Health Science Foundations 1b: Professional Responsibilities
Making sure that you, your patients, and your colleagues stay safe, you’ll begin analyzing your responsibilities for ensuring patient and personal safety with special attention paid to emergency procedures. Examine infection control, first-aid, CPR, and measuring a patient’s vitals. Learn about numerical data, such as systems of measurement, medical math, and reading and interpreting charts. And examine effective teamwork and leadership characteristics while building your employment skills.
Units at a Glance
Unit 1: Health, Safety, Security
Every workplace has dangers, but the risks that occur in healthcare settings are part of the everyday jobs of every player on the healthcare team. From taking care of the safety of vulnerable patients to taking care of your own health so you can continue to help people, there are many things to learn about applying safety measures while working to improve the health of those in your community. Implementing standard precautions and following all hazard warnings, including reading SDSs for the chemicals you use, will ensure safer conduct. When there is an emergency, you not only need to respond to protect yourself but to operate as part of the response to any threat. Finally, we look at how to reduce medical errors in healthcare settings, creating a culture of safety on the job.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Identify and manage safety hazards in a healthcare setting
- Implement proper body mechanics while moving patients
- Explain how different government agencies contribute to safety in health care
- Prepare for and respond to emergencies
- Analyze a problem using root cause analysis
Unit 2: Infection Control
How do we get sick? Tracing the chain of infection, we will learn how pathogens can invade and cause illness. We will learn how the body defends itself and the steps that each person can take to help stop the spread of infection. Something as simple as handwashing is the strongest weapon against pathogens, helping ordinary people and healthcare workers to keep germs at bay. But healthcare workers have a special duty to fight the spread of disease, being in the center of infection control—and with the power to fight the spread of disease, both to themselves and to the public at large.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Summarize the chain of infection
- Compare levels of cleaning in a healthcare setting
- Recommend when and how to cleanse hands in a healthcare setting
- Differentiate between standard precautions and transmission-based precautions
- Link infection control practices to the fight against drug-resistant infections
Unit 3: Bloodborne Pathogens
Jobs in healthcare are on the front lines of the fight against the spread of pathogens, and none more important than the serious bloodborne diseases caused by HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. We will learn the proper techniques for putting on and taking off PPE to stay safe from bloodborne and other pathogens. Each step done properly can stop a deadly pathogen in its tracks. In addition, we will dig into what community members can do to prevent exposure or access resources if they are exposed to a bloodborne disease.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Assess the risks posed by the most common bloodborne pathogens in the United States
- Describe how bloodborne pathogens can spread in healthcare settings
- Reconstruct the steps for properly putting on PPE
- Explain the reasons for safely disposing of biohazardous waste
- Summarize the most risky behaviors for transmission of bloodborne diseases, both in a healthcare setting and in the community
Unit 4: Signs of Life: Vital Signs and CPR
The signs of life, or what we call vital signs, are the ways we can sense the mysterious quality we call “life” in a body. The right temperature, beating of the heart, the in and out of respiration, and the pressure with which blood pumps throughout our bodies are the ways we can tell that we are alive. Anytime any one of the vital signs deviates from the normal range, it can signal a serious health problem, so healthcare workers check on these signs of life very frequently, looking for any early sign of an ailment that they can help. Knowing how to properly check these measurements and record them is an integral part of most healthcare jobs. In an emergency, when these signs are not present or are wavering, learning CPR and first aid will mean that you can help keep these vital signs going, keeping a person alive until advanced medical care can take over.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Measure and assess body temperature readings, integrating knowledge about thermoregulation
- Trace the changes in breathing and pulse rates throughout the lifespan
- Appraise the relationship between the oxygen saturation of the blood and other vital signs
- Summarize the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings
- Describe the effects that CPR can have on a patient in cardiac arrest
Unit 5: Data, Measurement, and Math
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to apply math skills to healthcare calculations that are used every day. In fact, fractions, decimals, and converting measurements are numerical tools that healthcare workers use all the time. Measuring time, temperature, height, weight, distance, angle and many other parameters provides valuable data for treating patients or analyzing public health problems. Once that important data is collected, turning it into a visually interesting graph, table, diagram, or chart can help healthcare professionals and their patients understand this information quickly and easily.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Distinguish between ratios and percentages
- Name the units of measurement in imperial and metric systems
- Convert between imperial and metric measurements
- Calculate body mass index
- Interpret charts, diagrams, graphs, and tables to use numeric information
Unit 6: Technology in Healthcare
Information technology as well as simple and advanced technologies used in diagnosing and treating patients plays a crucial role in medicine today. From stethoscopes to CT scanners, all this tech requires skilled, observant workers to correctly operate and maintain. But some of the biggest changes that tech brings to healthcare are in the electronic health records (EHRs) that store all types of patient information so medical professionals can help patients to optimize their health. Of course, along with the ease of using EHRs comes the danger of compromising patient privacy—either by posting about your work on social media (a big no-no!) or simply sending a record to the wrong person. Learning how to appropriately handle medical records is therefore of the utmost importance – let’s dive in!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Describe the different types of technology used to diagnose, treat, and track patient health
- Troubleshoot simple computer problems
- Summarize the different parts of an electronic health record (EHR)
- Evaluate the reliability of health resources on the web
- Explain steps to keep protected health information (PHI) safe as an allied health professional
Unit 7: Teamwork and Leadership
Healthcare is a team sport—each person on the team has a job, and if they all work together effectively, the goal of high-quality patient care can be met. Everyone wins when the team pulls together. But just what can each person do to be a great team member? Read on for some great teamwork tips, as well as guidance on how to become a leader. Leadership can be practiced whether you are a member of a team or leading a team. And when the team comes into conflict, there are some basic strategies to manage and resolve issues so everyone can continue to work towards the goal of health for the community.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Analyze the roles of different healthcare team members
- List and explain characteristics of good teams
- Lead or participate effectively in meetings
- Recognize resistance to change in patients and colleagues
- Apply conflict resolution techniques to disagreements
Unit 8: Employability in Healthcare
The healthcare industry has the most jobs of any sector of the US economy. Students who can demonstrate both competent skills and strong “soft” skills will likely become valuable team members. Enthusiasm, integrity, and a strong work ethic will impress potential employers, so improving these qualities in oneself is an important part of preparing for a career. Read on for some tips regarding how to find and successfully apply for job opportunities in the field.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Present a professional image through behavior, appearance, and demeanor
- Demonstrate work-ready characteristics and habits such as punctuality, dependability, discretion, and flexibility
- Analyze your career goals and assess their feasibility
- Evaluate and interpret employment opportunities in healthcare
- Create elements of a career portfolio
Required Materials
Computer with:
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- Internet access
- Word processing program
- Slideshow program
- Printer or access to a printer
- Video recording device (camera phone or computer camera)
- Two family members or friends to volunteer in videos
- Soap, water, and a sink
- Hand sanitizer
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Standard growth chart from CDC or WHO
- Bathroom scale
- Measuring Tape
- Various household items to use as props to demonstrate infection control techniques (needles/sharps disposal)
- Long coat/shirt to act as a gown
- Professional attire (1 outfit)
- Gloves (single use latex or vinyl)
- Goggles
- Face mask
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