Your Role in Health Care:
Instructions: Please ensure to substantiate your response with scholarly sources and/or also a personal account of your own experience in the work place or personal life. Cite and reference work! Must be 150 -200 word count.
What reactions do you have to the ideas they presented? Include examples from the course readings or your own experience to support your perspective, and raise questions to continue the dialogue for questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,.
1. As per the article, “Linking outcomes to nurses’ roles in healthcare,” (1998), I nurses today are not only responsible for delivering quality care to patients, but also they are responsible for showing outcomes of patients’ health once care is delivered. I cannot imagine how a nurse, who is working in an understaffed environment can accomplish this. My recent experience with my daughter in a Wisconsin rural hospital, showed me how nurses do it. They have rolling carts with computers on them. Each encounter is recorded. A total system assessment is performed, and then the nurses ask what the patient wants to see done while they are in the hospital. This includes the patient in decision making about their healthcare; a quality of care initiative. The nurse explained to me, that built into their computer program is the quality control initiatives and goals are made for each patient depending on their condition. In this way, nurses can track outcomes of care.
In this hospital there is a charge nurse who reigns over the nurses. His job is to “check up” on nurses to ensure quality of care and correct nurses’ inefficient approaches to the nurses’ care. It is a good system, and the hospital has won a local award for excellence.
2. While reading “The central role of nursing in healthcare,” I was astounded that Florence Nightingale’s book was the number one selling book that is still in print. Ms. Nightingale was ahead of her time, yet her teachings and recommendations are still in practice today. She had the idea that in order to treat a person for an illness, all of the patient must be considered, including emotional health. The goal in caring for a patient should be to assess the totality of problems with a patient, and while medical intervention is necessary, so is allowing nature to take it’s course. I think we are moving away from those concepts today. Our focus is on the money and payment resources. Hospital stays do not encompass the total patient, rather the focus is on “treat them and street them” as fast as possible to keep down costs. I plan to buy Florence Nightgales book. I have never read it, but this is now a new goal for me.
3. Treat them and street them” powerful concept. I agree with you, the patient needs to be treated as a whole patient not just a quick fix and back out the door. I think it is interesting how mental illness goes undiagnosed after multiple ER visits. I think we really see talent and skills in the emergency room when physicians are able to diagnose or refer a patient for needed consultations for chronic conditions. I worked in the ER for a couple years and so many times the ER physician just gets the patient stable, splinted, or stitched and told to follow up with the doctor of record. Today the follow up is more consistent with access to EHR.
4. I think this system is successful because it set a consistent template for the health care professional. If there is any discrepancies in the electronic record the program will flag the chart as incomplete and the nurse or provider will have to go back into the chart to complete it. I think this makes access to proper documentation much easier for the nurses because the details are documented. I don’t think there is anything more frustrating to patient than having to repeat themselves every time the nurse comes in. Physicians are able to monitor nurse chart notes in real time making this a valuable tool.
5. Watch/ Read the Health Care, Medicine, and Science video/transcript below and discuss your thoughts.
DO YOU LOVE HELPING OTHERS? DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCEIN THEIR LIVES AND KNOW YOU’VE PLAYED A PART IN MAKING THEM FEEL OR LOOK BETTER? THEN PERHAPS A CAREER IN HEALTHCARE, MEDICINE, OR SCIENCE WOULD BE JUST THE RIGHT AND REWARDING CAREER FOR YOU. CAREERS IN ALL OF THESE THREE AREAS ARE INTER-RELATED. ALL PARTS OF THE HEALTH FIELD, THEY OFFER WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS, THANKS TO AN EVER INCREASING POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING LONGER ANDCONTINUING MEDICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE U.S.BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, EIGHT OF THE 20 FASTEST GROWING JOBS ARE IN THOSE AREAS OF THE HEALTH INDUSTRY. EACH AREA, HOWEVER, IS ALSO QUITE UNIQUE. THERE ARE CAREERS THAT ARE VERY HANDS-ON IN MEDICAL AND PATIENT CARE. AND OTHERS THAT DEAL WITH AREAS OF SPECIALTY SUCH AS THE EYES OR TEETH. A FEW DO NOT EVEN DEAL WITH PEOPLE AT ALL – EXCEPT WHEN DEALING WITH THE OWNERS, OF COURSE,SUCH AS A CAREER AS A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN. SO LET’S TAKE AN INTERNAL LOOK INTO THESE AREAS AND SEE HOW A TWO-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM CAN BE JUST THE RIGHT PRESCRIPTION TO LAUNCH A TOP CAREER IN HEALTHCARE, MEDICINE, AND SCIENCE. CAN YOU HANDLE THE SIGHT OF BLOOD, OR OF A PERSON WHO IS SUFFERING OR IN DISTRESS? WHILE IT TAKES A STRONG, CAPABLE AND EMOTIONALLY STABLE PERSON TO DEAL WITH MANY EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL CARE SITUATIONS, IT ALSO TAKES A PERSON WITH GOOD CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS WHO CAN MAKE ASSESSMENTS AND DECISIONS QUICKLY, EVEN UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE. THE PROFESSIONALS YOU SEE HERE KNOW THE DRILL AND ARE GOING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES SO YOU CAN HAVE ABETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SOME CAREERS THAT DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH MEDICAL AND PATIENT CARE: A DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN WHO’S JOB IS TO OPERATE LIFE-SAVING, HIGH-TECH MACHINES THAT PROVIDE WASTE REMOVAL FROM THE BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY PROBLEMS AND DISEASES. ANOTHER EXAMPLE – A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE, OR LPN, WHO WORKS HANDS-ON TO MAKE HIS OR HER PATIENTS FEEL BETTER. AND A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WHO PROVIDES TREATMENT AND HELPS THEM IMPROVE MOBILITY AND STRENGTH AND REDUCE PAIN. LET’S MEET THREE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVEFOLLOWED THIS PATH; A DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN, A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE, AND A PHYSICAL THERAPIST. A DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN IS A PERSON WHO DEALS WITHPATIENTS WHO HAVE KIDNEY FAILURE AND THEY WORK IN SUCH PLACES AS CLINICS, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER MEDICAL FACILITIES.AS A DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN YOU WANT TO HAVE AS MUCH EMPATHY FOR THE PATIENTS AS YOU HAVE, BUT ALSO YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH YOUR EMOTIONS AND GETTING TOO WRAPPED UP IN THE JOB. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE PATIENT WITHOUT GETTING TOO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED. THIS JOB, YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE STRESSFUL TIMES THAT YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO BALANCE YOUR JOB WORK AND NOT LET IT GET TO YOU BECAUSE THAT WAY YOU WON’T BE ABLE TOTAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS’ NEEDS AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOVE IT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING’S FINE. WHAT IT’S LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE TO HELP SOMEBODY – IT’S VERY HARD SOMETIMES BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU LOVE IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU’RE HELPING SOMEONE AND THAT’S WHY I LOVE MY JOB.SINCE WE DEAL WITH BLOOD IT’S IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY THAT YOU CLEAN THE MACHINES THOROUGHLY. WE DON’T WANT OUR PATIENTS TO CONTRACT HEPATITIS, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE HARMFUL TO THE PATIENT. YOU WANT TO ALWAYS CLEAN OUT THE MACHINEAND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING. SAFETY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN BEING A DIALYSIS TECHNICIAN. WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS YOU’RE USING ANESTHESIA AND INJECTING NEEDLES INSIDE THE PATIENT’S BODY. YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOLLOW ALL SAFETY GUIDELINES CORRECTLY. TO GET INTO THE FIELD IS NOT VERY HARD, YOU CAN START AS EARLY AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. TAKE MATH, BIOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS -ANYTHING IN THE SCIENCE FIELD BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THIS IS BASED ON. ALSO YOU COULD TAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DO VOLUNTEER WORK AT MEDICAL FACILITIES, CLINICS OR HOSPITALS, ANYTHING TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THIS JOB FIELD, DO ALL THAT YOU CAN. IT’S POSSIBLE, I’VE DONE IT, I’VE GOT TO THIS POSITION AFTER TWO SEMESTERS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SO IF YOU’RE INTERESTED I’D SUGGEST DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR. AN LPN HAS VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES DEPENDINGON WHERE YOU’RE WORKING AND WHAT YOU’RE DOING. I WORK FOR A DOCTOR SO I DO A LOT OF CHECKING IN OF PATIENTS, I DO SHOTS, I DO DIABETIC TEACHING. TO BECOME AN LPN YOU WANT TO GO TO LPN SCHOOL.IT’S ABOUT A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM,SOMETIMES TWO YEARS. THEY COVER ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY; THEY COVER ALL OF THE BASIC NURSING SKILLS, ALSO SOME OF THE MORE ADVANCED NURSING SKILLS.THEY TEACH YOU THE LANGUAGE OF DOCTOR-SPEAK, SO TO SPEAK. THEY TEACH YOU A LOT OF DIFFERENT HANDS-ON THINGS THERE. YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE A PEOPLE PERSON.IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOVE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH THEIR NEEDS AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM AND COMMUNICATE. BEING PATIENT AS AN LPN IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DEMAND THINGS OF YOUTHAT YOU’RE NOT SURE CAN BE DONE ORTHINGS THEY NEED HELP WITH THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO DO. A TYPICAL WORK WEEK – I TEND TO WORK OVERTIME BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP THE PATIENTS GET THINGS DONE,BUT USUALLY IT’S BETWEEN 40 AND 50 HOURS.
– USUALLY AROUND 40. I’M HERE AT 7:30 AM AND I LEAVE ABOUT 5:30. NURSING IS A GREAT FIELD, IT’S GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GET A JOB JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE. IT’S A LOT OF FUN AND I REALLY ENJOY THE PATIENTS AND MY CO-WORKERS.NURSING IS WONDERFUL. TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO SEE THEM GET BETTER
– AND EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T GET BETTER,TO BE THERE FOR THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO. I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY; I LOVE BEING A NURSEAND IT’S JUST GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE. PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREVENTION, CARE, AND REHABILITATION OF INJURIES. ONLY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS CAN PERFORMPHYSICAL THERAPY. THEY HAVE TO WEAR MANY DIFFERENT HATS. THEY FUNCTION AS ATHLETIC TRAINERS, EDUCATORS, SPORTS PSYCHOLOGISTS SOMETIMES AND THERE’S A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE JOB AS WELL. SO IT’S A PRETTY BROAD SPECTRUM. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WELL WITH PEOPLE – AND THAT’S PROBABLYTHE NUMBER ONE THING. ANY TIME YOU’RE DEALING WITH AN INJURY YOU’RE EDUCATING AS TO WHAT THEIR INJURY IS, WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF IT. IT’S PRETTY MUCH AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. BEYOND WHAT YOU’RE DOING, YOU ALSO HAVE TOEXPLAIN IT TO EVERYBODY ELSE AS TO WHY YOU’RE USING A CERTAIN THERAPY, WHY YOU’RE USING A CERTAIN MEDICATION AS OPPOSED TO OTHER THINGS. A TYPICAL WORK WEEK IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 AND 60 HOURS – IT CAN BE MORE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY’RE WORKING. WE’RE FORTUNATE HERE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD STAFF FOR OUR SIZE. BUT A TYPICAL DAY WOULD START AROUND 10:00 AM. WE WOULD DO TREATMENTS AND REHABS IN THE MORNINGSO IT’S A LITTLE SLOWER, DO OUR PAPERWORK IF WE DON’T HAVE SOMEONE WE’RE SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH. I HAD A LOT OF INJURIES WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ICE HOCKEY IN COLLEGE. I WAS JUST INTERESTED IN IT; I DIDN’T WANT TO WORK IN AN OFFICE AND WEAR A SUIT EVERY DAY TO WORK. I WANTED TO BE AROUND SPORTS AND APPLIED TO A PROGRAM AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. IT’S IMPORTANT TO PICK A GOOD SCHOOL, AND AFTER YOU GET YOUR DEGREE THERE’S MANY DIFFERENT ROUTES YOU CAN GO BUT AS YOU’RE GOING ALONG YOU’LL FIGURE THAT STUFF OUT. I ENJOY MYSELF EVERY DAY.THERE’S LOTS OF WAYS TO GET INTO IT, A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ATHLETIC TRAINING STUDENT CLUBS WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO START AND GET A TASTE FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING TO SEE IF IT’S WHAT YOU’RE INTERESTED IN. HEALTHCARE, MEDICINE, AND SCIENCE CAREERS DON’T ALWAYS OCCUR IN A HOSPITAL. PLENTY CAN BE FOUND IN OFFICESAND EVEN RETAIL STORES. NOTHING IS BETTER THAN A BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY SMILE
– WHICH DENTAL HYGIENISTS MAKE A REALITY EACH DAY FOR PATIENTS WAITING FOR THEM IN A DENTIST’S CHAIR. AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IN THIS DAY AND AGE REQUIRE PRESCRIPTION GLASSES OR CONTACTS, SO THEY MAKE THE TRIP TO THE MEDICAL OFFICEOR OPTICAL CHAIN STORE TO GET A NEW PAIR OF GLASSES TO HELP THEM SEE BETTER. AND DON’T FORGET PETS. IN ADDITION TO LOVING CARE, THEY NEED PROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE FROM A VETERINARIANASSISTANT FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS AND CARE AFTER AN ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS. SO LET’S MEET THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL SHED SOME LIGHT ON THEIR PARTICULAR AREAS OF SPECIALTY IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DENTAL HYGIENIST ARE TO TAKE X-RAYS ON THE PATIENT, CLEAN THEIR TEETH, PROVIDE ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTION, MAKING SURE THEY’RE FLOSSING AND BRUSHING RIGHT. THE DENTAL HYGIENIST SEES THE PATIENT ALONEAND THE DENTIST JUST COMES IN AND DOES THE EXAM, READS THE X-RAYS, DOES THE EXAM, LETS THE PATIENT KNOW IF ANY WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT THE HYGIENIST IS BASICALLY ON HIS OR HER OWN. WE SEE ABOUT 11 PATIENTS A DAY. THE OFFICE IS OPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT HYGIENISTSTYPICALLY HAVE VERY FLEXIBLE HOURS. A TYPICAL WORK DAY, I GO OVER MY CHARTS, SEE WHO’S COMING IN FOR THE DAY, I NOTATE WHETHER THE PATIENT’S GOING TO NEED X-RAYS, WHETHER MEDICAL HISTORIES NEED TO BE UPDATED, WHICH, ACTUALLY, ALL MEDICAL HISTORIES NEED TO BE UPDATED. AND THEN MY DAY BEGINS AND I HAVE ABOUT 45 MINUTES PER PATIENT. THE PERSONALITY TRAITS FOR A HYGIENIST, I WOULD DEFINITELY SUGGEST THAT YOU BE A PEOPLE PERSON.YOU SEE PEOPLE ALL DAY LONG WITH ALL DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES. AND WE’RE LIVING IN A VERY STRESSFUL WORLD, SO YOU’VE GOT PEOPLE COMING IN THAT HAVE HAD A BAD DAY AT WORK OR HAD A FIGHT WITH THEIR DAUGHTER OR THEIR SON, SOYOU REALLY HAVE TO BE ON THE BALL AND A PEOPLE PERSON. YOU HAVE TO ENJOY PEOPLE. I ACTUALLY WENT TO SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS. I GOT AN ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHICH IS SUFFICIENT FOR A HYGIENE LICENSE. IT WAS TWO INTENSIVE YEARS OF HYGIENE – A LOT OF SCIENCE COURSES. A GOOD WAY TO GET SOME EXPERIENCE OR AT LEAST FIND OUT IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE TO BE A HYGIENIST IS TO SHADOW A HYGIENIST POSSIBLY IN YOUR OWN DENTAL OFFICE THAT YOU GO TO. THEY’D BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU COME IN AND SHADOW SOMEBODY FOR THE DAY OR FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. MY JOB IS ENJOYABLE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN REWARDING, CHALLENGING, AND DIFFERENT EVERY DAYAND I THINK IT’S SOMETHING ANYBODY WOULD ENJOY AS A CAREER. DISPENSING OPTICIANS ARE LIKE PHARMACISTS. WE TAKE IN THE PRESCRIPTIONS, WE INTERPRET THE PRESCRIPTIONS, WE DO ALL THE MEASUREMENTS, ALL THE FITTING, FABRICATION, AND DISPENSING AND FITTING OF THE FINISHED EYEWEAR. YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO BE A PEOPLE PERSON, TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF ALL VARIETIES.YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE, YOU CAN’T LOSE YOUR COOL. YOU CAN NEVER LET PATIENTS SEE YOU LOSE YOUR COOL, OF COURSE. YOU HAVE TO BE UNDERSTANDING, BE A GOOD LISTENER, AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PATIENCE. NO TWO DAYS ARE EVER THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH THE WORK MAY BE THE SAME. IT’S NEVER THE SAME BECAUSE YOU’RE SEEING A VARIETY OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY, DIFFERENT PEOPLE. HUMAN NATURE BEING WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, NO TWO PEOPLE ARE EVER THE SAME. IF SOMEONE WERE INTERESTED IN THIS, THEY WOULD COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND ENTER COLLEGE AND DO A DEGREE PROGRAM IN OPTICIANRY. IN ADDITION TO THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOINGAN APPRENTICESHIP AT THE SAME TIME. DO IT COINCIDENTALLY SO THAT WHEN THEY FINISH THE DEGREE PROGRAM THEY’VE GOT THEIR APPRENTICESHIP DONE. AND THEY MUST BE OUTGOING, THEY MUST BE A PEOPLE PERSON.THEY MUST LIKE PEOPLE. IF YOU DON’T LIKE DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC THIS IS THE WRONG FIELD FOR YOU TO GO INTO.SECONDLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR HANDS, YOU HAVE TO BE DEXTEROUS WITH YOUR HANDS. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THAT KIND OF WORK, IF YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO DO IT, THIS IS THE WRONG FIELD FOR YOU. I WOULD TRY TO FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND SHADOW SOMEBODY FOR A DAY OR HALF A DAY. SEE IF YOU REALLY LIKE THE WORK BEFORE YOU MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO REGISTER FOR SCHOOL OR DO AN APPRENTICESHIP. ACTUALLY GO IN A SHOP AND SEE IF YOU CAN WORK WITH SOMEONE AND SHADOW THEM FOR A DAY OR HALF A DAYAND SEE IF YOU REALLY LIKE IT. THE PERSONAL CONTACT I ENJOY PROBABLY THE MOST. ALSO THE END RESULT THAT YOU KNOW YOU’RE HELPING PEOPLE. WHEN YOU PUT A PAIR OF GLASSES ON SOMEONE AND IT OPENS UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR THEM. IF THEY CAN SEE THINGS THEY DIDN’T SEE BEFORE THAT’S VERY GRATIFYING. ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. YOU PUT A PAIR OF GLASSES ON THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY SAY “WOW, I CAN SEE THAT TREE. I CAN SEE THAT COLOR”. IT’S GRATIFYING TO KNOW YOU’VE HELPED THEM DO THAT. I’M A VET TECH. I HANDLE EVERYTHING AT THE HOSPITAL. CLEANING CAGES, GIVING BATHS, ADMINISTERINGMEDICINE, HANDLING THE PAPERWORK AND MAKING SURE THE BLOODS GET SPUN; MAKING SURE ANY SAMPLES ARE CORRECTLY MARKED AND LABELED. SHOOTING X-RAYS, ASSISTING THE DOCTOR IN THE ROOM. THE RESPONSIBILITIES VARY IN DIFFERENT HOSPITALS. I PRETTY MUCH HANDLE ANYTHING I CAN IN THE HOSPITAL. THE INTERACTION IS DIFFERENT WITH EVERY DOCTOR. IT JUST DEPENDS ON THEIR PERSONALITY. IT’S MAKING SURE THE DOCTOR’S HAPPY AND MOVING SMOOTHLY. TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU’VE GOT TO BE FLEXIBLE,YOU’VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES. IT CAN BE A STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT. YOU’RE DEALING WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES. TO GET STARTED IS DOING ANYTHING – IF YOU HAVE PETS AT HOME THAT’S A GREAT WAY TO GET STARTED. IF YOU OWN AN ANIMAL OR YOUR PARENTS HAVE ANIMALS, THAT’S A GREAT START. GETTING INTO A KENNEL MAYBE. I MEAN, I CARRIED BRICKS INTO THE FIRST HOSPITAL I WORKED AT. WE WERE BUILDING CAGES IN THE BASEMENT AND THAT’S HOW I GOT INTO MY FIRST HOSPITAL. THE BENEFITS ARE HEALTHCARE FOR MY PETS THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING BECAUSE YOU CAN GET, IT’S THE SAME MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT HUMANS GET AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. SO, FREE HEALTHCARE FOR MY PETS, KEEPS ME SHARP WITH ANIMALS, THAT’S ANOTHER BIG BENEFIT. IT’S ALWAYS EXCITING, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING AMAZING. I ENJOY WORKING, I ENJOY MY HOURS. I ENJOY THE PEOPLE I WORK AROUND. YEAH, IT’S VERY ENJOYABLE. BE PREPARED TO WORK HARD. IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN “IN”, PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVERY JOB IN THE WORLD, YOU NEED AN “IN”.YOU GET YOUR “IN”, YOU GET INTO THE JOBAND JUST WORK HARD AND KEEP YOUR NOSETO THE GRINDSTONE. IF YOU LOVE HELPING OTHERS AND TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES, THEN A CAREER IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTHCARE, MEDICINE OR SCIENCE MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU. FROM A JOB BEHIND THE SCENES TO WORKING IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM OF A HOSPITAL, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY WAYS THAT YOUR CAREER CAN IMPACT SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. NOW IT’S UP TO YOU TO EXPLORE THESE CAREER PATHS ON YOUR OWN. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!
6. There are several careers in healthcare program that can take only for two years. It does not take years of medical school to have a job to the fast paced of medical field. First and foremost you must be able to enjoy what you’re doing and not just by going with the flow. Careers in healthcare are spontaneous and lots of challenging scenario on a day to day basis. To be successful in healthcare job or career, you got to be flexible, and able to communicate properly. Delivering healthcare is challenging, however if you love helping others, and trying to make a difference into the patient lives, then career in healthcare may be the right to field or career path for someone who loves helping and caring for people, and or pets. The following careers are as follows: Dialysis Technician, License Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist, Dental Hygienist, Veterinarian, and Vet Technician.
Reference:
Cambridge Educational (2009) Healthcare, Medicine, and Science.
http://fod.infobase.com/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=39261
7. We have RN’s who have their 2 year associate degree and then those who have their bachelor’s. Many units are now only hiring those with bachelor’s as they are trying to bring a higher professional level to this role to keep up with PT’s, pharmacists and other healthcare professions. PT’s and pharmacists now require a doctorate in MN so nursing is still behind the other professions. I know many NP and PA programs are now only doctorate level. Education requirements are really changing in healthcare. Do any of you have other examples?
8. A great way to find out if a healthcare department is the right fit for you is to sign up for some volunteer work or do some job shadowing in that department. This could even mean a leadership position in some cases. I have actually hired volunteers into many different roles over the years once I observed their work ethic and skills as a team player. Job shadowing also helps one see if they could see themselves in a particular department. Do any of you have experiences in either of these areas and if so, please share your experience. (I will be starting the Physician Practice Administrator fellowship next year- it’s a year program, the program chooses one person to work in their network after successful completion of the program. This will help me a lot since I am striving to become a nurse administrator or healthcare administrator. Also I did can internship at Columbia University last year, for the epidemiology- focusing on the Puerto Rican community which were heavily affected by HIV/AIDS.)
9. Our VP of nursing services makes a point of spending a day with a few RN’s every year to see how it is going in the units and to collect feedback from staff. I know at some hospitals, CEO’s and leaders will spend a day as a patient again to see what their experience is like and so they can relate to what is going on at the frontlines. I think this is an excellent idea and the staff really appreciate this. This type of strategy is a good one for a healthcare leader. Do any of you have other experiences you have gone through which demonstrate strong leadership through other strategies?
10. Have your personal and professional goals changed and how has your perspectives on the field changed during the course of your program?
11. Along the same lines of setting and following through with goal, here are some questions to expand on this topic. Throughout this course you have investigated the changes, trends, and job requirements in the health care industry. What do you see as your role in this evolving industry? What will you bring to this industry?
12. Hopefully you and the class have all gained knowledge which will help you develop into strong healthcare leaders. I know the courses I took in graduate school still help me in my every day work, especially the finance courses. Here is a question for you and the class. Which courses were the most valuable for you in preparing for the challenges of the 21st century in health care? Which interpersonal skills will help you the most in diverse organizations, and how did the program assist you with these skills?
13. What new roles are emerging in the health care industry? Explain the reason for the role, the impact on the organization, the regulatory issues that may be faced, and the competencies needed to maintain the role.
14. There are so many new roles in healthcare. One many see of high value in today’s world would be the infomatic nurses. They help develop electronic charting requirements and assist staff with roll outs. As leaders, many of these new roles involve changes in our day to day work in healthcare. Let me share an article focused on “organizational fit” that I think you all would find usefulcalled “Aligning Action and Values” by JimCollins found at this link: http://www.jimcollins.com/lib/articles/06_00_a.html
Take some time to read through this and see if it makes sense given that we as Leaders, Managers and Administrators need to be the champions of change.
15. Resources: Refer to Case Studies BELOW
Select a case study to analyze.
Imagine that you have been assigned to the strategic planning committee tasked with addressing the issues in the health care organization in the case study.
Create a presentation of 10 to 15 slides, (must) including detailed speaker notes, for the strategic planning committee.
Include the following in your presentation:
· Introduction
· Analyze the challenges faced by the health care organization in the case study.
· Analyze the role each stakeholder has in the strategies to address the challenges of the health care organization in the case study.
· Analyze what programs and services are available to address the challenges.
· Analyze strategies that could be used to address the challenges at the health care organization.
· Analyze what role collaboration has in implementing strategies within the health care organization in the case study.
· Analyze methods for implementing the strategies to address the challenges of the health care organization in the case study.
· Conclusion
Include at least four references. Must Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.
Select one of the following Case Studies BELOW to analyze
Case Study 1: Night Supervisor
At 1:45 a.m., Jimmy, the night supervisor at a local nursing home, is informed by police that the nursing home needs to evacuate due to a cresting river nearby. The river is scheduled to crest by 5:00 a.m. Jimmy has 60 patients in need of relocation. He only needs beds and furniture for a short period of time. The weather service has estimated that the evacuation will need to last for 24 to 36 hours.
There is a regional hospital nearby, but it is undergoing remodeling. Jimmy calls the head RN at that hospital and finds that they have 54 beds open, but many are in a wing that was just repainted.
Jimmy needs to make a decision quickly. What should the night supervisor do in this situation? What procedures are in place?
Case Study 2: Risk Management
Tracy is the risk manager at ABC Medical Center, a 300-bed urban teaching facility. One morning, she receives a call from Jerry, the medical director of surgery, asking her to come immediately to one of the operating rooms where a patient had been scheduled for an amputation of the right foot.
As Tracy approaches the OR, she reviews the preoperative care required for all patients having surgery. The identification of the patient, the verification of the involved limb, and the time out procedure are all in place.
Tracy enters the OR and immediately notes the concern on the faces of the medical and nursing staff present. The Medical Director proceeds to explain the reason for the call: the wrong limb has been surgically removed from the patient.
Tracy now has a series of notifications to complete as this is a serious reportable event (SRE). Who needs to be notified, and what follow-up process must be completed to remain in compliance with state and the Joint Commission requirements?
Case Study 3: Records Management
Sam is the records manager for an urgent care clinic in a midsize city. His clinic is merging with another nearby to form a large urgent care that can meet the needs of the growing suburban area. Sam knows that his clinic uses a number code system for records management. The other clinic uses an alphabetical system to code their records. He also knows that the new urgent care will have an electronic records management (ERM) system that is new to all records employees. The merger and transition to a new facility will be happening in four months. What does Sam need to consider in this move? How can he combine the two methods of record management? Which method should the new clinic use? What challenges does the new ERM system pose and how can Sam overcome these challenges?
Case Study 4: Technology
Caitlin is the office manager in a large private pediatric practice in the city. The physicians met and decided to switch all records to a laptop-based system where nurses an
d doctors will log all records in a laptop. All patient interactions, data, and records will be entered primarily into the laptop, and no hand-written records will be taken. Caitlin is asked to come up with a plan for the conversion. This office has 13 doctors, 10 nurses, and 2 physician’s assistants that will all be using the laptops when evaluating patients. What should Caitlin consider in her conversion plan? How should patient questions be dealt with? What other concerns should Caitlin take into consideration when formulating her plan?
Case Study 5: Security
Janice is the head nurse in a 24-room Alzheimer wing of an assisted-living center. All 24 patients in this wing have various stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Due to the nature of the disease, the unit is permanently locked so that patients are not permitted to leave the area. Flo, one of the residents, is frequently found to be waiting at the door and attempts to leave when the door is opened. Janice has informed the entire center about security issues in her wing and all staff members are required to ensure that no one enters or leaves when the doors are opened. One evening, Janice receives an emergency call from Flo’s family saying that when they arrived to visit her, she was not on the ward. Janice now has a series of notifications to make. Who does she need to notify? What follow-up procedures should be put into place to ensure this does not happen again?
