The following article covers teen jobs in the health care field. While many younger teens work in hospital setting, they usually work as volunteers. However, if you plan to obtain employment in the medical field or wish to apply for an administrative job in healthcare, working as a volunteer is a good place to begin. This article therefore covers the following topics:
- Volunteer Jobs for Younger Teens
- Hospital Jobs that Are Designed for Older Teen Applicants
- Fundamental Hiring Requirements
Volunteer Jobs for Younger Teens
An Introduction to Volunteering
Older teens can obtain jobs working in a hospital. However, younger teens often are confined to working as volunteers in the field. Most of the jobs that volunteers handle include gift-shop work and office procedures. While teen volunteers at hospitals are not paid for their contributions, they are performing valuable services for the hospital staff.
In some hospital volunteer programs, teens are placed in different departments. Although teens do not provide direct patient care, they do assist in supplying extra blankets, water, pillows, or snacks. They also may read to patients or provide updates to families.
Today, hospital volunteer jobs surpass the traditional role of the candy striper. For example, in some programs, teens can work in an administrative capacity. Whether they work in the gift shop or at the information desk, teens in these positions are placed on the front lines of support.
How to Apply as A Volunteer
However, with that being said, becoming a volunteer is not quite as simple as it sound. Most hospitals or healthcare organization require volunteer candidates to apply and pass a background check and drug test. Candidates must also take part in an orientation session and be currently attending high school. While the hospital may not request a letter of recommendation, adding one to your application certainly won’t hurt.
Even if you are not paid, the application process, in and of itself, will give you the experience needed to apply for paying jobs as they surface in the healthcare setting. Also, if you are looking to boost you chances of getting into a particular college, volunteering in a hospital can round out your resume.
A Positive Move to Make
One teen-based organization found that college admissions officers, when reviewing college applications, consider a teen’s volunteer history when considering their background. If you are a teen who is considering a career in medicine then, volunteering in a hospital is a great way to begin the journey, learn new and valuable skills, and network with other healthcare professionals.
With that being said, you can, if you are an older teen (18 or 19 years old), locate paying jobs in hospitals as well. Most jobs require applicants be high school graduates, secure basic certifications, or volunteer at a clinic or health care setting before applying for these openings.
Hospital Jobs That Are Designed for Older Teen Applicants
The following paying jobs enable older teen candidates to apply for opportunities in a hospital or healthcare setting. You need to possess at least a high school diploma or GED, and be skilled or trained specifically for a majority of the positions.
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant performs confidential administrative duties. Therefore, he or she must be knowledgeable in computers and a variety of office applications. The assistant must exercise good judgment and discretion in performing the secretarial duties in a healthcare department. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and at least three years related experience. So, if you have worked in an administrative capacity as a volunteer, you can use this experience to apply to this type of position.
Biomedical Technician
A biomedical technician performs repairs and provides preventive maintenance on a variety of medical instruments. This position requires working on your own without much in the way of technical guidance or supervision. You need to obtain an associate’s degree in electronics technology or biomedical equipment technology to perform this job. Certification is also preferred.
Emergency Medical Technician
An emergency medical technician or EMT responds to basic life support calls, depending on the extent or nature of a patient’s condition. They initiate treatment and then transport the patient to the hospital following an established protocol. EMTs must possess a high school diploma or GED. They also must be certified as an EMT and possess a Class E driver’s license and safe driving record. One year of experience is preferred as well.
File Clerk
A file clerk performs routine clerical and filing duties for an assigned department in a hospital, all in accordance with established procedures. File clerks must possess a high school diploma or GED.
Food Service Aid
Food service aides serve meals to patients as well as ensure safety and cleanliness. The ability to speak, read, and write well and follow simple written and oral directions in English is also required. Prior food service experience is helpful when applying for the job.
Lab Assistant
A lab assistant receives specimens, orders lab tests, and registers patient demographics. They also perform regular clerical tasks as needed. Candidates for the job must possess a high school diploma or GED. They must also have some college or technical training in the field.
Entering data is a requirement, so lab assistants must be proficient in data entry skills, or key in 65 key strokes, at the minimum. Lab processing experience is also preferred as well as venipuncture training or experience. Like most hospital assignments, good communication skills are required.
Medical Records Clerk
A medical records clerk performs multiple clerical tasks for the medical records department in a health care facility or hospital. The clerk works under direct supervision and is responsible for everything related to medical record maintenance. Some of the tasks include pulling charts, copying, filing, mailing, dictation, auditing, or securing the release of records.
A candidate for the job must possess a high school diploma or GED. Also, one to two years of job-related experience is required. A familiarity with records retrieval and data entry is also necessary. Knowledge of medical terminology is helpful as well. Medical records clerks must also be comfortable in working in a computerized environment. They need to be able to distinguish colors in order to identify medical record numbers.
Medical Transcriber
A medical transcriber transcribes cytology and surgical pathology reports in accordance to established hospital procedures. They must possess a high school diploma or GED. One to two years’ experience in the medical record field is also required. The ability to use transcription equipment and a knowledge of medical terms is needed for the job as well.
Medical-Surgical Technician
A medical-surgical technician assists in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). The medical-surgical technician must possess a high school diploma or GED. A nurse’s aide certification is required as is a background working in the medical-surgical technician field.
Nurse’s Aide
A nurse’s aide carries out routine responsibilities in patient care. Some of these tasks include measuring and recording patient temperatures, checking pulses, respiration, and blood pressure. They also record heights and weights under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN).
Nursing aides also perform routine patient hygiene and help with the examinations of patients. The position requires that candidates possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, and demonstrate a competency in math. They must also be physically competent to perform the outlined and aforementioned duties.
Patient Escort
Patient escorts escort patients to various areas throughout a hospital. They respond to patient needs and questions as well. A high school diploma or GED is required to hold the position. Escorts must also be able to follow written and verbal instructions. This is a good beginning job for any teen whose skills and experience are limited.
Patient Representative
A patient representative performs various clerical responsibilities, including patient registration and reception. Patient reps handle telephone inquiries, input data, and schedule and process patients. They must also perform financial interviews and collect payments.
In order to hold the position, you must possess a high school diploma or GED. Also, one year of hospital-related experience in an ambulatory care setting is preferred. Bilingual, or English/Spanish, skills are preferred. Patient representatives must be able to type at least 25 w.p.m. They must also have a basic knowledge of computer operations and applications.
Phlebotomy Technician
A phlebotomy technician draws blood for labs tests as requested by a doctor in accordance to an established protocol. Phlebotomy technicians must possess a high school diploma or GED. They also must be a graduate of an accredited phlebotomy technician training program. Prior venipuncture experience is preferred as well.
Purchasing Clerk
A purchasing clerk enters departmental data in a CRT-type terminal in accordance with a health care center’s established procedures. They are responsible for the audit and purchase of certain items for a hospital or health care facility. A high school diploma or GED is required to apply.
Receptionist-Typist
A receptionist-typist receives and screens phone calls and schedules appointments for a department in accordance with a health care center’s established procedures. Receptionist-typists must hold a high school diploma or GED and have prior receptionist experience. Again, if you have worked as a volunteer receptionist, then this is a job to which you can apply and be paid. The minimum typing requirement is 40 w.p.m.
Registrar
A registrar greets and registers patients, and performs a variety of clerical duties in accordance to a health care facility’s established procedures. Registrars must possess a high school diploma or GED and possess good communication skills. Prior public contact and clerical experience is required. Data entry experience is another job prerequisite.
Secretary
Under the direct supervision of a manager, a secretary performs confidential secretarial responsibilities. Therefore, a secretary provides information to callers, uses various PC software systems for entering data, and updates and retrieves information. They also relieve other employees of clerical work.
A high school diploma is required for the job as is a certificate from a secretarial-based program. One year of secretarial experience can be substituted for the educational requirement. The ability to type at least 40 w.p.m. is needed as well. Preferably a candidate will also have a knowledge of medical terminology.
Security Guard
A security guard tours the hospital grounds and buildings to ensure the protection of patients, visitors, employees, and property. Security guard candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED as well as a valid driver’s license and guard certification.
One to two years working in security is preferred. Besides possessing excellent communication skills, security guards must be physically fit to render security assistance over a hospital campus. The job requires a good deal of walking, climbing stairs, and standing for long periods of time.
Ultrasound Technologist
An ultrasound technologist operates specialized imaging equipment to assist healthcare practitioners in the safe and efficient diagnosis of patient conditions. Candidates who apply for the job must possess a high school diploma or GED. They must also be a graduate of a one-year approved ultrasound technologist program. RDMS certification or eligibility is preferred.
Unit Clerk
A unit clerk performs general clerical duties and coordinates the activities at a nurse’s station to ensure the accurate and timely flow of patient data, reports, and similar communications. Unit clerks must possess a high school diploma or GED. They must show a proficiency in clerical skills and computer keyboarding as well. A demonstrated ability to clearly communicate in a courteous manner with hospital employees, patients, and visitors is needed too.
Fundamental Hiring Requirements
If you wish to work in a hospital then, it is best to begin the process at an early age as a volunteer. That way, you can gain the necessary background and skillset to advance to a paying position. Many of the jobs require good skills in written and verbal communications, data entry, and, in some instances, mathematics. If you want to focus on a medical career, such as a nurse or physician, then volunteering or working in an administrative capacity, is a good way to gain the experience needed to work in a medical environment.
So, how do you want to direct your sights in obtaining a hospital job? Do you want to contact a hospital volunteer department first? What special skills or training do you need to perform your desired job? Find out what requirements you need in order to succeed in a specific profession.