Have you considered looking into what is required to be a hospital social worker?

While it is true that there is always a need for medical workers, it is not necessarily true that one can obtain the training required to get a job in the field that will pay enough to make a decent living. I worked 10 years in medical billing and coding...an extremely stressful job that paid only OK. As I look at the want adds now, places are looking for people with certification in that field or who can do the job at home (requires large expenditures for proper computer programs, etc). That is just one example.

What I am dealing with right now is trying to get into a nursing program... nearly impossible! There is a shortage of nurses (including nurse educators) which makes the field extremely attractive, but there just are not enough seats in the programs due to the shortage of educators. My local ADN program is now on a lottery system for entry. They average 500 applicants a year, 15 seats. The local BSN program is worse. I have a friend who has a 4.0 GPA, has completed all prereq's, is an EMT, and she has applied to both programs 3 times.