advance to find cures faster.
8. Midwife
Are you interested in helping pregnant women during pregnancy, in labor, and after birth? If so, becoming a midwife may be the perfect role for you.
Midwives are medical professionals that work with pregnant women. Both men and women can be midwives in Ireland, and midwives have varying levels of training and specialization.
For instance, some midwives are trained as nurses first, while others may have a degree in certified training to back it up.
If you’re interested in being a midwife, you need to apply for courses through the CAO. You may also have to take an exam. After this, they will place you in a program that will provide the training you need.
Midwives that are fully trained may do some of the same things as an obstetrician, but the role is still different. They also have more training with specific problems that can go wrong than general nurses, such as postpartum hemorrhaging.
Some of the things that a midwife might do include:
- Provide prenatal care
- Provide pain medication
- Perform gynecological examinations
- Induce labor with medication
- Monitor fetal development and status
- Perform medical procedures, such as stitching tears or episiotomies
- Deliver a baby vaginally
- Emergency medical care, such as resuscitation of an unconscious baby
Many midwife care locations will focus on unmedicated births, physical and emotional support, and detecting complications early in pregnancy. Midwives, however, can work in any type of facility that provides services to pregnant women, whether it is a patient’s home, a health clinic, or a hospital.
Are You Interested in Exciting Healthcare Jobs?
With a better idea of what kind of healthcare jobs are out there, you might feel more encouraged to start researching your path toward that perfect career.
As a student, now is the best time to start planning ahead and figuring out which career will suit your values, personality, and goals best.
Do you want to learn more about working in healthcare in Ireland? If so, be sure to contact us today for more information.