Do you love meeting new people, staying busy, and working as part of a team? Many healthcare careers are a natural fit for your personality and strengths. In this article, we’ll discuss 5 careers for extroverts in healthcare to help you find a path that matches your energy and enthusiasm.
1. Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians work side-by-side with pharmacists. They help fill prescriptions, dispense medications, and answer customers’ questions. In retail pharmacies and hospitals, pharmacy technicians often communicate all day long with patients, pharmacists, and other healthcare staff.
A pharmacy technician’s core duties may involve:
- Greet customers and process prescription requests
- Measure, fill, and label prescriptions
- Collect payment and insurance information from customers
- Answer customers’ questions about medications or direct them to pharmacists
- Manage inventory and track medications and supplies
- Verify and input data into a system
As a pharmacy technician, you’ll be the friendly face behind the counter, interacting with many customers during a typical workday. It’s an ideal job for extroverts who enjoy meeting new people. In this role, you’ll also work closely with other technicians and pharmacists as part of a team.
To pursue this career, you need to complete a pharmacy technician program, which can help you learn how to prepare and dispense medications. ACC’s 9-month program combines online coursework with on-campus instruction and over 300 hours of real-world training. Learn more about becoming a pharmacy tech in California.
2. Medical Assistant
When you walk into a clinic or a doctor’s office, chances are you’ll find a medical assistant behind the front desk. These professionals are often a patient’s first point of contact in a healthcare facility. Medical assistants have both clinical and administrative duties, so no day is ever the same.
The responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Greet patients and prepare them for exams
- Measure and record vital signs
- Prepare exam rooms
- Assist with patient exams
- Perform lab tests and collect samples
- Answer phones and schedule appointments
- Update patient records
Extroverts may enjoy this healthcare career because it involves talking to people throughout the day and handling diverse tasks. You’ll rarely work independently as a medical assistant. Instead, you’ll spend your days making patients feel comfortable and consulting with doctors and other healthcare team members.
You don’t need a degree for this role, but some individuals choose to complete a Medical Assistant program to earn their diploma. These programs typically combine coursework with hands-on clinical experience. ACC’s program can be completed in as little as 9 months, blending online coursework with over 200 hours of real-world training.
You may also need a license or certification, depending on your state or employer. Learn more about becoming a medical assistant in California.
3. Registered Nurse
A registered nurse (RN) provides care to patients. They can work in various healthcare settings, and many RNs choose to specialize in an area, such as pediatrics, oncology, or emergency care.
The duties of a registered nurse may include:
- Assess patients and monitor changes in conditions
- Update patient records
- Administer medications and treatments to patients
- Perform tests and help interpret the results for diagnoses
- Communicate with patients and families about care plans
- Consult with doctors, nurses, and healthcare teams
If you become an RN, you’ll work with people all day, every day. Over 91% of RNs say the work involves “constant contact with others.” In some settings, such as hospitals, you may also enjoy working in fast-paced environments, where communication and teamwork are essential skills.
You can train to become an RN a few ways, but one common route is earning an associate degree in nursing (ADN). An ADN program can help prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is a requirement to become licensed as an RN. ACC’s 20-month ADN program includes over 800 hours of clinical experience and is offered through our Los Angeles and Ontario campuses.
If you’re looking for a quicker entry into the workforce, ACC also offers a Vocational Nursing program that can be completed in as little as 12 months (18 months for Evening/Weekends). The program is designed to prepare you to pass the NCLEX-PN and start working as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), which is distinct from an RN and typically more limited in responsibilities. Explore the differences between an ADN and LVN to decide which option is right for you.
4. Dental Assistant
As a dental assistant, you can make patients smile every day. Dental assistants provide basic care, help dentists during procedures, and handle administrative tasks in dental offices.
A dental assistant’s responsibilities can include:
- Prepare exam rooms and sterilize instruments
- Explain procedures to patients and make them feel comfortable
- Help with dental procedures and document treatments
- Educate patients about best practices for oral hygiene
- Take and process X-rays
- Schedule appointments
This role can be a good fit for extroverts who thrive at making immediate connections with people. Many people feel nervous or scared before dental procedures. In this position, you’ll be responsible for reassuring those patients and helping them relax. This job will also enable you to work closely with dentists and hygienists as part of a team.
One way to pursue this career path is through a Dental Assisting program, which usually results in a certificate or diploma. ACC’s diploma program is offered in a blended format (combining online coursework and hands-on instruction) and can be completed in as little as 10 months. Weekend classes are available for added flexibility.
Some states and employers also require dental assistants to have a license or certification, particularly for some specialized tasks, such as X-rays and coronal polishing. Learn more about what it takes to become a dental assistant in California.
5. Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists work with patients who have breathing problems. These healthcare professionals can provide life-saving care and help improve patients’ quality of life.
A respiratory therapist often has these duties:
- Evaluate patients to check breathing and lung function
- Administer respiratory treatments, such as oxygen therapy
- Observe and monitor patients’ responses to treatments
- Operate medical equipment, like ventilators
- Conduct tests and consult with doctors about treatment plans
- Educate patients and families about respiratory care
Respiratory therapists commonly work in fast-paced settings, such as emergency care, where priorities can shift quickly. Your days as a respiratory therapist will rarely look the same as you treat patients with a range of breathing issues and complications. You’ll use your teamwork skills to communicate with other healthcare staff, the patient, and possibly the patient's family as you deliver essential care to patients.
If you want to work in this role, start by earning an associate degree in respiratory therapy. ACC’s 20-month program blends online coursework, in-person instruction, and over 700 hours of real-world clinical experience. After graduating from ACC’s program, you will be eligible to sit for the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exams.
Learn more about becoming a respiratory therapist in California.
Pursue a Healthcare Career That Aligns With Your Personality!
Careers for extroverts in healthcare can benefit from the use of your natural strengths, such as communication, teamwork, and social skills. If you feel energized by being around others all day, there are plenty of jobs in the healthcare field to consider for your future career.
American Career College offers a variety of programs that are well-suited for all sorts of personalities. From nursing to dental assisting to respiratory therapy, you can find a program that aligns with your interests and skills. Our healthcare degree and diploma programs offer hands-on training, industry-current curricula, career services support, and streamlined timelines so you can start making a difference sooner.
Ready to pursue a healthcare career that matches your personality? Reach out for more information!
