Dental assistants assist the dentist and keep patient records. They also set up the patient and dental equipment. They assist the dentist in times of emergency and instruct patients in proper teeth cleaning, monitor supplies and inventory and may clean and polish hand-held dental instruments.

Dental hygienists clean teeth and remove stains and deposits from teeth. They look at teeth and gums for signs of disease. They educate patients on brushing and flossing, take and develop X-rays, and apply fluoride or sealants on teeth and help keep the dental equipment in good working order and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.

Dentists care not only for teeth and gums, but also for the muscles and bones within or supporting the mouth. They do routine procedures such as filling cavities, cleaning teeth and repairing broken ones. They may also perform surgeries within or around the mouth to promote dental health, improve appearance and prevent disease.

Oral surgeons, also referred to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and defects in the mouth, jaws, neck, face and skull regions. Common treatments include the removal of impacted teeth, reconstructive surgery, lip reconstruction and insertion of dental implants.

Health information managers handle patient records, a very important and confidential job. They play a part in the quality of a patient’s health care by organizing the medical data. They are also skilled in health care databases and database systems, as well as medical classification systems. HIMs have great knowledge of how financial information relates to clinical data, medical legal issues and security systems.

Coders are administrative workers in the health care industry who review patient medical care files and assign codes to each procedure for insurance billing purposes. Coders may earn professional certification from an accredited medical coding organization.

Medical records technicians and health information technicians compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. They process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards in a manner consistent with the health care industry’s numerical coding system.

Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings that physicians and other health care professionals make and convert them into written reports. They may also review and edit medical documents created using speech recognition technology. Transcriptionists interpret medical terminology and abbreviations in preparing patients’ medical histories, discharge summaries, and other documents.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) plan, direct and coordinate the daily patient care activities in a clinical practice. CNSs ensure adherence to clinical policies, protocols, regulations and standards.

Informatics nurse specialists explore how technology, computers and research influence the practice of nursing.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide care to sick, injured, recovering or disabled patients and may be supervised by a registered nurse. LPNs administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts. They also observe patients, note changes in a patients conditions and take basic vital signs like blood pressure and temperature . Providing care also may include dressing wounds, treating bedsores, sterilizing equipment and supplies.

A nurse administrator creates work schedules, gives performance reviews and develops work policies. Other job duties include keeping up established ethical and legal standards for job performance, attending administrative personnel meetings and developing new employee training. Most of the work of a nurse administrator is done in an office and not on the care floor, so an administrator has little or no direct contact with patients. A nurse administrator may work in a hospital, nursing home, private doctor’s office, home health care organization or urgent care facility. Nurse executives are the top leaders responsible for leading overall nursing operations.

Nurse anesthetists prepare and administer anesthesia, monitor patient’s vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. CRNAs may assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, physicians or dentists.

Informatics nurse specialists explore how technology, computers and research influence the practice of nursing.

Nurse midwives diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process. Midwives may work independently or as part of a health care team. Nurse midwives may provide preventive care to women.

Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat both sudden and long-term conditions. They may do physical exams, physical therapy or order tests and therapies for patients. NPs order, perform or interpret results of blood tests, EKGs and X-rays. They use these tools, along with patient symptoms and medical history to develop the right diagnosis.

Nursing assistants provide basic care to patients under the direction of a nurse. Nursing assistants help patients eat and bathe. Nursing assistants may dress, groom or move patients. They give medications or treatments and answer patient calls, apply clean dressings or bandages under the direction of a nurse or physician.

Instructors teach about nursing in classrooms and clinical settings. Nursing instructors lead, develop and organize teaching programs. They keep informed about developments in the field of nursing and may collaborate with other faculty to address teaching and research issues.

Psychiatric mental health nursing is a specialty within nursing. Psychiatric mental health registered nurses work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, assessing their mental health needs. The PMHN develops a nursing diagnosis and plan of care, implements the nursing process, and evaluates it for effectiveness.

Registered nurses (R.N.s) care for sick and injured patients. Registered nurses will assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Registered nurses monitor and record patients’ conditions and report any changes to physicians. They maintain detailed reports, record vital signs, and order, interpret and evaluate tests to identify and assess patients conditions and work closely with patients and their families.

A cardiovascular technologist assists with the diagnosis and treatment of heart issues. They conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. They may conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.

Medical dosimetrists use training in anatomy, physics and radiobiology to calculate effective radiologic treatment doses for cancer patients, while minimizing side effects.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) technicians, also known as electroneurodiagnostic (END) or neurodiagnostic technicians, are individuals who use specialized machines to monitor the electrical activity of a patient’s brain in order to observe and diagnose irregularities such as strokes, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

Medical equipment repairers test and calibrate equipment and keep records of maintenance, repair and required updates. They take equipment apart, repair and replace any defective parts, and put it back together. They also ensure that the medical equipment is being used properly and safely and may train health care providers on how to use the equipment.

Perfusionists assemble, operate and monitor equipment that keeps oxygen-rich blood pumping through the circulatory system. When cardiac surgeons perform open-heart surgery, they rely on a perfusionist to operate machinery that continues to pump oxygenated blood through the patient.

A sterile processing technician operates and maintains steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads and maintenance procedures performed. They clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization, record sterilizer test results, organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filing special requests as needed. They also examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts or other indications of disrepair.

Surgical technologists assist surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses (R.N.s) and other surgical personnel with surgical procedures. They help ensure patient and operating room safety, as well as the functionality and sanitation of surgical equipment.