Chapter 3: Careers in Healthcare
Overview
Our first interactions with healthcare are often personal, either when we or a loved one goes to a care provider to ensure we are staying healthy or when we experience an injury, illness, or disability. We may learn about healthcare from family or friends who are employed in the field and have interesting and fulfilling jobs. This chapter will explore how healthcare is delivered, the roles of healthcare professionals, and the work they do to serve patients.
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, the learner will be able to:
- Identify various roles within healthcare
- Discuss interests, motivation, and goals that might lead someone to choose a healthcare career
- Reflect on the impact of factors such as job security, advancement potential, and income when choosing a career
- Examine common values and traits of healthcare professionals
- Distinguish the factors that make U.S. healthcare delivery unique in a global context
Key Terms
- Healthcare
- Credential
- Certification
- License
- Equitable access
- Health equity
- Patient
- Patient-centered care
- Prerequisite
Attributions
- Chapter opening image: Best Shoes for Nurses by Esther Max is released under CC BY 2.0
- Figure 1.1: image released under the Pexels License
