You may be looking to work in the healthcare field. Perhaps you want a hands-on career that involves helping others. But you may not want to commit to a career that takes over your life. You want to enjoy a great career that offers some work-life balance. You want the time to raise a family, spend time with loved ones, and pursue hobbies. Perhaps you love to go hiking or skiing. You may want to be able to travel and check off some sites on your “must-see” bucket list, while still enjoying a successful healthcare career.

If this sounds like you, you may be intimidated by the idea of long hospital shifts and overnight hours that can come with careers in healthcare. Fear not – there is good news! In fact, there are many health-related careers that offer work-life balance. Read on, as we highlight some of the best work-life balance jobs in healthcare today.

1. Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are ranked among the top two jobs with the best work-life balance, according to U.S. News. On a daily basis, these professionals help ensure good oral health, which involves cleaning teeth, taking X-Rays, and assisting dentists with exams. Dental hygienists work standard dental office hours, such as 9am to 5pm. This leaves plenty of time for other activities outside work. And while there are full-time jobs available, many dental hygienists work part-time. This allows them to work a few days a week, while having plenty of time available for family and personal obligations. In addition to a comfortable work schedule, dental hygienists also earn a comfortable salary of over $76,000 annually.

2. Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are advanced Registered Nurses (RNs) who have earned their master’s degree (MSN). This extra degree allows these professionals to perform nearly all duties of a physician, such as performing physical exams, prescribing prescriptions, authorizing treatments, and educating patients and families on continued care. Nurse practitioners can also enjoy regular, weekday hours and can count on sufficient time off for a personal life. These professionals earn a median salary of $107,030, according to U.S. News.

3. Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) are in-demand and among the healthcare careers with the best work-life balance. Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients develop and recover skills that are essential for everyday living. They can be found in hospitals, private practices, and outpatient clinics. While OTAs may work during evenings or on weekends (to accommodate patients’ schedules), they enjoy flexible schedules. U.S. News rates the work-life balance of an OTA 6/10, which is high for healthcare roles.

4. Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses (RNs) can enjoy amazingly flexible careers, in terms of workplace and scheduling options. This is why we consider them one of the best work-life balance jobs in healthcare. Nurses care for patients on a daily basis, and in many different settings. If you would like to find a nursing job that offers regular, steady hours and plenty of time off, you may consider pursuing a nursing job at a school, summer camp, or physicians’ office. If you love children, you may seek out a position with a pediatrician medical group. If you want to work with in a more fast-paced setting, you may consider hospital nursing – which often entails working only 3 days a week, allowing for more days at home. Nursing is rewarding – and not just because of the close care with patients. RNs earn a median annual pay of $71,730.

5. Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists (RTs) breathe life – literally – into patients on a daily basis. These professionals care for those with heart and lung problems. Their patients suffer from asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or sleep apnea. With just an associate degree required, you can break into this challenging, but rewarding career much faster than the previously mentioned careers. RTs are trained to respond to emergency situations, like those experiencing a heart attack or suffering a stroke. It’s an exciting career choice that, much like nursing, offers a variety of settings, such as:

• Acute care hospitals
• Homecare settings
• Life Star air ambulance
• Rehabilitation and long-term care facilities

These roles mentioned above are just a few of the best work-life balance jobs in healthcare. If you are interested in any of these exciting roles, check out the many programs offered at a career-focused school, such as Goodwin University. Goodwin has several programs in nursing, including the master’s degree needed to become an advanced registered nurse practitioner. There are also programs in dental hygiene, ophthalmology, occupational therapy, medical assisting, respiratory care, and much more within the healthcare field.

Learn about the healthcare degrees offered at Goodwin University and jumpstart your career today! Call us at 1-800-889-3282 or visit the link above to request more information.