The number and types of medical jobs available with an emergency management degree rose dramatically in recent years. After students saw the problems that arose following Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina, their interests in these programs and college degrees also increased. Emergency management degrees deal with issues that arise after some type of emergency situation and what workers will do next. Those interested in medical topics can use their degrees to assist those affected by a serious disaster or emergency situation and those working on the aftermath caused by that situation.
Traveling Nurse
A traveling nurse is just one of the medical jobs that might appeal to those interested in emergency management. A traveling nurse is someone who doesn’t work in a dedicated medical facility. He or she travels from facility to facility and works with a wide range of patients every day. After Hurricane Katrina, thousands of nurses flocked to New Orleans to help patients dealing with routine medical conditions and to assist those injured as a result of the hurricane. Traveling nurses can dispense medications, take vital statistics and perform medical check ups as needed.
Emergency Response Specialist
One of the medical jobs available with an emergency management degree is that of an emergency response specialist. An emergency response specialist is a job title that often deals with positions working for FEMA and other government agencies. The goal of a specialist is to help locals after a disaster occurs. A medical response specialist will go to the scene, identify the medical problems and suggest solutions to solve those medical problems. They might mobilize hospitals and doctors to treat patients suffering from smoke inhalation or burns, or they might create a plan that shows what each facility in the area needs to do.
Emergency Response Medical Educator
An emergency response medical educator acts prior to the start of an emergency situation. These men and women work with hospitals, cities, nonprofit organizations and hundreds of other clients to help them understand what could happen during one of these situations. They teach them the diseases and problems that can occur after a wildfire, terrorist attack or a natural disaster, and they help them understand how they can quickly mobilize and help those living in their community. Educators may also host public lectures and events to notify locals in the community about potential problems.
Emergency Medical Technician
According to the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, one of the medical jobs available with an emergency management degree is emergency medical technician. The NAEMT defines an emergency medical technician as someone who provides emergency care at a lower level. They often work with impoverished groups of people and people who have a higher risk of suffering from medical conditions and diseases after an emergency situation. Similar to a paramedic, these workers may arrange for medical transportation and take care of patients until they can get to a hospital or meet with a licensed doctor.
Related Resource: Risk Management Specialist
The emergency management field consists of a number of different jobs, including firefighters and those working for government agencies and organizations. Students enrolled in these programs might prefer working on the medical side of emergency management. Some of the medical jobs available with an emergency management degree now include roles as traveling nurses, medical technicians, educators and emergency response specialists.