Chapter 1: Introduction to Health Careers
Anita Hedlund
Summary
This chapter provided an overview of why someone might choose healthcare as a career. A desire to help and serve others is often the primary inspiration. An individual contemplating healthcare as a career will need to examine their values and learn about ethical and patient centered care to provide healthcare that is respectful and culturally appropriate. Future healthcare professionals will need to apply emotional intelligence to understand the experiences of both patients and co-workers and offer both compassion. Benefits and disadvantages of working in healthcare were reviewed, leading to a discussion on self-care to achieve work-life balance. A review of the complex US healthcare system was offered along with a final overview of how all these complex pieces fit into an healthcare practitioners approach to supporting their patients.
Review Questions
- Values and traits like _________ and _____________ can be a part of daily work in serving others.
- Select the top reasons to go into healthcare:
- Job security
- Flexible hours
- High pay compared to length of education program
- All of the above
- True or False: One of the most important things to do to keep people safe in healthcare is communicate clearly.
- What lifestyle choices lead to many of the health problems in the US?
- Tobacco Use
- Excess Alcohol Consumption
- Imbalanced diet high in unhealthy fats and calories and low in nutrients
- Lack of exercise/activity
- All of the above
- Think of what you value when it comes to your work. Some people find that they need a challenge, others want to practice certain skills, others really enjoy communicating or helping others. What are you hoping you will gain or experience from your future career?
- Most healthcare careers require you to reach a certain level of education and additional certification. Take one minute to list your top worries about the prospect of additional schooling, then take a minute to list what excites you about additional education. Compare your two sets of responses, which list feels larger? What can you do to manage the worries and focus on the positives?
- What are prerequisite courses?
- List 3 advantages of a career in healthcare 1._________ 2.___________ 3.___________
- Reflect on a time when you received patient-centered care. How did the experience make you feel? Did you achieve the health goal you intended when visiting the clinic or hospital? Why or why not?
- The United States has a privatized system of healthcare, whereas other countries may have a nationalized or socialized health system. In your opinion, name the two most important differences between these systems. Why do you think it is important and who benefits from those differences in the U.S? Who is hurt by them?
