Syllabus – Health Careers Course Outline

stethoscope and a book

History and Trends of Health Care

  • History of Healthcare

  • Trends in Healthcare

Healthcare Systems

  • Private Healthcare Agencies

  • Government Agencies

  • Voluntary or Nonprofit Agencies

  • Health Insurance Plans

  • Organizational Structure

Careers in Healthcare

  • Introduction to Health Careers

  • Therapeutic Services Careers

    • Dental Careers

    • Emergency Medical Services

    • Medical Careers

    • Mental and Social Services Careers

    • Mortuary Careers

    • Nursing Careers

    • Nutrition and Dietary Services Careers

    • Veterinary Careers

    • Vision Services Careers

    • Other Therapeutic Services Careers

  • Diagnostic Services Careers

  • Health Informatics Careers

  • Support Services Careers

  • Biotechnology Research and Development Careers

Personal and Professional Qualities of a Healthcare Worker

  • Personal Appearance

  • Personal Characteristics

  • Effective Communications

  • Teamwork

  • Professional Leadership

  • Stress

  • Time Management

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

  • Legal responsibilities

  • Ethics

  • Patients’ Rights

  • Advance Directives for Health Care

  • Professional Standards

Medical Terminology

  • Using Medical Abbreviations

  • Interpreting Word Parts

Anatomy and Physiology

  • Basic Structure of the Human Body

  • Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

  • Integumentary System

  • Skeletal System

  • Muscular System

  • Nervous System

  • Special Senses

  • Circulatory System

  • Lymphatic System

  • Respiratory System

  • Digestive System

  • Urinary System

  • Endocrine System

  • Reproductive System

Human Growth and Development

  • Life Stages

  • Death and Dying

  • Human Needs

Cultural Diversity

  • Culture, Ethnicity, Race

  • Bias, Prejudice, Stereotyping

  • Understanding Cultural Diversity

  • Respecting Culture Diversity

Geriatric Care

  • Myths on Aging

  • Physical Changes of Aging

  • Psychosocial Changes of Aging

  • Confusion and Disorientation in the Elderly

  • Meeting the Needs of the Elderly

Nutrition and Diets

  • Fundamentals of Nutrition

  • Essential Nutrients

  • Utilization of Nutrients

  • Maintenance of Good Nutrition

Promotion of Safety

  • Using Body Mechanics

  • Preventing Accidents and Injuries

  • Observing Fire Safety

Infection Control

  • Understanding the Principles of Infection Control

  • Washing Hands

  • Observing Standard Precautions

  • Sterilizing with an Autoclave

  • Wrapping Items for Autoclaving

  • Loading and Operating an Autoclave

  • Using Chemicals for Disinfection

  • Cleaning with Ultrasonic Unit

  • Using Sterile Technique

  • Opening Sterile Packages

  • Preparing a Sterile Dressing Tray

  • Donning and Removing Sterile Gloves

  • Changing a Sterile Dressing

  • Maintaining Transmission-Based Isolation Garments

  • Donning and Removing transmission-based isolation garments

  • Working in a hospital: transmission-based isolation unit

 Vital Signs

  • Measuring and Recording Vital Signs

    • Cleaning a clinical thermometer

    • Measuring and Recording Oral, Rectal, Axillary, Tympanic, & Temporal Artery Temperatures

    • Measuring Temperature with an Electronic Thermometer

    • Measuring and Recording Radial & Apical Pulse

    • Measuring and Recording Respirations

    • Measuring and Recording Blood Pressure

First Aid

  • Providing First Aid for:

    • Bleeding & Wounds

    • Shock

    • Poisoning

    • Burns

    • Heat/Cold Exposure

    • Bone, Joint, and Other Injuries

    • Sudden Illness

  • Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

    • Adult/Child/Infant CPR

    • Obstructed Airway on Conscious Adult/Child/Infant

    • Obstructed Airway on Unconscious Adult/Child/Infant

Preparing for the World of Work

  • Developing Job-Keeping Skills

  • Writing a Cover Letter and Preparing a Resume

  • Completing Job Application Forms

  • Participating in a Job Interview

Laboratory Assistant Skills

  • Obtaining & Handling Specimens & Cultures

  • Measuring Blood-Sugar Level

Medical Assistant Skills

  • Measuring/Recording Height & Weight

  • Screening for Vision Problems

  • Assisting with Physical Examinations

  • Assisting with Minor Surgery 

  • Recording & Mounting an Electrocardiogram

  • Working with Math & Medications

  • Using Roman Numerals

  • Converting Metric Measurements

  • Converting Household (English) Measurements

Nurse Assistant Skills

  • Positioning, Turning, Moving & Transferring Patients

  • Unoccupied & Occupied Bedmaking

  • Administering Personal Hygiene

  • Providing Routine Oral Hygiene

  • Cleaning Dentures

  • Providing Oral Care for the Unconscious Patient

  • Administering Daily Hair Care

  • Providing Nail Care

  • Giving a Backrub

  • Changing Patient’s Gown/Pajamas

  • Giving a Complete Bed Bath

  • Measuring & Recording Intake and Output

  • Feeding a Patient

  • Assisting with Bedpan/Urinal

  • Providing Catheter & Urinary Drainage Unit Care

  • Providing Ostomy Care

  • Collecting Stool & Urine Specimens

  • Administering Preoperative & Postoperative Care

  • Administering Oxygen

  • Giving Postmortem Care

Physical Therapy Skills

  • Performing Range of Motion Exercises

  • Ambulating Patients

  • Transfer/Gait Belt, Crutches, Cane, Walker

  • Administering Heat & Cold Applications

Business & Accounting Skills

  • Filing Records

  • Using the Telephone

  • Scheduling Appointments

  • Completing Medical Records & Forms

  • Composing Business Letters

  • Completing Insurance Forms

  • Maintaining a Bookkeeping system

  • Writing Checks, Deposit Slips, & Receipts