Health Science Foundations 1b: Professional Responsibilities
Are you ready to step up and become a healthcare hero? In this course, you will learn the skills that could save lives, from mastering CPR and AED to taking vital signs with confidence. Discover how to stay cool in high-pressure situations, prevent injuries, and eliminate medical errors, while gaining a solid foundation in safety and emergency skills. Along the way you will build leadership and teamwork skills that will set you apart in any healthcare role, whether you’re dreaming of clinical work or a role in healthcare administration. Step into the exciting, fast-paced world of healthcare – your journey starts here.
Units at a Glance
Unit 1: Health, Safety, and Security
Ready to be a hero? As a healthcare worker, you’ll be a part of a team that saves lives—not just by treating patients but also by making sure everyone stays safe while doing it. Here, we’ll look at the safety skills you’ll need as you enter the healthcare profession, including preventing injuries, handling emergencies, and reducing medical errors. From learning how to work with hazardous chemicals to knowing what to do in a crisis, healthcare safety will be an essential part of YOU making a real difference in the world!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Identify common hazards in a healthcare setting and the regulatory agencies that oversee safety in health care
- Apply personal safety procedures on the job, such as using proper body mechanics when moving patients
- Manage medical equipment, supplies, and chemicals safely
- Recognize and respond to various types of emergencies in a healthcare setting
- Describe how medical errors can be prevented, reported, and analyzed
Unit 2: Infection Control
Every day, healthcare professionals deal with a microscopic universe that has a major impact on patient health. Here, you’ll uncover how these microorganisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more—can both help and harm us. Ready to dive into the hidden world living on and inside you? From understanding how diseases spread to mastering the practices of infection control, we’ll explore the science that keeps healthcare environments safe and patients healthy.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Identify and classify pathogens
- Describe the chain of infection and how it can be broken
- Justify the importance of hand hygiene and demonstrate proper hand hygiene procedures
- Distinguish between sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization in the healthcare setting
- Explain causes and preventive measures for opportunistic infections, antibiotic resistance, and healthcare-associated infections
Unit 3: Bloodborne Pathogens
As a healthcare worker, you’ll be on the front lines when it comes to stopping the spread of dangerous diseases, especially serious bloodborne illnesses like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. In this unit, you’ll learn what bloodborne pathogens are, how they spread, and most importantly, how to protect yourself and others from them. Understanding these risks isn’t just for healthcare professionals—it’s important for everyone! Whether you’re working in health care or just wanting to keep yourself safe, knowledge of bloodborne pathogens can help you make smart decisions wherever you are.
What will you learn in this unit?
- Discuss common bloodborne pathogens, how they spread, their symptoms, and treatments
- Identify common workplace hazards and safety measures that are in place to protect healthcare workers from bloodborne pathogens
- Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) properly to minimize the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens
- Explain how to handle sharps, laundry, and other biohazardous materials safely
- Describe risks and preventive measures in the community for bloodborne pathogens
Unit 4: Signs of Life: Vital Signs and CPR
Vital signs—things like body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure—are the body’s way of showing it’s alive and well. When something is off, it’s a red flag that the body needs help, which is why healthcare workers monitor these signs to catch problems early. Here, we’ll dive into what it means to check vital signs and how to perform CPR and other rescue techniques when someone’s life is in your hands. It’s all about understanding how the body works and being ready to act quickly when things go wrong. Ready to take the next steps to become a healthcare hero? Let’s go!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Explain the vital signs and their significance
- Take a patient’s temperature using oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic, and temporal methods
- Assess pulse using a variety of techniques
- Find respiration rate and oxygen saturation
- Determine a patient’s blood pressure
- Respond to an emergency using appropriate techniques
Unit 5: Data, Measurement, and Math
Math might not be the first thing you think of when you consider your future in health care, but it will definitely be an important part of each day you spend on the job! Whether you’re calculating the right dose of medicine, measuring a patient’s temperature, or tracking blood pressure, math will be everywhere. Here, we’ll explore how simple math skills help save lives and improve patient health. Whether you’re determining heart rate or figuring out how much fluid a patient needs, healthcare math is all about precision and care. Let’s dive in to see how math keeps things running smoothly in the medical world!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Describe how to evaluate expressions and solve formulas using the order of operations
- Apply and convert within the US customary and metric systems of measurement
- Perform conversions between systems of measurement, including time and temperature conversions
- Interpret tables, graphs, and charts in a healthcare setting
- Explain key steps of the scientific method and apply it to healthcare problems
Unit 6: Technology in Health Care
In healthcare, computers aren’t just for playing games, editing photos, or making videos—they save lives! Here, we’ll discover how digital technology has contributed to new and powerful tools for healthcare professionals. You’ll learn about the computer skills needed to handle everything from electronic health records to troubleshooting tech issues and revisit the privacy considerations that keep personal health information safe. Get ready to explore how the digital realm and the world of health care come together!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Identify healthcare technology and determine how to solve and report device malfunctions in a healthcare setting
- Define basic computer terminology and demonstrate troubleshooting skills
- Organize and interpret patient data in electronic health records
- Use social media and healthcare communication technology safely, securely, and professionally
Unit 7: Teamwork and Leadership
Are you a part of a team? Whether you play a sport, work after school, sing in a choir, or help at home, you know teamwork is key to getting things done. Health care is also a team sport—when each person on the team works together effectively, the goal of high-quality patient care is met. Score! Here, you’ll find some helpful teamwork tips, guidance on becoming a leader, and essential strategies to resolve conflict so your team can provide the best care for patients. Let’s explore the winning combination of teamwork and leadership in health care!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of healthcare team members
- Identify the characteristics of an effective healthcare team
- Demonstrate personal traits and attitudes desirable for a member of a healthcare team
- Discuss the attributes and attitudes of an effective leader
- Contribute to meetings and manage conflict in the workplace
Unit 8: Employability in Health Care
Did you know the healthcare industry has more jobs than any other part of the US economy? That means there are abundant career opportunities for skilled people like you! However, landing a job in the field is more than just filling out an application—it’s about knowing where to look, making a strong first impression, nailing the interview, and developing the qualities you need to stay employed and grow in your career. Here, you’ll learn how to find and land your dream role and show up with the skills that employers are looking for. Let’s dive in and get you career-ready!
What will you learn in this unit?
- Identify career opportunities available in health care
- Describe the value of participating in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
- Develop a professional resume and portfolio
- Complete a job application and prepare for the interview process
- Recognize and demonstrate professional qualities in the healthcare workplace
Required Materials
Physical
- Household items or props
- Various household items
- Video recording device
- Watch, with a second hand
Software
- Email software
- Graphic design software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
Other
- Helper
Optional
- Art supplies
- Audio recording device
- Helpers
- Phone
- Poster board
- Timer
- Videoconference app
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