Unit 1 Health Care Today

Your Career in Health Care Chapter 1 Your Career in Health Care

Your Future in Health Care Health care service One of the largest industries in United States (U.S.) Growing need for health care professionals Wide variety of career opportunities Work can be very fulfilling

Question True or False: Ten of the 20 fastest growing jobs today are in health care.

Answer True Ten of 20 fastest growing careers today are in health care Including home health aide, medical assistant, dental assistant, and surgical technologist

Your Future in Health Care Work contributes to well-being of others Work can be demanding All tasks must be done thoughtfully and conscientiously Consequences of mistakes can be devastating

Essential Qualities Care about others Have integrity Be dependable, but flexible Work well with others Be willing to learn Strive to be cost-conscious

Question Which of the following best demonstrates the meaning of integrity? Earning good grades Being honest at all times Using time efficiently

Answer B. Being honest at all times Honesty Important aspect of integrity

Standards for Health Care Professionals Certification General term for meeting predetermined standards Requires education and professional exam Examples: Certified medical assistant Certified nursing assistant Certified occupational therapy assistant (continued)

Standards for Health Care Professionals Registration Placement on official list after meeting predetermined standards Examples: Registered nurse Registered respiratory therapist Registered medical assistant (continued)

Standards for Health Care Professionals Licensure Designation giving formal permission to perform certain tasks Generally granted by government agencies Requirements may vary from state to state (continued)

Standards for Health Care Professionals Licensure Examples: Dentist Licensed practical/vocational nurse Dental hygienist

Question To work as a massage therapist, Kelly must obtain approval from her state. This is called _____ . Licensure Registration Certification

Answer A. Licensure Licensure Obtaining approval to practice profession or perform certain tasks Usually from government agency

Career Ladders Levels of occupations within professional field Require different amounts of education and/or training

Example of a Career Ladder Nursing occupations ranked from most to least education required Nurse practitioner Registered nurse Licensed practical/vocational nurse Certified nursing assistant

Career Categories Therapeutic and treatment occupations Assist patients to regain or attain maximum wellness Diagnostic occupations Determine causes and extent of illnesses and injuries (continued)

Career Categories Information occupations Environmental occupations Gather, analyze, organize, store, and document patient data Environmental occupations Develop and maintain therapeutic environments to support patient care

Therapeutic and Treatment Occupations Dental Emergency medical Massage therapy Medical office Mental health Nursing Occupational therapy (continued)

Therapeutic and Treatment Occupations Pharmacy Physical therapy Respiratory therapy Surgery Veterinary Vision care

Question True or False: A nephrologist specializes in the treatment of the brain and nervous system.

Answer False Nephrologist specializes in kidneys Neurologist specializes in brain and nervous system

Diagnostic Occupations Diagnostic imaging Medical laboratory

Health Information Management Occupations Registered health information technician Medical transcriptionist Coding specialist

Environmental Occupations Dietary service Biomedical engineering

Question Which of the following occupations might be the best choice for an individual who would enjoy helping patients regain their mobility after surgery? Surgical technologist Physical therapist Occupational therapist

Answer B. Physical therapist Physical therapists work with patients to improve physical function by increasing muscle strength, range of motion, and movement

Question Which of the following occupational therapy occupations requires the most education? Certified occupational therapy assistant Occupational therapy aide Occupational therapist

Answer C. Occupational therapist Order from most to least education: Certified occupational therapy assistant Occupational therapy aide

Thinking Like a Health Care Professional Learning to think like a health care worker Aim for understanding Have organized approach to problem-solving Apply learned material to new situations Base decisions on facts Create relationships among facts (continued)

Thinking Like a Health Care Professional Learning to think like a health care worker Locate reliable sources of information Base decisions on ethical principles Practice good communication skills Understand what tasks are allowed to be performed in one’s profession (continued)

Thinking Like a Health Care Professional Using questions in thinking Gather information Expand view of subject or situation Prevent simply accepting circumstances or making assumptions (continued)

Thinking Like a Health Care Professional Examples of thinking questions: What do I already know about this? Why is this important? Who benefits from this? What might work best? When should this be done? How can I be more efficient?

Problem-Solving Process Identify problem Gather information Create alternatives Choose alternative and take action Evaluate and revise as needed

1. Identify Problem “Problem” may only be symptom of real problem Observe, pay attention, and confront difficult issues Look beyond the obvious Use questions effectively

Question What is the third step in the problem-solving process? Gather information Create alternatives Take action

Answer B. Create alternatives Third step: Create alternatives Follows identification of problem (step 1) and gathering of information (step 2)

2. Gather Information Information must be accurate and reliable Separate assumptions, opinions, and emotions from facts Collect objective data Can be observed or measured Also known as signs (continued)

2. Gather Information Collect subjective data Needs, feelings, and desires When reported by patient, includes pain and physical feelings Also known as symptoms Conduct research and ask for help as needed

Question True or False: A severe headache reported by a patient is an example of a sign.

Answer False Symptom Anything reported by patient that cannot be observed or measured by health care professional

3. Create Alternative Solutions Generate possible solutions and actions Consider all possibilities Consider potential positive and negative consequences of each alternative Discard ideas clearly impractical or unworkable

4. Choose Alternative and Take Action Without follow-through, opportunities and accomplishments missed Using problem-solving process fosters confidence in making right decision

5. Evaluate and Revise as Needed Review results of actions Even what seems the best plan may prove ineffective or have negative consequences Circumstances can change May be necessary to make adjustments Own needs and those of patients and facility may change

Establishing Good Work Habits Practice using good workplace habits while in school Care about others Show respect for classmates Be courteous Have integrity Do own work Be honest (continued)

Establishing Good Work Habits Practice using good workplace habits while in school Be dependable Arrive to class on time Do assignments accurately Work well with others Be understanding Participate in class (continued)

Establishing Good Work Habits Practice using good workplace habits while in school Be flexible Accept instructional differences and changes in class schedules Be willing to learn Take studies seriously

Getting the Most from Your Studies Individuals learn in different ways Identify own dominant learning style Develop study techniques that work best for own style

Learning Styles Visual learners Learn best from seeing printed materials and images Examples of study techniques: Read text Study illustrations Watch DVD (continued)

Learning Styles Auditory learners Learn best by hearing information Examples of study techniques: Listen to CD or tape Attend supplementary lectures Read aloud (continued)

Learning Styles Kinesthetic learners Learn best from hands-on activities Examples of study techniques: Perform lab activities Put together models Stand or move about while reading

Learning for Mastery Learn for understanding Rather than memorization of facts Understand why information is important and how it can be used Learn to apply information to new situations you will encounter on job

Returning Adult Learners May worry about returning to school Have many life experiences and skills they can apply to studies E.g., ability to set priorities, good communication skills (continued)

Returning Adult Learners Biggest problem can be finding time for studies Solutions: Create daily, prioritized to-do list Schedule time to study Set times to spend with family members (continued)

Returning Adult Learners Solutions: Create personal organization techniques to save time Delegate tasks Ask for needed help