6 Rewarding Health Educator Positions
- Health Promotion Specialist
- Government Community Health Workers
- Diabetes Educator
- Health Coach
- Wellness Director
- Prevention Specialist
A career in health education is a very rewarding career. Health educators have the exciting opportunity to help to improve the lives of individuals, as well as society as a whole. With new health research coming out almost daily, some of which contradicts previous knowledge, professionals in health education careers have a very important job. They have the opportunity to clear up confusion and help the public understand how to get and stay healthy. These educators help people understand all different aspects of health.
These aspects can range from diet to immunizations, appropriate screen time to exercise habits, and preventative care practices to home safety measures for the elderly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health educator field will expand by 7% between 2022 and 2032. This job growth rate is higher than the growth rate for the average job. More than 6,500 job openings for health educators are projected to be available each year. This good projection is mostly because educating people on a healthy lifestyle decreases overall healthcare costs. Because of this, organizations and communities see the value of strong health education.
In this article, we will cover some of the most exciting and rewarding careers available for those in the field of health education. There are many more job options than this, but this list of health education degree jobs is a good place to begin. Some of the specifics about these careers in health education are described below.
1. Health Promotion Specialist
The job of a health promotion specialist is a great option for someone who has earned a degree in the field of health education. The primary job of a health promotion specialist is to encourage physical wellness within the members of a community. The ins and outs of the job description depend a great deal on where the health promotion specialist is employed. A health promotion specialist could find a job in a wide variety of settings. These settings may include nonprofit organizations, nursing homes, group homes, or treatment centers.
Some health promotion specialists could serve within a community trying to target a specific issue. An example of this is educating teens with the goal of lowering teen pregnancy rates. Another job of a health promotion specialist could be to hold workshops at different businesses around a city. These workshops could discuss topics such as the importance of health screenings.
One of the main responsibilities of a health promotion specialist is to develop a deeper health awareness within the community where they are employed. This can be done in a number of ways. Some of these methods may include presentations and the distribution of literature. Health promotion specialists may also offer training or workshops to better educate those they are trying to help.
A health promotion specialist will sometimes work to construct policies aiming to better the physical wellness of those around them. A health promotion specialist will need to have an accurate pulse of the strengths and weaknesses of the community they work in. This will enable them to target change in the areas they need to. Not only that, but they will encourage continued growth in other areas, and make an overall difference so that those around them can live healthier and happier lives.
2. Government Community Health Worker
Another exciting job option for health educators is that of a government community health worker. The job of government community health worker is, in many ways, very similar to a health promotion specialist. The main distinction between the two is that a government community health worker works for the government. Government health workers could be hired at the local, state, or even national level. Many of the health education jobs offered by local and state governments involve the administration of nutritional programs and classes.
Other opportunities for government health workers include helping senior citizens through life changes or performing wellness newborn checks. These types of wellness checks are necessary especially for young and low-income mothers. Government community health workers might also work to assist with the transition home for psychiatric and substance abuse patients. Each state offers a variety of programs to assist those in need. The workers at these programs play a very important role. They very often work with the more vulnerable groups of people. At times, they are the only real voice promoting healthy choices in an individual’s life. This guidance towards a healthy lifestyle has the potential to make a lasting impact on someone’s future.
It is very common for a government community health worker to work with a specific group, such as young children, young mothers, or the elderly. The pay for a government community health worker would vary greatly depending on where they are employed. Large cities are in greater need of government health educators, and these jobs in a large city government will often pay well. Some specific job titles for government health community workers include nutritionist, health promotion, health coach, or health data specialist.
3. Diabetes Educator
Sometimes health educators can work specifically with one health condition. A good example of this type of job is that of a diabetes educator. Diabetes educators play a very important role in the lives of those who have been diagnosed with the disease. They are most often hired by hospitals, medical facilities, doctor’s offices, or clinics. Diabetes educators have the important job of working very closely with diabetic patients.
Diabetes is a complex disease. When someone is first diagnosed with diabetes, it can sometimes feel like an overwhelming diagnosis. Diabetic patients need to learn to manage not only their symptoms, but also their diet, medications, and blood sugar levels. Diabetes educators help to assist patients to learn to manage the disease well without disrupting their day to day life too much. There are even cases when patients may visit a diabetic educator when they are still considered pre-diabetic. With some training on how to tweak their diet and exercise programs, these patients may never actually develop the disease. Other patients visit a diabetic educator when they are learning how to manage the condition. Diabetes educators can help them by offering guidance on carb-counting and insulin dosing.
A good diabetes educator can answer any questions, and can help put a plan into place so that the patient can manage diabetes in an effective manner. A diabetes educator can also serve as a continuing resource for someone as they face the many challenges of living with the disease.
4. Health Coach
A health coach is a great example of a rewarding career in health education. Working as a health coach offers many exciting opportunities. One of the most unique things about this job is the opportunity to work primarily one on one with people. A health coach works to assess a client, set goals with and for them, and then help them to achieve these goals. These goals can vary a great deal depending on the client as well as what kind of life their client lives and hopes to live.
Health coaches are most often thought to work with someone regarding diet and exercise. The truth is that people can go to health coaches for many other types of direction, as well. These other reasons could include sleep, smoking cessation, addiction management or dealing with a chronic medical condition. Health coaches are usually experts in both behavior and motivation.
After an initial assessment of their client, a health coach will come up with an appropriate plan. This plan will aim to help their client improve their health and work towards achieving goals. Health coaches will continue to work alongside their clients as they make changes to help them better their lives.
If you want to be a health coach, you can find employment in a variety of settings. Some of these settings include schools, medical centers, health clubs, or community centers or programs. Many health coaches can also find work in a private practice. Health coaches can sometimes work with a group instead of an individual. In this case, it is usually a group of individuals who share a common goal.
5. Wellness Director
A wellness director is very important to the world of health, and it is an exciting job option for workers in the field of health education. These health education jobs are often found in businesses, and especially in larger corporations.
A wellness director organizes events like health fairs or step-counting competitions. These types of events are designed to promote good health in the workplace. This professional is also usually involved in the organization’s employee assistance program. They will also likely work to help employees choose healthcare benefit plans.
Safety in the workplace can be another focus of wellness directors. They will work to design training programs as well as to ensure that all equipment is up to code. Besides large businesses, there are also many other types of corporations that might want to hire a wellness director. Any business or corporation that has a human resources department may very well have some type of a wellness director, as well.
Other places where you can be hired as a wellness director could include senior living facilities, non-profit organizations, schools, colleges or universities, community centers, or impatient facilities. The overall health and wellness of any particular group continues to be a growing priority. As a result, there is a high demand for wellness directors. This rewarding career can also come with a good salary, as well.
6. Prevention Specialist
Working as a prevention specialist is a very rewarding option for a health education professional. Prevention specialists play a very important role, as they work to make a difference through the area of education and prevention. They work to educate people with the goal of healing them to stay healthy. Prevention specialists often specialize in a particular area.
Some of the most common areas of specialization for prevention specialists are: Drug and Alcohol prevention specialist, injury prevention specialist, overdose prevention specialist or violence prevention specialist. Prevention specialists often work with at-risk communities or people groups. Oftentimes, people in higher risk communities find themselves stuck in a destructive cycle. It is often very difficult to get out of. Prevention specialists use education to try to help to lift people out of destructive patterns. They work to educate individuals and communities in certain areas. This is done with the hope of reducing problems, preventing future problems, and improving overall wellness.
Just like many of the other jobs mentioned, prevention specialists can find work in a variety of settings. This could include local government agencies, medical facilities, or privately run facilities. This important aspect of health education can make a very big difference in a community.
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How to become a Health Educator
If you take a look at the field of health education and health educator careers, you will see that there are various possible pathways that can be taken. There are many degree programs that could provide you for a successful career in health education.
Clearly, a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion would be a good way to start. However, there are other degree programs that would work as a springboard as well. These include nutrition, social services, public health, as well as many other good options within the world of healthcare.
If you know what specific job you want to hold, then you can choose an educational pathway that prepares you for that specific position. If not, however, then there are more general degree programs available that can prepare you for a career in health education. Later on you will likely have the option to focus your area of interest, whether through education or on the job experience.
The other important element in preparation for the field is experience. You will be more likely to be hired as a health educator if you have some level of experience in the field. As we have learned in this article, the settings in which you can work as a health educator are varied. The opportunities are endless for those who want to make a difference in this exciting field. With a growing demand for health educators and an opportunity to change lives, choosing to work in this field is a worthwhile cause. Beginning at a entry level health education job is a good way to earn experience and learn valuable information that can be useful in the future.
Health Education is a Rewarding Career
It takes a special person to work in the area of health education. Not only do they need to be well educated in the many aspects of health, but they also need to have good interpersonal skills. An effective health educator will be able to communicate effectively. They will need to show compassion and empathy for those they are working with. Many today are lacking a proper education in matters of health.
A health educator has the exciting opportunity to provide information that could change someone’s future. Patience and kindness are also very important qualities for someone working in health education. As with any area of education, those you are working with may be ignorant of some basic principles that are important for successful living. Kindness and patience can go a long way when helping someone on their journey towards health and wellness.
Improving the overall health of the community makes everyone’s lives better. Because of this, it is important to pay attention to the wellness of underprivileged and struggling communities. Professionals in health education jobs study trends in health within the community as a whole and plan appropriate interventions. They can use these findings to come up with real and lasting solutions.
Maybe you are starting to consider the field of health education. Or maybe you are already working but looking for related job opportunities. In either case, this list of health educator careers can be a good starting point for finding a job that fits your personal strengths.