Health Care Career Research Paper

Health Care Career Paper Instructions HSC 0003, Introduction to Healthcare Health Sciences and Related Studies

Medical Campus

Miami Dade College

1

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.

The Miami Dade College Campus’s (Medical Campus) Library has resources dedicated to these

careers. In addition, students will interview a health care professional in their chosen field of

study to include in their paper.

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

 Personal Reflection

 Health Care Professional Interview

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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)

Health Care Career Paper Instructions HSC 0003, Introduction to Healthcare Health Sciences and Related Studies

Medical Campus

Miami Dade College

2

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.

Health Care Career Paper Instructions HSC 0003, Introduction to Healthcare Health Sciences and Related Studies

Medical Campus

Miami Dade College

3

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

RESOURCES

There are great resources available to help you with your paper at the MDC library. Click this link to go to the HSC0003 Libguide at the MDC library website. There you will find tabs for “Job Description”, “Education”, “Professional Activities” and other resources.

GRADING

Please review the Grading Rubric for the Health Care Career Paper, in Blackboard.

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.