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Health Sciences Career
Academy
Are you interested in a career in one of the fastest growing fields in the
state and nation?
Would you like to be a part of a highly skilled team of professionals helping
others?
Would you like to work in a hospital or clinic, nursing home or school, industry
or home care?
If so, a career in health care may be for you!
The Health Sciences Academy
provides students with an opportunity to take courses while still in high
school that will prepare the learner with foundational
knowledge to pursue a wide variety of health care occupations in college
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Nursing, Medical Assistant, Radiology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Respiratory
Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician-the
options for a career in health care are many and varied
with limitless opportunity
for career mobility and personal growth!
Recreational
Therapists plan and
carry out treatments and activities for patients. They
plan and carry out treatment services or activities
using a variety of
methods. Recreational therapists try to plan activities around patient
interests as well as their needs. Their overall goal
is to keep their patients physically
and mentally healthy. Many recreational therapists use arts and crafts,
dance, drama, music, and games to keep patients active.
They may offer instruction
in stretching and breathing techniques. They also talk with patients and
listen to their reactions to help ease any depression, stress, or anxiety.
Recreational
therapists usually work with doctors, nurses, social
workers, psychologists, and physical and occupational
therapists in setting up treatment
for patients. They examine patients' prior medical records and also talk
to family members. They develop detailed treatment plans and make changes
where
needed. An important part of their job is to keep track of patients'
progress. Recreational therapists often meet with other
medical staff to talk about
how patients are doing. They also keep detailed records and write reports.
Average salary $20.77 Per Hour
Pharmacists dispense
drugs and provide information about their use. They dispense
drugs that are prescribed
by doctors and other health care workers.
Those who
work in hospitals or clinics advise medical staff on the selection
and effects of drugs. They also plan and monitor
drug schedules for patients.
Pharmacists
may evaluate the success of drug therapies for hospital patients.
In addition, they counsel patients on how to use drugs
while in the hospital
and after
they go home.
Pharmacists who work in pharmacies
provide information about drugs sold without a prescription.
Before suggesting
a drug, pharmacists
ask customers
about
their symptoms and current medicines they are taking. Pharmacists
monitor patients'
drug use to make sure they do not take drugs that have harmful
interactions. They may also give advice about medical
supplies. Sometimes pharmacists
compound drugs for customers. This means they mix ingredients to
form powders or solutions.
However, compounding is a rare task because most medicines come
from the manufacturer in standard dosages.
Average salary
$51.56 Per Hour
Dental
Hygienists clean teeth and teach
clients how to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
They discuss general health issues with patients
and update
dental charts. They inspect patients' teeth
for deposits and decay,
and look for any
shrinkage or disease in the gums. They look to see if the gums
and lymph nodes under
the chin show any swelling or other signs of cancer. When x-rays
need updating, or when there are new patients, hygienists take
x-rays. They
take great
care to position the camera at different angles around the
head and mouth. They
also develop film for dentists to use as they diagnose problems
and plan treatments.
Hygienists use dental instruments to
clean plaque and various stains from teeth, in preparation
for the dentist. Part of
that preparation
may include
applying
numbing agents to a patient's gums. They do this so the dentist
may administer an injection with the least amount of discomfort
to the
client. Hygienists
also apply fluoride to children's teeth.
Average Salary $33.12
Per Hour
Home
Health Aides care for elderly,
recovering, or patients with disabilities, in their own
homes. They
follow doctors',
nurses',
or therapists' orders
when providing care. They give clients their medication.
They also check clients'
pulse, temperature, and respiration rate. For some clients,
home health aides help them perform simple exercises
or learn how
to use braces
and artificial
limbs. They may also massage sore muscles and apply different
treatments, such as ointments or heating pads. In addition,
aides may help
clients get out of
bed and to the bathroom. They may also bathe, dress,
and groom clients.
Home health aides may clean clients'
houses, do their laundry, and change their linens.
They may care for children
who
are ill or the
children
of ill clients.
Aides plan nutritious meals that follow clients' special
diets. They then shop for and prepare the food. Home
health aides
run errands
for clients.
Sometimes
they take clients with them while they run these errands.
In these situations, home health aides may help clients
down stairs
into
a wheelchair or into
a car. They may also accompany clients to doctor's
visits.
Average Salary $11.02 Per Hour
Occupational
Health and Safety Specialists investigate
workplaces. They recommend ways to remove health
hazards. Occupational
health and safety
specialists
work for government agencies. They investigate
reports of unsafe working conditions.
Sometimes they are called when several workers
experience unusual illnesses. They also inspect factories
and
other production
facilities on a regular
basis. They look for health hazards such as unsafe
machinery or bad air quality. Specialists
walk around workplaces and analyze the lighting,
ventilation, temperature, and other environmental
factors. They
collect samples of the air,
dust, and other materials. They use many types
of equipment to take these
samples and
adjust them before conducting tests. One piece
of equipment they use is a Geiger counter. This instrument
monitors
radiation levels
and
shows the
level
on a
meter. Specialists record this reading and other
test results. They may also talk to workers to
learn
about
their symptoms
or health
hazards they have
seen. In addition, specialists read doctors' reports
about workers illnesses.
They
may conduct studies of workers to determine if
their illnesses are related to their jobs.
After they
gather information, specialists analyze it. They
determine which, if any, health hazards
are present.
Then
they write reports
listing these
hazards and their recommendations for changing
them. Specialists may help employers
make the changes. For example, they may talk
to engineers about ways to redesign equipment. They
may also teach
workers how
to prevent
accidents, or injuries
from overworking their muscles.
Average Salary
$27.72 Per Hour
Nursing Career Academy
Do you like to work with people and be part of
a team?
Do you want to make a difference in people's
lives?
Do you want a career with limitless opportunity
for career mobility and personal growth?
Then a career in nursing may be for you!
The Nursing
Academy enables the learner to meet nursing prerequisite
requirements by
taking foundational
pre-nursing courses while
still in high school so
that the learner will be prepared to begin
a nursing program the first semester of
college.
LPNs provide basic bedside care, taking
vital signs, administering medications,
applying
dressings, and carrying out other
physicians' orders as well
as monitoring patients and reporting
adverse reactions.
They help keep patients
comfortable
and assist with feeding, bathing, dressing,
and personal hygiene, all under the supervision
of
an RN. LPNs
may continue their
education in
an RN Mobility
program to become an RN.
RNs perform physical
assessments and collect health histories in order
to assess patients'
responses
to illness. They
develop nursing
care
plans based
on assessment
data, supervise and delegate tasks to
assistive personnel, assist physicians with various
diagnostic and treatment
procedures, administer medications
and provide intravenous (IV) therapy,
provide education to patients
and their families
about medical conditions and treatment,
and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
RNs may continue
their
education and become
an Advanced Practice
nurse, such
as Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife,
Nurse Anesthetist, Clinical Nurse Specialist,
Nurse
Educator, and
Nursing Administrator.
Employment projections
for nurses are very good to excellent as the population
ages
and many
current workers will
be retiring in
the
near future. Licensed
Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered
Nurses (RNs) may work in hospitals,
clinics, nursing
homes,
schools,
industry,
and in homes.
Licensed
Practical Nurses (LPNs) care for
people who are sick, injured, or have disabilities.
They work under the direction of
a doctor or registered nurse. Most
LPNs
provide
basic bedside
care to
patients. They answer
patients' calls and
take vital
signs such as temperature, blood
pressure, pulse, and respiration.
They treat
patients for bedsores,
give
alcohol rubs, and
apply dressings.
They apply
hot water bottles and ice packs.
LPNs feed patients and record their
food
and liquid
intake and output. They also help
patients with other personal care
activities,
such as bathing, dressing, or brushing
their teeth.
LPNs observe patients
and report any negative reactions to treatments
or
medications. They collect blood
and other samples
from patients
for testing.
In some work
settings, they perform routine
lab tests. They also get patients ready
for more
complex
tests
and exams.
They
explain how
procedures work
and answer
questions. They also set up exam
or treatment rooms by displaying,
ordering,
and cleaning
equipment. This may include catheters
and oxygen machines.
In nursing
homes, LPNs provide basic bedside care as they do in
other
settings. In addition,
they
may help
evaluate
the
needs of
residents
and develop
care plans. In a doctors office
and clinics, LPNs often make
appointments, keep
records, and perform other clerical
duties. LPNs who work in private
homes may prepare
meals.
They may also
teach
simple nursing tasks
to family members.
They keep patients' rooms neat
and
make sure that patients are comfortable.
Average
salary $17.62 Per Hour
Registered
Nurses (RN's) care
for patients who are ill
or injured. They work to
promote health
and to
help patients
cope with
illness. Nurses
work with
patients in hospitals, in
doctors offices, and in nursing homes.
They work in
public health facilities
such as
government agencies
and schools.
They
also take care of patients
in their homes as they recover from
illness
or accidents.
Nurses have a large variety
of tasks they can
perform. However,
the work setting usually
determines their daily duties.
Other (RN) Nurse positions
Hospital
nurses observe patients and carry out medical treatments.
They
use computerized
equipment
to monitor
patients vital
signs. They record
their
observations and other
medical data in patients charts.
Nurses also consult
with medical
staff about ways to prevent
infection. Sometimes
nurses write and manage
patient care plans.
Hospital
nurses are usually assigned to one area,
such as surgery.
In these areas
they
have special
duties.
For example,
surgery
nurses prepare
rooms
and supplies before
surgery. They sterilize instruments
and prepare
other equipment.
They also assist surgeons
by passing instruments
and other
items. Hospital
nurses perform
many duties that
are common
to other
work settings.
For example, they discuss
cases with patients
doctors. They
maintain a
stock of supplies.
They also supervise
licensed practical nurses and
aides.
Office nurses
prepare patients
for exams
and check vital
signs. They
assist doctors
with
exams when
requested. They draw
blood and give
injections, as do
nurses in most settings. Office
nurses
may also
perform routine
lab
tests
and office work.
Public
health nurses work to improve the
overall health
of communities. They
provide
health
care and first
aid. They
give shots and
screenings such as
blood pressure
tests. Public
health nurses develop
health education
programs. Thus,
they teach the
public about topics such
as nutrition
and
childcare.
In addition,
they
refer patients
to community agencies.
Nursing
care facility nurses manage the
health care
of residents.
They spend
much of their
time on administrative
and supervisory
tasks. For
example, they
write care plans, and
supervise licensed
practical
nurses
(LPNs) in
carrying
them out. Home
health nurses
provide prescribed
nursing
care to patients
in their own
homes. They also instruct
patients
and their
families
how to
perform
necessary procedures.
Average
Salary $31.41 Per Hour
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