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Careers in Health Care Occupational Therapy Cardiovascular Technology Counseling Dental Assistant EMT and Paramedic Fitness Trainer Health Care Information Management Healthcare Administration Holistic and Natural Health Massage Therapy Medical Assistant Medical Coding and Billing Medical Office Administration Medical Technician Medical Transcriptionist Nursing Occupational Therapy Patient Care Technician and Nurse Aide Pharmacy Technician Phlebotomy Physical Therapy Assistant Psychology Respiratory Therapy Surgical Technology Ultrasound Technicians X-Ray Technicians

Lesson 1 – Rewards High level of personal satisfaction High demand: Many jobs are available. Many jobs offer high pay. Scheduling is flexible Job security is high. Competition is low. Rewards Careers in health care can provide several kinds of rewards. First of all, workers in this field often get a high level of personal satisfaction from helping people in need. Secondly, health care workers are in high demand, and the supply is currently lower than desired. As a result: There are a number of jobs available in almost every geographic location. Many jobs offer higher pay in order to attract candidates. Flexible scheduling is often available to workers. Job security is high. Competition for many jobs is lower than in other fields.

Lesson 1 – Entrepreneurship in Health Care See opportunities in the market and take risks to start new businesses Examples…. Entrepreneurship in Health Care One trend in health care careers is a rise in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs see opportunities in the market and take risks to start new businesses. They may work alone or in groups. While they take on the responsibilities of a business owner, they can each also benefit from being their own boss. For example, they can control the kind of work that they do and perhaps even their own schedules. Some examples of entrepreneurs in health care careers are: Physicians, dentists, and optometrists who run their own practices. A therapist who travels to clients’ homes to deliver services. A medical billing or insurance specialist who gets information over the Internet and then completes the required forms at home.

Lesson 1 – The Multicompetent Worker Able to perform a range of health care skills Likely to be hired by smaller facilities Some programs have been designed to teach a broad range of skills The Multicompetent Worker Another trend is a move toward health care workers who are multicompetent, or multiskilled. They are able to perform a range of health care skills. So they are more likely to be hired by smaller facilities that cannot afford to employ a lot of specialists. For example, a worker who knows how to run two or more related medical tests would have a hiring advantage over a worker who can carry out only one test. Some health care education programs have been designed to teach a broad range of skills to individuals from the start. In other cases, workers may be able to gain additional skills through more education or training while on the job.

Lesson 1 – Education Levels Health science courses Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate On-the-job training Education Levels Education may involve different levels of study. The level of education needed varies for each health care career. Health science courses taken during high school can prepare a person for entry-level work after graduation or even while still in school. An associate’s degree involves several months to two years of training for a specific career. This degree is usually offered at a community college or a technical or career school. Other higher education degrees are typically offered at a college or university. A bachelor’s degree usually requires four or more years of study; a master’s degree, one or more years beyond a bachelor’s degree; and a doctorate, two to six years beyond a bachelor’s or master’s degree. To advance in a career, a person may also receive on-the-job training, which is obtained while working. This type of training provides experience as well as education to the worker.

Lesson 1 – Organizations Professional organization Civic and community organizations Organizations Professional, civic, and community organizations are other resources that can help people to develop skills needed for a variety of health care careers. A professional organization is a group that exists to further a certain career. Their goal is to protect the interest of the public as well as those of the professionals. Civic and community organizations exist to enhance the well-being of all people in an area through volunteer service actions.

Lesson 1 – Organizations (Continued) Place for people who share the same interests to meet and exchange information Strengthen members’ skills, Support networking opportunities Organizations (continued) Taking part in professional organizations provides many of the same benefits as being involved in civic and community organizations. Both types: Provide a place for people who share the same interests to meet and exchange information. Allow members to grow in their leadership abilities, citizenship skills, and confidence. Strengthen members’ thinking skills, such as creativity, decision-making, and problem-solving. Support networking opportunities that can lead to job contacts. Professional organizations help you gain knowledge focused to your specific career. While civic and community organizations are broader in scope, they allow you to demonstrate how your career is relevant to the community. You can reach out to improve the world around you and as a result, garner more respect for your career.

Lesson 1 – Student Organizations Aim to enhance the student’s education in both its quality and impact Sponsor special competitions Award scholarships Student Organizations Student organizations have similar benefits to other professional organizations. In addition: They aim to enhance the student’s education in both its quality and impact. They strive to help the student build knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will lead to success in the workplace. They often sponsor special competitions with the goal to encourage pride and excellence in work. They often award scholarships to make sure that deserving students can get the further training they need. Two national organizations that assist students who are studying health care careers are: Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), whose mission is “to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance delivery of quality health care to all people.” SkillsUSA-VICA, formerly the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, which serves students enrolled in training programs for technical, skilled, and service occupations.

Lesson 1 – Credentials and Accreditation ensure workers have skills and are competent Accreditation certifies that program meets minimum standards Credentials and Accreditation Many health care careers demand specific credentials. Credentials ensure that workers have the vital skills and are competent, which helps to protect patients. All types of credentials usually require that the worker graduate from an accredited education program. Accreditation certifies that a program of study meets or exceeds a minimum standard of quality. Two agencies that accredit health care education programs are: The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Lesson 1 – Types of Credentials Certification Registration Licensure Types of Credentials Three types of credentials are certification, registration, and licensure. Certification is usually voluntary and managed by the national professional organization for the career. In most cases, the organization issues a certificate to the worker. It states that the worker has fulfilled the education and performance standards and is qualified to do the job. With registration, the names of people who are qualified to work in a career are kept on an official list. The list is called a “registry.” It is usually maintained by a professional organization or a state board. If there are no explicit requirements for registration for a career, unregistered workers who are otherwise qualified are still allowed to practice. But if there are explicit requirements, only registered workers are allowed to practice. Licensure is established by law and is, therefore, mandatory. A government agency authorizes people to work in select careers. Requirements may vary from state-to-state. But they usually involve passing a state board test and maintaining certain standards. Professional organizations can discipline or expel members from their own groups for breaking rules. But they cannot revoke a member’s license to practice. Only the government agency can revoke a license.

Lesson 1 – Professional Development Continuation of education Continuing education units, or CEU’s, may be required Professional development Professional development means that even after becoming employed, a person needs to continue to get more education. Workers must frequently adapt to new technologies in the health care field. A commitment to lifelong learning is important in order to keep skills up-to-date. In many health care careers, continuing education units, or CEU’s, are required to renew licenses or to stay certified or registered. A CEU represents a specified amount of additional education. Usually a minimum number of CEUs are required within a certain amount of time. And the amounts may vary from state to state. You are legally responsible for knowing what the requirements are for your career in your state. You should also seek out any other requirements at your place of work and develop a plan to meet them. Resources for professional development may include: Courses Seminars Workshops Articles in professional journals Places to look for such resources may include: Local technical or career schools, colleges, or universities The Internet Your place of employment Professional organizations

Lesson 1 – Demands Physically and emotionally Lift, carry, pull, or push Work long shifts Deal with critical incidents Deal with grief that accompanies death Demands Although health care careers can be very rewarding, they can also be both physically and emotionally demanding. Health care workers are often required to lift, carry, pull, or push objects and patients. In some settings, patients require around-the-clock care, and therefore, workers are required to work in shifts. Shift work can interfere with sleep patterns. In addition, workers may be required to work shifts longer than eight hours. This condition is partly a result of general shortages in staff. Also, if patient care is not complete, a worker may need to stay until the procedure is done or there is an appropriate time for another worker to take over care. In addition, health care workers frequently deal with critical incidents. As a result, they often feel a lot of pressure while making many important decisions in a short amount of time. Health care workers may also face pressure when treating patients who are scared or in pain. It is common for these patients to be difficult to deal with because they are not in their usual state of mind. And not all patients recover from their illnesses, so it is normal for workers to have to deal with the grief that accompanies death.

Lesson 1 – Stress Demands can lead to stress You need to figure out strategies to cope with workplace stress Take adequate care of your personal needs Stress Both physical and emotional demands can lead to stress. As a health care worker, you will need to figure out which strategies work best for you to cope with workplace stress. This includes being aware of what resources are available to you. You should find out what is offered by your place of work or any professional organizations to which you belong. Taking adequate care of your personal needs will ultimately result in you being a better health care worker.