If you have a strong aversion to blood, you might think that any medical establishment is ground zero for open wounds. Such an assumption can lead people to dismiss the idea of working in the healthcare field altogether.
Many jobs in pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals offer good pay, robust benefits, and are anything but gory. If you’re squeamish but curious, read on for medical careers that involve little to no blood.
Physical Therapist Assistant
The primary responsibility of a physical therapist assistant is to help patients recover from injury, surgery, or illness. Guiding these patients through physical routines helps them regain strength and mobility, which is crucial to their well-being.
Some of these patients might have wounds as a result of their injury or surgery, but they won’t be a risk to you. Patients aren’t cleared to participate in physical therapy classes until the healing process reaches a certain point.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the number of physical therapist assistant jobs will increase 27% between 2018 and 2028. On top of that, the average annual salary for this profession in 2021 was $49,180.
ShutterstockPharmacy Technician
A pharmacy technician’s top job is working with pharmacists and patients to distribute medications. The work setting is typically a pharmacy in a retail setting – a drug store or supermarket – where it’s very uncommon to interact with someone who’s bleeding.
In hospital settings, where pharmacy technicians are commonly staffed, the medicine is usually distributed at nursing stations. Again, this limits your chances of coming into contact with a bleeding person. A high school diploma is often all you need to get started in this role, which earns an average of $36,740 per year.
Shutterstock: SofikoSRadiologists And Sonographers
While radiologists and sonographers use different technology, they both help physicians with the diagnosis of injuries by using imaging equipment.
Neither occupation is known to encounter bloody scenes, unless they’re stationed in a surgical or emergency room. However, if you’re equally grossed out by seeing broken bones or other injuries, it might be best to skip this option!
Shutterstock: New AfricaHealth Information Technician
The role of a health information technician is to maintain patient records, review previous findings, and document recent outcomes. While this profession can be found in hospitals and clinics, it’s an office job. Health information technicians don’t cross paths with patients, since their duties revolve around a database of patient files.
Much like the pharmacy technician role, you don’t need a degree in order to become a health information technician. However, a certificate program might increase your odds of being hired. On average, health information technicians earn $47,600 per year.
Alternatively, you can enjoy a blood-free work day as a health information manager, if you have the educational credentials. On top of database duties, these managers understand the software on a coding level. This dynamic role can pay an annual average salary of $119,450.
Shutterstock: ALPA PRODMedical Biller Or Coder
Medical Billers and Coders work in the same office setting and make roughly the same salary as health information technicians. Billers submit claims and make sure that patients are being correctly billed for procedures and expenses accumulated during their stay. Coders, meanwhile, specialize in verifying that the correct codes are being used for specific procedures.
Given their duties, there’s no reason for a medical biller or coder to ever interact with a patient – much less a bleeding one! If you’re interested in pursuing these medical careers, there are many online and in-person certificate programs available.
ShutterstockMedical Administrative Assistant
These clerks usually work at the front desk of medical offices and facilities. They are responsible for a wide range of clerical duties, including fielding calls, scheduling appointments, and processing bills. Medical administrative assistants may work with patients’ lab reports but never patients themselves.
These administrative roles have very little chance of interacting with blood — barring a nasty papercut, of course! Plus, these employees earn an average yearly salary of $37,450, making it a worthwhile career for those with a blood phobia.
Shutterstock: Africa StudioChiropractor
The role of a chiropractor is to work with patients’ bodies to increase mobility and decrease pain. Qualified professionals must have a doctor of chiropractic degree, complete a residency, get licensed and certified before they can earn an average of $82,887 per year.
There’s no reason chiropractors should be exposed to a patient’s blood, since this realm of treatment doesn’t involve surgery. Having said that, the profession is very hands-on. Sometimes a popping sound can be heard as chiropractors adjust a patient’s body. While this is the sound of pressure being released (and not crunching bones), it might be unnerving for squeamish people.
ShutterstockMedical Device Sales Representative
A sales representative who deals in medical devices might be the best compromise, if you want to be around medicine but not necessarily patients.
In this sales role, you would be at the forefront of medical technology. Duties include making presentations to medical staff about new devices and meeting sales targets. Having a social attitude and a passion for this line of work can reward you with an average salary of $76,348.
Shutterstock: Ground PictureMedical Equipment Repairer
Even if you don’t have a silver tongue, or any interest in public speaking, a career working with medical devices is still within your grasp. Medical equipment repairers are critical when it comes to fixing and testing computers, mechanisms, and other equipment.
Since these machines save lives, a medical equipment repairer’s day can be stressful. Oftentimes they’ll have to fix something off hours, or in a hurry. With an associate’s degree, these professionals can earn an average salary of $49,910 per year.
Shutterstock: Zoriana ZaitsevaExplore Your Options
Some people dislike the sight of blood so much, they can’t even watch a needle being given – in a movie! Despite that aversion, you can still reap the job security and competitive salary of a medical career.
Hospitals rely on a number of other administrative, sales, and technical jobs, so be sure to research your options. There are many ways you can enjoy the benefits of a medical career without seeing red.
Shutterstock: sirtravelalot
