Chapter 1 Introduction to Being a Health Care Worker
Jan 01, 2016
Chapter 1Introduction to Being a Health Care Worker
Section 1.1History of Health Care
Background
Health care has developed and changed throughout history. Knowing the history of health care helps you understand current procedures, practices, and philosophies. The experiences and discoveries of the past led to the advances of today.
Today’s achievements could not have occurred without the trials and errors of the past. When you understand the primitive beginnings of medicine, you appreciate the advances made during the past 5,000 years.
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Objectives
• Match key terms with their correct meanings.• Identify scientists and explain what they contributed to
medicine.• Choose one era in the history of health care and explain
how healthcare technology changed. • Discuss advances in medicine in the twentieth century.• Research and report on possible advances in medicine
for the twenty-first century.• Explain the origin of medical ethics and the impact of
medical advances on ethics.• Compare health care in the past with health care in the
twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
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Objectives
Explain current trends in health care. Match key terms with their correct meanings. Discuss the importance of proper health care training. Describe the proper appearance for a health care
worker. Discuss standards of behavior. Discuss the importance of confidentiality when working
with patient records.
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Early Beginnings
No electricity, few tools, poor shelter Protect themselves against predators Believed illness and disease were caused by
supernatural spirits Used trephining, herbs, and plants as medicine
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Medicine in Early Times
• Egyptians first people to keep accuracy records• Ancient Chinese first to use acupuncture
therapies• Ancient Greeks first to study causes of disease
– Illness has natural rather than spiritual causes– Considered medicine an art– Learned some disease caused by lack of sanitation
Romans developed sanitation system First to organize medical care
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Medicine in Early Times (continued)
Hippocrates based his knowledge of anatomy and physiology on observation of the external body Known as the father of medicine Disease not caused by supernatural forces Wrote the standard of ethics ─ Oath of Hippocrates
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The Dark Ages and the Middle Ages
Medical science stopped for 1,000 years when Roman Empire conquered by the Huns Medicine practiced only in convents and monasteries Primary treatment was prayer Care was custodial
Epidemics Bubonic plague, smallpox, syphilis
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The Renaissance
Rebirth of learning Universities and medical buildings built New ideas about disease Dissection of the body Development of the printing press
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Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
Leonardo da Vinci studied and recorded the anatomy of the body
William Harvey used physiology to describe circulation of blood and pumping of the heart
Gabriele Fallopius discovered the fallopian tubes Bartolommeo Eustachio discovered tube leading from
the ear to the throat Antonie van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope Apothecaries/early pharmacies started Practice of quackery
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The Eighteenth Century
Students attended lectures, treated patients at their bedsides, and dissected bodies
Elizabeth Blackwell first female physician in United States
René Laënnec invented the stethoscope Joseph Priestly discovered the element oxygen Benjamin Franklin discovered bifocals and that colds
could be passed from person to person Edward Jenner discovered smallpox vaccination which
led to immunizations
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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Ignaz Semmelweis identified cause of childbed fever Louis Pasteur discovered tiny microorganisms are
everywhere Father of Microbiology Pasteurization kills bacteria in milk
Joseph Lister first doctor to use antiseptic during surgery Ernst von Bergmann developed asepsis Robert Koch developed the culture plate method to identify
pathogens and also isolated the bacterium that causes tuberculosis
Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-rays Paul Ehrlich discovered the effect of medicine on disease-
causing microorganisms
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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Anesthesia, nitrous oxide, ether, and chloroform
discovered Gerhard Domagk discovered sulfonamide
compounds ─ medications effective in killing bacteria
Dmitri Ivanovski discovered that some diseases are caused by microorganisms that cannot be seen with a microscope (viruses) Rabies Measles Chickenpox
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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Sigmund Freud discovered the conscious and unconscious parts of
the mind Basis of psychology and psychiatry
Sir Alexander Fleming found that penicillin killed life-threatening bacteria
Jonas Salk discovered that a dead polio virus would cause immunity to poliomyelitis
Albert Sabin used a live polio virus vaccine, which is more effective. Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the molecular
structure of DNA, based on its known double helix. Christian Barnard performed the first successful heart transplant in
1968 Ben Carson separated Siamese twins and performed
hemispherectomies (surgeries on the brain to prevent seizures)
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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Telemedicine practiced
Consultative, diagnostic, and treatment services E-mail, fax, telephone
New inventions and procedures have changed medicine People are living longer and healthier Greater need to understand geriatric medicine
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Transparency 1-1Famous Scientists
Hippocrates Bartolommeo EustachioLeonardo da Vinci Anton van LeeuwenhoekWilliam Harvey René LaënnecGabriele Fallopius Joseph Priestley
Benjamin Franklin Joseph ListerEdward Jenner Ernst von BergmannIgnaz Semmelweis Robert KochLouis Pasteur Wilhelm Roentgen
Paul Erlich Alexander FlemingGerhard Domagk Jonas SalkDmitri Ivanovski Albert SabinSigmund Freud
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The Advancement of Nursing
Florence Nightingale created the Nightingale School of Nursing Designed a hospital ward that improved the environment and
care of the patients Clara Barton volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War
Established a bureau of records to help search for missing men Established the American Red Cross in 1881 and to serve as its
first president. Lillian Wald established the Henry Street Settlement in
New York to bring nursing care into the homes of the poor Led to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
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Patient Care Today
LVN/LPN Nurse assistant Unlicensed assistive caregivers
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Key Terms
anesthesia antiseptic asepsis convents custodial dissection epidemics ethics exorcise
geriatric intravenously microbiology Microorganisms monasteries noninvasive observation pasteurization phlebotomy
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Key Terms
physiology predators primitive psychiatry psychology quackery recipient replicate
respiration stethoscope superstitious symptom telemedicine trephining vaccines
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Section 1.2 Becoming a Health Care Worker
Background
A health care worker is a well-trained professional whose top concern is patient welfare. Health care workers must have a thorough knowledge of current health procedures. They must maintain a professional appearance and practice professional behavior. They must also safeguard the confidentiality of patient information. You must keep in mind all of these standards of behavior as you become a health care worker.
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Objectives
Match key terms with their correct meanings. Discuss the importance of proper health care
training. Describe the proper appearance for a health
care worker. Discuss standards of behavior. Discuss the importance of confidentiality when
working with patient records.
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Health Care Education
Choose a quality healthcare program that meets your needs Technical, community or four year colleges with
accredited programs Obtain a certification or an associate’s, bachelor’s,
master’s or doctoral degree Continue your education after employment, as
health care procedures and knowledge change constantly
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Appearance and Hygiene
Professional appearance reflects your commitment to patient care Follow facility’s dress code Minimum jewelry Wear name badge Clean and appropriate shoes Clean hair Follow rules of good personal hygiene
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Standards of Behavior
Behave professionally Calm and courteous manner Listen carefully Monitor patients appropriately Perform tasks efficiently Do not gossip about staff or patients Do not use coarse or offensive language Do not “horseplay” Watch for hazardous situations Follow all facility safety procedures
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Personal Characteristics
Empathy Honesty Dependability Willingness to learn Patience Acceptance of criticism Enthusiasm
Self motivation Tact Competence Responsibility Discretion Team player
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Exhibit positive personal traits
Body Language
Make sure you portray positive body language Make and maintain eye contact Smile Keep an open stance Give patient your full attention Keep your hands away form your mouth when
speaking Sit or stand at eye level when talking to a patient
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Maintaining Confidentiality
Confidentiality of patient records is critical Patients sign confidentiality form before
receiving treatment Legally binding document
Health care workers may be reprimanded if they do not ensure patient confidentiality
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Key Terms
accredited appearance commitment confidentiality converse courteous
hygiene maintain professional recommendations reprimanded stance
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