CAREERS IN HEALTH

A useful survey of health careers: training required, salary ranges, day-to-day tone and responsibilities. The workers themselves describe their jobs and attitudes (""Some people would say this is disgusting, but really, you get used to it""), and the authors add background information and a little behind-the-scenes commentary on racism, sexism, and buck-passing. Two emergency medical technicians, assigned to a fire station, discuss their split-second operations with true pride. A ward clerk tells how she opted for her job instead of college--she was tired of school. A boarding-home operator demonstrates how she cares for eleven senior citizens, and how much they enjoy having her teenage children around. A nurse/midwife recalls how much easier training was for her after six years as an obstetrics nurse--midwifing schools now have waiting lists. A few, like the osteopath, specifically chose their line of work; many more drifted into them; and several see their jobs as temporary, a good stopping place until they change direction. A serviceable reference for teenagers and adults considering career changes.