Approved by Faculty Senate

University Studies Course Approval

 

Department or Program: Department of Nursing

Course Number: N120

Course Title: Introduction to the Health Professions

Catalogue Description: The content of this introductory course is useful for students considering or planning to major in a health field, those seeking better understanding of professions in general, and those interested in becoming more astute consumers of health care. Learning activities include seminars, guest lectures, individual and group projects and field trips.

This is an existing course that has previously been approved by A2C2 __X__.

Department Contact Person for this course: Karen Gardner kgardner@winona.edu

 

General discussion of each objective in Contemporary Citizenship as it relates to learning

activities in N120.

  1. Use critical thinking to analyze contemporary issues-In class, readings and small group discussions, students are expected to analyze social, political, economic, ethical, legal and employment trends affecting the health care professions. The textbook is particularly focused on these factors. Students

are expected to critique the health care professions in the media and web sources.

Assessment and Assignments: Web-site project, comparison of professions, ethical issues discussion, readings, small group discussions.

b. Demonstrated effective oral and/or written communication of ideas, informed

opinions, and/or values-Students are expected to critique 3 health care web sites,

identity the group, their purpose and audience for the site. They also discuss the

usefulness of the web site and its links for the profession and for consumers and

submit the critique in written form. A Comparison of Professions paper compares

and contrasts two different health care professions, their scope of practice and

where they fit into the health care delivery system. A summary of current articles

in the print literature about class topics is also submitted every other week.

Assessment and Assignments: Web-site project, comparison of profession paper,

summary of current health care profession topic every other week.

 

 

 

 

  1. Identify, find, and use tools of information science related to contemporary

    2. Issues-a Web site project includes looking at 3 different web sites about one of the health professions and critiquing the web site for usefulness, links for the profession and for consumers.

    Assessment and Assignments: Web-site project

  2. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively independently/and or in

    3. collaborative problem solving groups—Students lead a discussion with classmates on ethical issues on a health care profession. Issues covered are

    economics, quality, cost containment, patient concerns, provider concerns and

    colliding interests.

    Assessment and Assignments: Ethical issues discussion, small group discussions

    on health care professions.

  3. Identify principles and applications of personal, civic, and/or economic

    4. responsibility; understand personal responsibility for lifestyle choices—

    Students are expected to integrate and discuss ethical dilemmas for the health care professions as well as economics, quality, cost containment, provider concerns and colliding interests through readings and small group discussions.

    Assessment and Assignments: Comparison of professions paper, small group discussions.

  4. Participate actively (e. g. class discussion, volunteerism, etc.) in issues

significant to citizenship in Contemporary Citizenship-Students take

field trips to health care agencies and discuss consumer issues and concerns

about health care professions. Students are expected to attend and actively

participate in small group discussion. Attendance, participation and readings

are 20% of course grade.

Assessment and Assignments: Field trips, small group discussions, discussion

of current print article every other week.

Grading:

Web project 20 points

Comparison of Professions 60 points

Ethical Issues Discussion 20 points

Class participation/readings 20 points

Midterm exam 30 points

Final Exam 70 points

______________

Total: 220 points

COURSE: N120: Introduction of the Health Professions

COURSE CREDIT: 3 Credits CLOCK HOURS: 3 Hours/week

PLACEMENT IN CURRICULUM: Elective course offered yearly or on demand as a general elective course offering.

FACULTY: Karen Gardner

Stark 329

507-457-5134

kgardner @winona.edu

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

The content of this introductory course is useful for students considering or planning to major in a health field, those seeking better understanding of professions in general, and those interested in becoming more astute consumers of health care. Learning activities include seminars, guest lectures, individual and group projects and field trips.

This course is a University Studies course in Unity and Diversity Core that satisfies the Contemporary Citizenship Requirement. Courses fulfilling Contemporary Citizen requirement must contain requirements and learning activities that promote students’ abilities to:

  1. Use critical thinking to analyze contemporary issues;
  2. Demonstrate effective oral and/or written communication of ideas, informed opinions, and/or values;
  3. Identify, find and use tools of information science related to contemporary issues;
  4. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively independently and/or in collaborative problem solving groups;
  5. Identify principles and applications of personal, civic, and/or economic responsibility; understand personal responsibility for lifestyle choices; and/or
  6. Participate actively (e. g. class discussion, volunteerism, ect.) in issues significant to citizenship in Contemporary society.

 

Requirements and learning activities that facilitate these outcomes are highlighted

In bold underline script through this syllabus.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The student will:

  1. describe the scope of practice, educational preparation, and the legal, economic and political aspects of the various health and health related professions in the U. S. A.
  2. discuss the history and projections for future practice of the health and health related professions in the U.S. A.
  3. analyze consumers’ options and feelings in using the services of the various

health and health related professionals.

TOPICAL OUTLINE:

  1. Historical perspective in the U. S. A.
    1. Evolution of medicine
    2. Evolution of nursing and other disciplines
    3. Health problems throughout the years
    4. Evolution of technology
  2. Categories of health services
    1. Overview of health care delivery system
    2. Consumers and choosing services of health professionals
    3. Projections for health care into next century
  3. Paying for health services
    1. Effects on health care providers
    2. Effects on consumers (patients, clients)
    3. Third party payment systems
  4. Regulation of health care professions
  5. Health career planning
    1. Education
    2. Opportunities
  6. Health professions involving client care
    1. Scope of practice and work description
    2. Educational and legal requirements
    3. Employment trends and earnings
    4. Professional association/collective bargaining groups
  7. Health-relation professions
    1. Scope of practice and work description
    2. Educational and legal requirements
    3. Employment trends and earnings
    4. Professional associations/collective bargaining groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEACHING STRATEGIES:

Required Readings

Seminars

Individual and group projects

Guest lectures

Written assignments

Class presentations

Field trips

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:

Stanfeld, P. S., & Hui, Y. H. (1998). Introduction to the health professions (3rd ed.) Boston: Jones and Bartlett

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Web Site Project (Contemporary Citizenship requirement, a, b, c, f) 20 points

Sign up for a professional group that you would like to research. Each class member should be doing a different group. Look up at least 3 different web sites about a given profession and write a critique about the web sites. Identify who the group is, their purpose, and their audience for the site. Discuss the usefulness of the web-site and its links for the profession and for consumers (patients/clients). This assignment may be submitted electronically or in typewritten form. Plan to share the results with the class.

2. Comparison of Professions (Contemporary Citizenship requirement, a, b, d, e) 60 points

Compare and contrast two different health related professions; for example, chose one which you are considering entering, and one other. For each of the professions, describe the scope of practice and where it fits into the health care delivery system. Describe the education, regulation/legal requirements, employment trends and earnings for each. Discuss consumer (patient/client) access to the professional services and the way consumers use those services. Make a summary comparison of the two professions, including the above dimensions as well as differences and similarities in outcomes of services. Include citations in APA format. Must be typewritten.

3. Ethical Issues Discussion (Contemporary Citizenship requirement, a,b,c,d,f) 20 points

Lead a discussion with classmates on ethical issues in a given profession. Sign up for a given profession and lead the related discussion when that profession is covered in class.

This assignment may be done in pairs. Generate descriptions of the ethical dilemmas for professionals and discussion questions for the class. Consider issues related to economics, quality, cost containment, patient/client concerns, provider concerns and

colliding interests.

4. Class participation/readings (Contemporary Citizenship requirement, b,d,e,f) 20 points

Read something every other week in the current print literature (last 6 months), which relates to class topics of the professions or client/patient use of services. Type the citation at the top using APA format and give a summary of the item. Use newspapers, newsmagazines, journals, advertising, editorials, etc. Hand these in to your instructor.

These will be shared and discussed in class.

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING:

Web-site project 20 points

Comparison of professions 60 points

Ethical Issues Discussion 20 points

Class participation/readings 20 points

Midterm exam 30 points

Final exam 70 points

 

Total= 220 points

 

GRADING SCALE: A= 90 – 100%

B= 80 - 89%

C= 70 – 79%

D= 60 – 69%

E= <60%