Clinical vs. non-clinical healthcare careers 

The healthcare field is vast. Hospitals operate like small cities with dozens of departments working to make their communities healthier.

The opportunities to support patients are equally diverse, from roles that embrace a specialty (e.g., nursing) to those that are non-patient-facing. Both types of employees are important.

As you explore a future in healthcare, learn more about clinical and non-clinical jobs to determine which option might best fit your interests. Here, Heather Steiness, PhD, MPH, associate dean in the College of Health Professions at University of Phoenix, shares what you need to know about these roles.

Clinical healthcare jobs support patients directly. These healthcare experts are involved in the treatment, diagnosis and follow-up of patient care. Consider this path if you are searching for more hands-on experience in the field and want to work with patients daily.

A registered nurse (RN) is a healthcare professional responsible for providing direct patient care in settings like hospitals and clinics. Their duties include recording patients’ medical histories and symptoms, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and collaborating as part of a team. RNs may also educate patients about health conditions and treatment plans. 

To become an RN, one can pursue a nursing diploma, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After completing education, passing the NCLEX-RN and obtaining state licensure is required. Key qualities are compassion, effective communication, emotional stability and physical stamina.

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with an expanded scope of responsibilities in healthcare. NPs often work independently and are authorized to diagnose and treat various medical conditions. Their role includes ordering and performing diagnostic tests, diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions, prescribing medications and managing a patient’s overall well-being.

To become a nurse practitioner, individuals need to complete at least a master’s degree program designed for advanced practice nursing. Such programs include clinical experience and prepare students for certification in their chosen specialty. NPs play a crucial role in providing primary and specialized care and, amid a primary care shortage in the U.S., provide needed access to healthcare services.

Non-clinical professionals don’t typically work with patients directly or diagnosis or provide treatment. These professionals are still essential to healthcare. They often keep hospitals and clinics running so professionals in clinical positions can focus on patients.

Steiness explains: “Non-clinical roles in healthcare are essential for ensuring high-quality healthcare is delivered to patients. Medical providers would be challenged to provide good outcomes for their patients without the support of facility and staff managers, medical records processing, equipment technicians, quality improvement specialists and many others who aren’t directly working with patients.”

Here are a few examples of non-clinical medical careers.

Healthcare managers are also known as health services managers. They directly manage hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They are often in charge of handling the budget, managing staffing needs and training programs, creating work schedules and organizing facility records. They are required to set and carry out policies and procedures within their workplace.

To work in this role, one typically needs a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In some cases, an employer may hire someone with an associate degree for this role.

University of Phoenix offers dedicated health administration master’s degrees for people who are interested in gaining more knowledge in this career path.

“Our MHA and MHA-CB programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and all of our health administration programs are aligned to industry-recognized standards for healthcare administration,” Steiness says.

Health information management involves collecting and processing patient data securely. This can range from tracking patient health records to securing data from a clinical trial. Professionals in this space might also work with billing services or with researchers to track trends.

To become a health information technician, one needs at least a high school diploma or GED, according to Nurse.org. However, some employers hire people with an accredited associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field. Many seek certification by taking the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT^®) examination.  

Modern hospitals run through a series of codes. Every treatment and medication is assigned a universal code so doctors can track a patient’s journey. Medical coders document the codes and ensure patients are billed accurately. These positions require immense attention to detail; otherwise, patients might get billed for treatment they didn’t have or have medications they didn’t receive.

To become a medical coder, one needs at least need a high school diploma or GED. A degree in a related field from a college or university is not necessarily required, but some employers prefer it. From there, you can complete a certificate program or pursue a four-year degree.

The University of Phoenix offers a Medical Records Certificate that teaches skills such as claims submission, insurance verification, medical billing and coding, and regulatory requirements. This typically aligns to other non-clinical healthcare roles such as medical records coordinator, medical records technician and health information technician.

Working in healthcare is as rewarding as it is robustly full of diverse opportunities. From clinical roles to administrative ones, there are pathways for a variety of interests and skills.

If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but need certificate and degree programs that offer flexible scheduling and fixed tuition, consider programs at University of Phoenix. Here are just a few to consider:

• Bachelor of Science in Health Administration: With four elective track options, this degree program covers business management, compliance, finance, information management and more.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Management: Interested in the business and regulatory needs of a healthcare organization? This degree program focuses on management, technology, compliance and related subjects.
• Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration: Position yourself to become a leader in healthcare with this dual degree focusing on healthcare administration, accounting and marketing.
• Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Leadership: In this program you will learn how to assess and advocate for the health needs of communities, analyze data related to the health of a target community, mobilize and engage community stakeholders, and more.