Introduction to Health Careers



Introduction to Health Care is the foundation technical course for sophomore students in the Health Academy. This health careers course introduces industry-wide standards that are necessary for anyone employed in health care and Medical Terminology. Relevant workplace explorations, guest speakers, First-Aid/CPR training and certification, community service opportunities and volunteer experiences complement the rigorous health care based interdisciplinary curriculum. This is a UC G elective college preparatory course and is articulated with Moreno Valley College for College Credit. The prerequisite to this class is admission into the Health Academy.

Course Requirements

  • Maintain a 2.0 or better overall GPA and at least a C in Introduction to Health Careers

  • Perform at least 40 hours of Community Service

  • Participate in the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Promotion in the Community

Student Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the spectrum of careers in the healthcare industry and identify required educational preparation for selected careers.

  2. Explain how educational preparation for entry-level health occupations can be used as a first step on a career ladder in a specific healthcare careers.

  3. Develop competency in basic skills required for success in healthcare careers

  4. Identify ethical and legal standards that guide medical practice

  5. Describe the impact of social, developmental and cultural factors on healthcare services

  6. Develop competency in basic skills required for success in healthcare careers

Course Content

Requirements for Community Service

Overview of the industry

Career Ladders in Health Care

Student strength and weaknesses in foundation skills

Personal Workplace Safety 8 hours

First Aid/CPR

Vital signs

Ethical and Legal Foundations of Health Care

Medical Terminology Prefixes, Suffixes and Roots

Basic Professional skills

Technological skills

Standards

  • Recognize the integrated systems approach to health care delivery services: prevention, diagnosis, pathology, and treatment

  • Know how to apply mathematical computations used in health care delivery system.

  • Know the definition, spelling, pronunciation, and use of appropriate terminology in the health care setting.

  • Use roots, prefixes, and suffixes to communicate information.

  • Demonstrate the principles of body mechanics as they apply to the positioning, transferring, and transporting of patients.

  • Implement wellness strategies for the prevention of injury and disease

  • Comply with protocols and preventative health practices necessary to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, health care workers, coworkers, and self within the health care setting.

  • Comply with hazardous waste disposal policies and procedures, including documentation, to ensure that regulated waste is handled, packaged, stored, and disposed of in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.

  • Research factors that define cultural differences between and among different ethnic, racial, and cultural groups and special populations.

  • Complete certification in emergency care as appropriate (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], automated external defibrillator [AED], first aid).

  • Identify personal interests, aptitudes, information, and skills necessary for informed career decision making.