Project A: Educational and Career Goals

For this project you will be required to do some research into prospective healthcare programs as well as research some information about your chosen healthcare field(s).  This project is very similar to what you did in Discussion Board #3, but this project will require you to go into more depth and detail.

Educational Goals:

• What healthcare program are you pursuing?
• What type of degree you will need to pursue your chosen career?
• What are the required courses you must take prior to application?
• What are the program requirements?  Do you have to take any testing prior to application? (TEAS, etc.)
• How many students do they take?
• If you are accepted which semester will you begin?
• Do they have a board certification after the program is complete?  If so, will be certified on a state or national level?
• How demanding is the program?  Will you be able to dedicate the amount of time you need to complete the program and maintain your personal obligations (work, family, etc.)
• Are there health requirements?  Many healthcare programs require that you get a physical, TB testing, background checks and drug screens.
• Is there a required uniform for the program?

Career Goals:

• What is the pay rate for this job in your area?
• What type of work will you be doing?
• Where will you be working (Example: Hospital, nursing home, ambulatory facilities, etc.)?
• Are there jobs available in your area?
• What type of work schedule does this field require?

You can take many different approaches to this assignment.  Choose which works best for you and your schedule.

• (Highly Recommended) Schedule an appointment with an advisor in your field of interest. Usually if you call you region’s Health Office they can assist you in who you need to see and hopefully schedule you an appointment.
• Many healthcare programs have informational sessions throughout the semester.  These can be very helpful in answering some of these questions.
• Utilize Ivy Tech’s website ivytech.edu. From here you can use the healthcare wheel and you will also have an option to choose your individual campus to see program requirements.
• Make an appointment to conduct an informational interview with a person who is working in your field of interest
• Call and try to speak to someone in the Human Resources department of a facility that could possibly employ you once your degree is completed, and see if they have a few minutes to answer a few questions for you.

You are not required to answer all of these questions.  These are just things to consider when you are making choices about your educational and career goals.  You just need to be sure you give a good explanation of what is expected of you during your time as a student and what you can expect upon graduating and starting your new career in healthcare.

If you are undecided in your career choice, there are some tools in Module 12 that you may find helpful.

Option B-(It is required that you devote at least one paragraph to option B)

In the last part of your paper you will need to write about what your plans will be if your original goal does not work out.  You should consider the following: if you aren’t accepted to your program of choice, or if you begin the program and realize that this type of work isn’t for you, if the classes become too difficult, etc.

This paper should be typed using a 12 point font, double spaced with indented paragraphs.  You are required to write a minimum of 500 words.  Label your paper with your name, date and course. You should support what you say with specific examples.  While this is not an English class, we are looking for evidence of thought, clarity of ideas and Standard English grammar and spelling.  This should help you to identify all of the things that you have learned on this topic.

Grading:   30 points possible

25 points for content

5 points for grammar and format