Entry-level positions offer advancement to higher-paying careers
As summer winds down and students find their way back to the classroom to prepare for future employment, the decision on what type of career or job path to choose begins.
Thousands of jobs are posted on the state’s Job Center website and on the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s Job Bulletin, but Ann Zenk, RN BSN MHA, WHA vice president, workforce and clinical practice, encourages students and job seekers to consider a career with a Wisconsin hospital or health system. “Health care is a rewarding field,” said Zenk. “Whether you work in direct patient care or in a support role, health care is a meaningful career for those with a passion for helping others.”
According to Zenk, health care in Wisconsin is a highly integrated industry, with health systems consisting of hospitals, clinics, home health and long term care. That means employees can train and transition to a different position, or even a new career, within the same organization.
“Hospitals and health systems have a variety of positions, from entry level that require a high school or limited technical school training, to those that require an advanced degree,” Zenk said. “No matter where you start there is a pathway to a higher-paying, challenging career in our hospitals. Health care occupations are among the fastest growing in the U.S., and positions are available; the door will be open to all who wish to enter the health care field.”
Hospitals and health systems desire and support advancement to in-demand roles, such as nursing assistant, physical therapist, nurse, or nurse practitioner. Zenk noted “a hard-working, dedicated person can start in an entry-level position and with educational assistance that is often paid for by their employer, supported by a flexible work schedule, can train for the next level of employment, even advancing to a master’s degree, while continuing to work in progressively better-paying roles.”
Recruiting to rural areas can pose unique challenges. That is why WHA is a strong supporter of the Rural Wisconsin Initiative, a legislative package that provides matching grant funding for the training of advanced practice clinicians and allied health professionals in rural Wisconsin hospitals.
“The Rural Wisconsin Initiative bolsters our state’s health care infrastructure by ensuring we have a workforce in place to care for our residents by creating in-state opportunities for health care professionals to complete their education and training,” WHA President/CEO Eric Borgerding said. “We want to do everything we can to ensure we have the workforce necessary to deliver high-quality, high-value care in all of our communities.”
Wisconsin hospitals employ more than 100,000 people, making it one of the state’s largest industries and among the most stable in an economic downturn.