Health Science/Nursing Assistant Program

Program Description

Health Sciences (Core) is a pathway of courses for students in the Health Sciences career cluster. The Health Sciences (Core) pathway includes classroom and hands-on experiences that will provide students with an overview of the health-care field, as outlined according to the Health Science Cluster in the National Career Clusters Framework and the National Consortium on Health Science Education (NCHSE), as well as begin to prepare students for careers in occupations predicted to have a high number of available jobs in the next 10 years, including

careers in nursing services (registered nurse, nurse aide, practical nurse, home health aide), therapeutic services (sports medicine, athletic trainer, dietitian, respiratory therapy), diagnostic services (radiologist, phlebotomist, radiologic tech, sonographer, CT technology, medical lab technician), health informatics (health information technician, medical coder), veterinary services, medical services (optometrists, medical assistants), emergency services, rehabilitative services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) counselors, pharmacists, mental health services (psychologists). Scheduling and operating more than one course in the same classroom/laboratory with the same teacher is not recommended. In order to enable the teacher to instruct students in skills on a 1 on 1 basis, the recommended class size is 12-15 students for the first 2 credits. For students taking the last 2 credits who are job shadowing, the recommended class size is 10 - 12 students. Please be aware that health care facilities often require a 10 to 1 student/teacher ratio in order to participate in job shadowing. Having a class that is too large decreases the quality experience that Health Sciences (Core) is meant to be for the student.  Healthcare and Clinical Services (HCCS) is a pathway of courses for students in the Health Sciences career cluster. The HCCS pathway includes classroom and hands-on experiences that will provide students with an overview of the health-care field, as outlined according to the Health Science Cluster in the National Career Clusters Framework and the National Consortium on Health Science Education (NCHSE), as well as begin to prepare students for careers in occupations predicted to have a high number of available jobs in the next 10 years, including careers in nursing services (registered nurse, nurse aide, practical nurse, home health aide), therapeutic services (sports medicine, athletic trainer, dietitian, respiratory therapist), diagnostic services (radiologist, phlebotomist, radiologic tech, sonographer, CT technician, medical lab technician), health informatics (health information technician, medical coder), veterinary services, medical services (optometrist, medical assistant), emergency services, rehabilitative services (physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist) counselors, pharmacists, mental health services (psychologists).  Scheduling and operating more than one course in the same classroom/laboratory with the same teacher is not recommended. In order to enable the teacher to instruct students in skills on a one-on-one basis, the recommended class size is 12-15 students for the first two credits. For students taking the last two credits who are job shadowing, the recommended class size is 10 - 12 students. Please be aware that health care facilities often require a 10 to one student/teacher ratio in order to participate in job shadowing. Having a class that is too large decreases the quality experience that Healthcare and Clinical Services is meant to be for the student.  This program includes a minimum of 100 hours of clinical-type experience to be obtained by the program’s completion. It is recommended to spread these hours out among the length of the program. This clinical-type experience can include: tours of health-care facilities, guest speakers, participation in health fairs or community service, laboratory practice, demonstration in the classroom, and observation or job shadowing experiences in medical facilities.

What should I expect in this program?

Students should expect lessons on various topics such as safety in the workplace, infection control, and health care systems. The course offers insight into careers in health care and educational requirements, and the professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities involved.  Students should expect to complete group and individual presentations in class and at local elementary schools.  Students will learn to operate equipment related to the healthcare field including but not limited to scales, thermometer, Sphygmomanometer, Stethoscope, and Wheelchair.  Students will visit nursing homes and other health care facilities. 

Students will perform a variety of skills and complete hands-on projects in our learning lab as well as in healthcare settings. Some examples of assignments and projects are CPR, Bed making, Vital Signs, transferring patients using walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, bed pans, bedside chairs, stretchers as well as Dental and visual projects. Students will write resumes, graph vital signs calculate and convert weights and temperatures. Students will learn how to calculate Pounds to kilograms and Fahrenheit to Celsius. 

 

Student Organization:  HOSA dues- $15

Uniform: Navy blue scrubs ($35 fee) and comfortable tennis shoes

Materials:  2” 3 ring binder 

Industry Certification: First Aid & CPR

State Assessment: MS-CPAS2