Each question half-page one reference
#1
As a healthcare provider, I can speak regarding being a nurse. I believe that it is extremely beneficial to all nurses to become certified nursing assistants, CNAs, before becoming a nurse. The article, takes about five reasons why becoming a CNA is favorable to being a nurse, the main point for myself is “confirming your passion” (Altru Health System, 2021). I have seen this too many times, where nurses graduate without ever really taking care of patients and lack the empathy and desire to care. Many high schools programs allow Juniors and Seniors to explore these options. These programs guide you in the proper steps on how to obtain one’s CNA, how to take the placement test, where to go to get this certificate, and even assist in acquiring a job after school (Dodge, 2018). The cons to receiving this degree could be that as a young teenager and starts to receive their first paychecks of making $12 to $15 an hour, this may seem like a lot to them. This could prevent a student from furthering their education and staying as a CNA. In the reality $12 to $15 is good for a 1-person family income, however, for a family of 4, this would not be enough money to live higher than the poverty level. $30k a year is considered a poverty level for a family size of four (2021 Poverty Guidelines, 2021).
Another great certificate to receive in high school is from the Red Cross, Babysitting Courses (Red Cross). Getting a certificate and proper training in babysitting is the first step in how to care for a patient. The Red Cross provides three different courses: Babysitting, Advance Child Care, and CPR courses. These courses teach teenagers to how to properly care for infants and young children and what to do in the event of an emergency. Cons to this type of certification can discourage teenagers from not pursuing a career in healthcare if they are not led properly. Also noticed that the age ranges are from 11 to 17, and done online, teaching online could be difficult for some teenagers to be about to retain the education information that is provided.
#2
In any industry and healthcare, in particular, certifications and professional associates are essential in building an exceptional portfolio and resume. This is especially true for sophomores in high school who are learning about what career they want to lead in the near future. One association that high school students can look into is the Healthcare Data and Analytics Association (HDAA). This organization is composed of thousands of healthcare providers and volunteers; they come together to collaborate on health analytic topics such as population health analytics and data governance (Welcome to Healthcare, 2021). Joining the HDAA will help students network with thousands of healthcare professionals and review webinars, discussions and presentations from the past years and conferences. A positive of joining the HDAA is having the ability to add this experience to the resume of students. Lastly, there is no cost to join HDAA, it is a volunteer organization so students can look into joining the association.
Furthermore, students can look into certificates in Data Analytics. Although the certificate may not be specific to healthcare, the certificates can be very impactful on the outlook for getting a career in healthcare data analytics. There are many online courses and programs to receive a certificate in data analytics and there are even some certificates specific to healthcare. Coursera, UC Davis and many other organizations offer these certificates to aspiring analysts. Students can also look into educational programs (Bachelor’s, Master’s) in Data Analytics and Healthcare Management. The cons to these programs and degrees is that they will take up a substantial amount of time and effort to complete and do well in the program. Individuals must be devoting a good amount of time to really learn the material and take it in. Likewise, getting a certificate is not a guarantee in terms of receiving a job but it will help in the process. The upsides for attaining certificates is better outlook for jobs and higher pay or salary. It will be challenging but attaining such certificates can be very beneficial.
Additionally, it is important for any healthcare professional to consider the concept of predictive analytics and big data. These concepts are used in healthcare to understand how effective health systems are and what methods and concepts can be improved or created to make the organization more efficient (Ozcan, 2017). As future healthcare professionals, these high school students should be able to understand which processes are working effectively for patients and what changes or improvements can be made to improve the care they provide. This will only positively impact the growth of those students personally and professionally.
