I am to be laid off from Technical Training Position in Silicon Valley and need some advise...

8/29/02 | Shawv

[ErnBatavia]

Can't help you with specifics, but if you look in the 'help wanted' section of the papers, you'll see that these areas have job security "fershure"; jobs aplenty....at least until the medical community leaves Kalifornia due to the malpractice insurance costs (30 percent of physicicans here, according to some data I read, plan on moving out of state or retiring within 3 years).

Good luck!

[AM2000]

I don't know myself, but I do know someone who's doing the exact same research - she's using google.com a lot... especially their newsgroups (groups.google.com)... check them out.

[AM2000]

Oh, and by the way -- this is purely out of curiousity, but why the medical field?

[APBaer]

I don't know, but what I would do is get in touch with a large hospital in your area and ask them.

They would know, and if you follow up and take the training, you can return to yu new contact and say, okay, I got the training you suggested now what is open. You will have an opening to talk to them that you would not otherwise have.

[shawv]

Thanks to all who are replying.....
I am interested in the medical area, because I am analytical, I would like the enviornment, I have always been interested in medicine, had I not gone into the navy and into college directly from high school (like dad wanted me to), I would have liked to been a doctor of some sort.

[AM2000]

Interesting. Have you considered going for a PA program? It would take a few years because you'd have to finish your Bachelors first but it's worth it - they make good money and HMOs are slowly trying to shift a lot of what MDs traditionally did to lower-cost PAs.

[WVNan]

So? Why don't you go back to school and become a doctor? You can do it if you really want to. All it takes is determination. I wentto college at age 52 and got a Master's. I had no money and still had a teenager at home. I graduated from college the same year he graduated from H.S. We pretty much do what we really really want to do in life.

[APBaer]

Another idea- you could look into being a technical trainer for the manufacturers of such equiptment as MRIs etc. GE makes the things and when they unload a new one at a medical center the Drs. don't just plug it in, they need technical trainng on how to run it.

Then later, if you wanted, you could investigate working for a hospital with the machines as a technician, but you might find this training job better, less restrictive, new people, maybe better pay.

I say maybe better pay because if you're GE who just got $5 million for a new machine it doesn't matter much if you pay the installation/ training people $5 per hour or $500 per hour, its a small part of the deal.

[crystalk]

Radiologic Technicians make about $50-80 M, don't they? Look up their websites and find out, or look for medical jobs open in major job websites or large-city papers.

Be sure to move to Florida first before entering new career.

Best, c.

[aruanan]

Find your county's version of a vocational/technical institute. You can get excellent training at these places in a wide range of trades. They'd be able to tell you what the going rate is in the job market for any of these jobs.

[krb]

30 percent of physicicans here, according to some data I read, plan on moving out of state or retiring within 3 years

With the stock market being what it is these days, my money says that most of these crybabies are going to be practicing a lot longer than they want.

[Dakotabound]

Try looking for information on Anesthesia Technicians. Go to this page. They *do* work more with the equipment than the actual patients.

I'm thinking there are probably other "technician" positions in the medical field. I'd try looking through America's Job Bank for their occupation definitions.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Hi,

You have a wealth of resources where you're at. Although I'm not up on what ultrasound techs make, there are sites you can check Google for which give you some salary calculations for health care professions in different geographical areas. I'd look at Stanford Medical Center and UCSF. Call human resources at the hospitals and they should be able to guide you towards more job info and training. Perhaps since they are university hospitals they may provide training there or a connection to future employment. I'm in nursing so I can't speak to the specialties you named, but I'd bet human resources can put you on the right track.

[crystalk]

Or just look at bls.gov/oco/ocos105.htm

Looks like there are a fair number of people in this field, many in dentist and drs offices, 167000 people working etc.

Poster above forgets that white male American citizens are not admitted to Medical schools in the USA unless their parents were alumni, or very high Government officials. Females are in another world, one that lets them spread their wings.

[bankwalker]

I can set you up in a very profitable home based business if you are interested.

[AngrySpud]

If you want to work on the equipment, check out BioMedical Repair Technician ... that's the title used in the Navy, and it ought to be the same on the civilian side.

[JudyB1938]

One of my sons is a Rad Tech. Enjoys it tremendously and makes a lot of money. Good career choice if that's what you like. He prefers CatScan over MRI though, for some reason.

One of my daughters is a doctor. She is thinking about getting out of the medical field, it is so bad for doctors any more (HMO's, gov't regulations, exhorbitant malpractice insurance premiums, patients who think they should be cured after a life of abuse to their bodies, etc, etc). Not worth the years of training at your age (or MONEY!).

My primary care "doctor" is a PA. Best "doctor" I ever had. She pretty much enjoys her work, because she doesn't have the financial responsibilities and other stuff that a doctor has - since she works under a doctor who provides all of that.

My former son-in-law is a nurse. He works with old people and loves it.

There's always a need for people in the medical field. You can work anywhere you want to. Shortages all over. Good luck.

[RJayneJ]

Right now there is a shortage of nurses. I have recently watched on the news that, because of the shortage, a lot of nurses are making over a hundred thousand a year.The new quote. };^D)

Quote of the Day by marron

[proxy_user]

When presenting yourself to schools and potential employers, use language correctly. "Advise" is a verb; the word you wanted was the noun "advice". Sure, it will pass the spellcheckers, but...

BTW, I have no intention of being cruel or mocking you. However, at my workplace, we do tend to laugh at resumes with silly mistakes in them. Other places probably do this as well.