Health Occupations

Health Occupations I:  1 year - 3 credits

This program prepares the male and female student to assist nurses and other medical staff to provide patient care.  The student will learn basic anatomy and physiology, patient care, first aid, CPR, medical terminology, employability skills and the concepts of medical ethics.  Clinic experience in a nursting home, which is mandatory, will be scheduled during class time.  Students will be required to wear a uniform, obtain a physical examination and tuberculin test.  Students participate in job shadowing experiences in various allied health occupations.

Prerequisite:  Certificate of Completion from Health Occupations I and instructor's recommendation

This program provides the student who is interested in preparing for a career in nursing, or other patient care areas, a greater opportunity for increasing skills and comfort with patient care.  It also provides training in those skills needed as a Treatment Technician or Home Health Aide, Unit Clerk, Veterinary Assistant and Physical Therapy Aide.  Hands-on experience in the following areas is provided:  orthopedics, labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn nursery, pediatrics and care of preoperative and postoperative patients, as well as geriatric patients.  A uniform, physical exam and tuberculin test are required for both classes.  Students will participate at local veterinary hospitals practicing veterinary assistant skills.  Additionally, students participate in a physical therapy clinical and a Hospital Unit Clerk clinical experience.

Due to the Center's Tech Prep relationship with nearby community colleges, those students successfully completing this program may earn college credit for health occupation skills learned at the Center.  (See below)

Specialized Equipment:

• Complete nursing station
• Hospital beds
• Sphygmomanometers/stethoscopes
• Hoyer lift/ambulation aids
• Patient care equipment
• Resusci-annie and resusci-babe
• Hydrocollators, paraffin baths
• Whirlpool

Occupational Options:

• Dietary aide
• Physical or occupational therapy aide
• Nurses assistant, orderly
• Home health aide (advanced)
• Veterinary assistant (advanced)
• Lab assistant

Skills Taught:

• Infection control
• Careers in health care
• Medical terminology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Safety/Red Cross first aid
• Observations and communication
• Vital signs
• Moving, lifting, positioning patient
• Bedmaking
• Red Cross community CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• Rehabilitation techniques
• Ethics and legal responsibilities
• Isolation techniques
• Cleanliness and skin care
• Basic nutrition and feeding of patients
• Hot and cold treatments
• Urinary and bowel elimination
• Introduction to hospital ward clerk, CRT
• Physical therapy assistant techniques

See Class Syllabus

Articulation Agreements

"Career education develops and celebrates many kinds of talent and excellence."
Source: Dale Parnell, "The Neglected Majority," The Community College Press

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