HSCS 2200 Introduction to Health Professions

This course is an introduction to various health professions. It gives students a basic understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, current issues in healthcare, and how healthcare professionals interact within various settings. The course will also provide an overview of common professions and their related job and educational requirements/opportunities. Participants will also conduct a guided self-assessment to use their skills and interests to explore a future career path. Professions discussed will include the following: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, dieticians, rehabilitation specialists, emergency personnel, administrators, CAM practitioners and many others.

Credits

3

Typically Offered

Demorest Campus: fall

Student Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:

Identify major events in the history of health care and/or health professions and use their perceived importance to compare and contrast past and current trends.

Compare (health care) work responsibilities, expectations, and challenges in community-based and facility-based institutions.

Summarize basic professional standards and characteristics of healthcare workers, and use that information to compare different careers’ duties, educational requirements, and employment opportunities.

Describe health care professionals’ legal and ethical responsibilities.

Describe how computers are being used in today’s health care environment.

Reflect on personal skill set and interests, and discuss ways to research and pursue future career paths in health care using tools like the internet.

Identify what skills, attitudes, and behaviors are needed to obtain employment in the health care field, keep that job, and become a professional leader.

Describe examples of how health professionals ensure respect for patient and co-worker cultural diversity and respond to potential challenges.

Compare and contrast the different roles and responsibilities of members/functional units of the health care team.