Healthcare Professions - Psychiatry (Coursework Sample)

Healthcare Professions
Name
Institution
A Career in Pediatric Psychiatry
Graduates are often confused on what to do after completing their master’s degree. They have the option of either pursuing a doctorate degree in their preferred area of specialization or look for a job and start putting their skills and knowledge to work. The latter is the most appealing noting that the students use quite a large sum of money to finance their education (Dulcan, 2010). Furthermore, at this level they may already be receiving invitations from various healthcare organizations to work. In regard to this, some choose to develop a career in psychiatry to devote their lives to studying, preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental disorders that have made life miserable for millions across the world. It is a noble job of understanding and saving the human mind from declining to insanity. Furthermore, it helps people to understand their innermost feelings to be able to interact with those close to them, especially family and friends.
Since the field of psychiatry is broad, some opt to specialize in pediatric psychiatry. In essence, help address children with psychological problems. Child and adolescent psychiatry encompass clinical investigation of biologic, genetic, psychological, environmental and demographic factors (Dulcan, 2010). To qualify as a pediatric psychiatrist in the United States, the individual must undergo four years of medical training and at 3 least years as a resident trainee in neurology, medicine, or general psychiatry practice with adults. Furthermore, the individual must undertake two additional years training in specialized psychiatric work. It involves working with children, adolescents as well as their families in an accredited psychiatric institution working children and adolescents. The individual must be patient and understanding because he or she will be dealing with children and adolescents that often exhibit violent tantrums.
Moreover, the individual must undertake an additional certification examination administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in the subspecialty of child and adolescent psychiatry (Dulcan, 2010). Although it is not compulsory to undertake examinations administered by the ABPN, individuals with these qualifications are an assurance to parents that they can diagnose and treat any psychological problem affecting children and adolescents.
Already there is a shortage of pediatric psychiatrists as the demand continues to outstrip the supply. Furthermore, the distribution of these valuable healthcare human resources is not balanced according to the needs of urban and rural areas (Dulcan, 2010). The majority of pediatric psychiatrists are based in urban areas with only a small percentage willing to work in rural areas. According to a survey conducted by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, there are 6,500 practicing pediatric psychiatrists in the United States as of May 2014.
Numerous efforts have been made by both the public and private healthcare sectors to encourage more medical doctors to undertake addition training to become pediatric psychiatrists (Dulcan, 2010). Students willing to dedi...