Description
Purpose of Health Care Career Paper The purpose of this paper is for students to research, learn and write about specific elements of a health care worker’s career. Students are recommended to choose the health care profession that they are planning on pursuing. Examples of paper topics include: Registered Nurse; Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; Physician Assistant; Pharmacy Technician; Massage Therapist or Radiographic Technologist. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE HEALTH CARE CAREER PAPER This paper is broken down into TWO (2) sections: 1. Section 1 – Choose ONE of the FOUR topics below to research regarding the chosen profession (topic). • Job Description • Education, Registration or Certification • Employment • Professional Activities 2. Section 2 – Reflection on chosen topic in Section 1 WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE TOPIC YOU HAVE CHOSEN Be sure to include the following information in the section that you choose. As part of your section, you will also interview a health care worker in the field you are researching to attain their expertise on the section you have chosen. JOB DESCRIPTION 1. Describe the care/service provided by the healthcare professional 2. Describe the limits of authority and responsibility legislated “scope of practice” for this health care career 3. Describe the “Code of Ethics” for this health care occupation (choose 1 or 2 of the codes) EDUCATION /REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION 1. Describe the requirements for the profession/occupation 2. Identify at least two different types of educational institutions/schools offering the program. 3. State how much time it takes to complete the program 4. Describe the approximate cost for each of the educational institutions required 5. What degree or certification that can be earned for this health care career Identify the professional certification or registration required and by what organization or government agency EMPLOYMENT 1. What is the job availability for this profession? 2. Growth trends in the field nationally. 3. Number of jobs advertised locally or in the area where you want to secure employment (for example in the Sunday Herald or other publication) 4. Is experience required? Explain. 5. Salaries – Entry level and with experience. 6. Advancement Opportunities – With and/or without additional education. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 1. Local/State/National Professional Organizations (cost to join as a student). 2. Professional journals with address and cost 3. Are continuing educational units (CEUs) required for this profession? If so, how many, and how often 4. Describe ways that members of a professional organization can gain continuing education requirements and earn CEUs REFLECTION /PERSONAL CAREER PLAN 1. Reflect on how you see yourself “fitting” into this profession. 2. Share what life experiences have brought you to the decision to pursue this profession. 3. Describe a personal career plan for you to enter this field. 4. Discuss alternative plan if your initial plan does not progress as anticipated. SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1. At least 3 substantial references shall be used. These may include books, professional journal articles, web sites, and personal communication. All references should be correctly cited on the Reference page in correct APA 7th edition format. ORGANIZATION, FORMAT, SPELLING, GRAMMAR 1. Paper should be well organized containing appropriate content 2. Correct spelling and grammar 3. Double spaced, 12-pt font size, left justification, 1” margins. APA 7th ed. Format 4. No abstract or introduction 5. Include in-text citations (Cite your sources within your paper) 6. The paper length is three to five pages. No less than 3 and not to exceed 5 pages (not including cover page and reference page) 7. No lists, bullets, graphics, tables, or pictures 8. Work is to be expressed in paragraph form only REFERENCE PAGE 1. The title at the top of the page is “References” not “Works Cited” or “Bibliography”. 2. Indicate the exact source of the specific information used in the paper by citing all references on the reference page. 3. Only references cited in the paper, within text citations, are to be included on the reference page. 4. Include a minimum of three (3) different sources of information (books, professional journal articles, electronic sources, personal communications, websites, etc.). 5. Wikipedia is not acceptable as a reference PLAGIARISM The health care career paper is to be the student’s original work. Plagiarism is the improper borrowing of another person’s words, ideas, or methods. If you use another person’s material, you must acknowledge your source. When you cite a source properly, you have given credit where it is due, and you have also given your readers a way to locate the original material on their own. But there is more than that to plagiarism. Copying material directly without placing it between quotation marks, even if you provide the source, is an act of plagiarism.
