Health Science Fundamentals: Exploring

Career Pathways
Second Edition

Chapter 1
Introduction to Being
a Health Care Worker

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1.1 History of Health Care

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Early Beginnings
• Primitive human beings had no electricity, few tools, and
poor shelter.
• Their time was spent protecting themselves against
predators and finding food.
• They were superstitious and believed that illness and
disease were caused by supernatural spirits.
• In an attempt to heal, tribal doctors performed
ceremonies to exorcise evil spirits.

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Medicine in Ancient Times
• Egyptians were the earliest people to keep accurate health
records.
• The ancient Chinese, from as early as the Stone Age, were the
first to use primitive acupuncture therapies.
• To the ancient Greeks, medicine was considered an art and
not just a profession. Physicians had a noble and sacred
mission, often housed in sacred temples of healing.
• The Greeks found that some disease was caused by lack of
sanitation.
• The Romans were the first to organize medical care.

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The Dark Ages (a.d. 400–800) and the
Middle Ages (a.d. 800–1400)
• When the Roman Empire was conquered by the Huns
(nomads from the north), the study of medical science
stopped.
• Terrible epidemics caused millions of deaths during this
period.
• Bubonic plague (the black death) alone killed 60 million
people.
• Other uncontrolled diseases included smallpox,
diphtheria, syphilis, and tuberculosis.

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The Renaissance (a.d. 1350–1650)
• The Renaissance period saw the rebirth of learning.
• During this period, new scientific progress began.
• There were many developments during this period:
– The building of universities and medical schools for
research
– The search for new ideas about disease rather than the
unquestioning acceptance of disease as the will of God
– The acceptance of dissection of the body for study
– The development of the printing press and the publishing
of books

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The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
• The desire for learning that began during the Renaissance continued through
the next two centuries.
• Leonardo da Vinci studied and recorded the anatomy of the body.

• William Harvey used this knowledge to understand physiology, and he was

able to describe the circulation of blood and the pumping of the heart.
• Despite these advances, mass death from childbed fever, quackery, and
disease continued.

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The Eighteenth Century
• Many discoveries were made in the eighteenth century that required
a new way of teaching medicine.
• When a patient died, they dissected the body and were able to
observe the disease process.
• In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) became the first female
physician in the United States.
• René Laënnec (1781–1826) invented the stethoscope.
• Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) discovered the element oxygen.
• Edward Jenner (1749–1823) discovered a method of vaccination for
smallpox.

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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
(1 of 3)

• The nineteenth century was the beginning of the

organized advancement of medical science.
• Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865) identified the cause of
childbed fever (puerperal fever).
• Louis Pasteur (1822–1895), known as the “Father of
Microbiology,” discovered that tiny microorganisms
were everywhere.
• Joseph Lister (1827–1912) learned about Pasteur’s
discovery that microorganisms cause infection.
• Ernst von Bergmann (1836–1907) developed asepsis.
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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
(2 of 3)

• Robert Koch (1843–1910) discovered many disease-causing

organisms.
• Wilhelm Roentgen (1845–1923) discovered x-rays in 1895.
• Paul Ehrlich (1854–1915) discovered the effect of medicine on
disease-causing microorganisms.
• Gerhard Domagk (1895–1964) discovered sulfonamide
compounds.
• On 1892 in Russia, Dmitri Ivanovski discovered that some
diseases are caused by microorganisms that cannot be seen
with a microscope.

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The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
(3 of 3)

• Sigmund Freud (1836–1939) discovered the conscious and

unconscious parts of the mind.
• Sir Alexander Fleming (1881–1955) found that penicillin killed life-
threatening bacteria.
• Jonas Salk (1914–1995) discovered that a dead polio virus would
cause immunity to poliomyelitis.
• Albert Sabin (1906–1993) used a live polio virus vaccine.
• Francis Crick (1916–2004) and James Watson (born 1928)
discovered the molecular structure of DNA.
• Christian Barnard (1922–2001) performed the first successful heart
transplant in 1968.

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The Twenty-First Century
• Our society is discovering new approaches to medical care
every year.
• Patients/clients are being taught more about wellness, and
they are learning more about self-care.
• The word healthy no longer just refers to a person’s physical
health; It also refers to a person’s emotional, social, mental,
and spiritual wellness.
• Doctors are now often practicing telemedicine, which includes
consultative, diagnostic, and treatment services.
• We are living in a time of great advancement and new
understanding in medicine.
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The Advancement of Nursing
• In the nineteenth century, nursing became an important part of
medical care.
• In 1860, Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) attracted well-
educated, dedicated women to the Nightingale School of
Nursing.
• Clara Barton (1821–1912) served as a volunteer nurse in the
American Civil War.
• Lillian Wald (1867–1940) was an American public health nurse
and social reformer; She established the Henry Street
Settlement in New York to bring nursing care into the homes of
the poor.

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Patient Care Today
• Nursing care has changed significantly throughout the years.
• Today, unlicensed assistive caregivers are part of the patient
caregiver team.
• There are many titles and new job descriptions for these
positions, including clinical partner, service partner, nurse
extender, health care assistant, and patient care assistant.
• Because of the scientific and technological advances in health
care, the role of the nurse has evolved into one that requires
more technology skills.

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A Look Back and an Overview of
the Future (1 of 2)
• In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, medicine has
made great strides in improving health care including:
– Antibiotics for bacterial diseases
– Improved life expectancy
– Organ transplants
– Healthier hearts (reduced smoking, better diets)
– Dentistry without pain
– Noninvasive diagnosis with computers (CAT, MRI)
– End of smallpox
– Childhood immunizations

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A Look Back and an Overview of
the Future (2 of 2)
– New understanding of DNA and genetics
– Control of diabetes with the discovery of insulin
– Decline in polio.
– Medical machines, such as those for kidney dialysis
and the heart-lung machine
– Test tube babies
– HMOs as an alternative to private insurance
– Development and growth of hospice care

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1.2 Becoming a Health Care worker

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Health Care Education
• When you have decided to become a health professional, it is important to
choose a quality health care education program that fits your interests.
• Technical, community, or four-year colleges in your area may have accredited
health care programs.
• These programs offer a variety of degrees, including:
– Certification
– Associates degree
– Bachelor’s degree
– Master’s degree
– Doctoral degree, or doctorate

• Continuing education credits (CEUs) are required for maintenance of

certification or advancement in many positions.

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Appearance and Hygiene (1 of 4)
• The following are recommendations for maintaining a well-groomed,
professional appearance:

1. Dress according to your facility’s dress code, including uniform. This

usually means that clothes will be clean, neat, and in good repair.
They should not be of extreme fashion.

2. Keep jewelry to a minimum (e.g., watch, stud earrings, and a ring).

Jewelry can cause injury to the patient and the professional (if the
patient grabs on to it), as well as transmit germs. Body piercings do
not indicate a professional appearance, and can cause infections.

3. Wear your name badge every day, and make sure patients/clients
can clearly see it. People need to be able to relate to you, and to call
you if they need you. It also helps them identify who is assisting them.

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Appearance and Hygiene (2 of 4)
4. Wear clean and appropriate shoes every day.

5. Keep your hair clean.

6. Follow rules of good hygiene:

a. Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

b. Floss daily.

c. Use mouthwash or breath mints.

d. Bathe daily.

e. Use unscented deodorant. Remember that odors can be offensive

to patients who are ill and nauseated and some patients may be
allergic to perfumes and deodorant.

f. Wear your hair up and off your collar. You do not want your hair to
fall on a patient when working with them.

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Appearance and Hygiene (3 of 4)
• Female
7. Keep makeup conservative (e.g., no dark, heavy
makeup).
8. Do not use perfume or cologne, for the same
reason as you would use unscented deodorant.
9. Keep nails short, clean, and bare or only use light-
colored nail polish. Long nails can scratch a patient.
Polish can cover up dirt and can chip and
contaminate a patient’s wound or dressing.

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Appearance and Hygiene (4 of 4)
• Male
10. Do not use cologne or strong aftershave, for the
same reason as you would use unscented deodorant.
11. Keep beard or mustache neatly trimmed.
12. Shave daily. No stubble!

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Standards of Behavior (1 of 2)
• By practicing the following set of behaviors, you show respect
for patients and your fellow health care workers:
1. Maintain a calm, courteous manner.
2. Listen carefully when patients or other health care
workers are speaking with you.
3. Monitor patients appropriately, in order to ensure their
safety.
4. Perform tasks efficiently and carefully.
5. Do not gossip about patients or other health care
workers.

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Standards of Behavior (2 of 2)
6. Do not use coarse or offensive language.
7. Do not practice horseplay or other dangerous
behaviors.
8. Watch for hazardous situations and correct any
hazards that you see.
9. Follow all safety procedures that are required by
your health care facility.

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Personal Characteristics (1 of 2)
• Health care workers who exhibit the following personal
characteristics will be more involved and interested in the welfare of
their patients and in being a critical part of the medical team:
1. Empathy
2. Honesty
3. Dependability
4. Willingness to learn
5. Patience
6. Acceptance of criticism
7. Enthusiasm

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Personal Characteristics (2 of 2)
8. Self-motivation
9. Tact
10. Competence
11. Responsibility
12. Discretion
13. Team player

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Body Language (1 of 2)
• Below are guidelines on how to avoid negative body language
and send positive messages:
1. Make eye contact with patients as they enter the
health care facility. This will make them feel welcome.
2. Maintain eye contact as you converse with
patients. This will let them know you are interested in
hearing what they have to say.
3. Smile. Let people know that you’re friendly.
4. Keep an open stance. Crossed arms or hands
indicate an unwillingness to listen or a barrier in
communication.

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Body Language (2 of 2)
5. Give your full attention to one patient at a time,
even when you have multiple tasks (e.g., telephone,
other patients).
6. Keep your hands away from your mouth when
speaking. This makes it a more “open” exchange.
7. Sit or stand at eye level with patients as you
converse. Avoid standing over patients when conversing.

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Maintaining Confidentiality
• Maintaining the confidentiality of medical records is
critical.
• Medical records contain private information that must not
be shared with people who are not involved in the
patient’s health care.
• Each patient signs a confidentiality form before receiving
treatment.
• As a health care worker, you should learn your health
care facility’s policies and procedures related to
confidentiality.

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Copyright

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