Consider combining your health care experience and your business degree into a career in health care management. health care has become a complex business, and the demand for qualified health care managers is at an all-time high.

Career options in this field run the gamut. You don't necessarily need to choose between a business career and a clinical practice--many careers in health care feature some sort of combination of the two. Public health or social work can involve close patient interaction, or it can focus more on administrative functions. Medical office management can put you on the frontlines of patient care, or you can put your business skills to work in billing, managing employees, or keeping the books. Hospital or insurance administration might appeal to you if you like managing a business, determining business strategy, or analyzing financial practices.

First, do some soul searching to determine which path is right for you. Do you like working with patients? Or do you prefer working with abstract concepts or numbers? What kind of environment attracts you--a bustling, fast-paced hospital clinic? A small, private medical practice? An efficiently-run insurance or hospital office?

Depending on your answers to these questions, you may need some further education. Your respiratory health therapy experience and bachelor's in business will qualify you for a medical office management position, but most other fields require a master's degree. Some social work positions will accept undergraduate degrees (BSW), but public health careers usually require a Master's in Public Health or Social Work. Hospital and health insurance administrators usually hold a Master's in health care Administration or health care Management.

With your clinical background and business degree, you're in a strong position to take advantage of the boom in health care management careers. You might be surprised at the diversity of positions available--take a look, and discover which path is right for you.