Public Health Fundamentals

Public Health FundamentalsWhats it all about?? By Sharon Verdu, RN - CD Owens High School

Adapted from the NC Division of Health Services Regulation, this course is designed to assist future healthcare professionals to understand the unique challenges and strategies involved in the delivery of healthcare outside traditional facilities and without traditional supervision structure, and is responsive to overwhelming need for community based healthcare.

Public Health Fundamentals carries NC Division Health Services Regulation NAI registry endorsement when certain criteria are met.

Students who are listed on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry and successfully complete Public Health Fundamentals will receive a Home Care Aide endorsement on the Nurse Aide I listing. Students, who successfully complete Public Health Fundamentals and later (within two years) become listed on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry as a Nurse Aide I, may receive the NAI Home Care Aide endorsement. So whats it all about?

The course has 26 modules. Each module has a script, powerpoint and activities.Module 00Intro to Public HealthDescribe what public health entailsBetter describe their own communitys public health pictureUnderstand the role of public health in a communityList several careers in public health

A sample activity would be:What is Public Health?

Module 01Home Care

Understand the history of home care/home healthIdentify the different disciplines involved in home careUnderstand what the Nurse Aides role is in home careUnderstand supervision requirements for the Nurse Aide

A sample activity would be:Trading Card Activity

Module 02Legal and Ethical IssuesKnow the difference between legal and ethical issuesUnderstand the home care aides role with legal and ethical issues Be familiar with the code of ethicsUnderstand the patients rights and responsibilitiesUnderstand the home care aides rights and responsibilitiesBe able to give examples of ethical and unethical behaviors

A sample activity would be:Role Play Activity

Module 03Personal SafetyKnow his or her rights as an employeeBe more aware of unsanitary working conditionsTravel safely to/from patients homesAvoid any chemical hazardsFeel confident in a potentially dangerous situation

A sample activity would be:Personal Safety Activity-Crime Statistics (Workkeys Practice!)

Module 04Person Centered Care

Understand the concept/philosophy of person-centered care.Recognize key values and principles of person-centered care and thinking.Apply person-centered care in the delivery of daily care activities.

A sample activity would be:Personal Safety Activity-Crime Statistics (Workkeys Practice!)

Module 05CultureObtain an understanding about culture and its influence on: CaregiversPatients and familiesRelationships among home care aides, patients, and familiesClinical care Decision making at the end of life

A sample activity would be:Culture Research Assignment

Module 06Age Appropriate Care, Caregiver Burnout, Patient AbuseDescribe the normal growth and development of infants to preschoolersIdentify developmental tasks of middle childhood to adolescenceIdentify developmental tasks of the varying stages of adulthoodIdentify physical, psychological, and social effects of agingDescribe methods in which the aide can ensure age appropriate careA sample activity would be:Age Appropriate Quiz

Module 07Infection Control in the HomeDefine vocabulary words related to infection control.Describe the history of infection controlDiscuss the importance of infection control measures, such as hand washing and good personal hygiene.Demonstrate good hand washing technique.Recognize how germs spread.Describe each link in the chain of infection.Relate the chain of infection to the work of in home aides.Describe the signs and symptoms of infection to report to the nurse.Compare standard precautions and transmission-based precautions.A sample activity would be:Guest Speaker on Bag TechniqueMusic Video Bag Technique

Module 08Providing Care for the Patients EnvironmentDescribe the role of the home care aide in caring for the patients environmentUnderstand why a clean home is important to the overall health and well-being of the patientUnderstand basic guidelines for cleaning and home management tasksDescribe how to develop a cleaning routine/schedule

A sample activity would be:Cleaning Schedule in the Classroom

Module 09Time ManagementUnderstand the importance of time management and organizational skillsApply applicable organizational techniquesUnderstand how time management can impact patient careDemonstrate good time management and organizational decision making

A sample activity would be:Timing Tasks

Module 10Relationships with Patients and FamiliesRelate professionalism to the role of the home care aideDefine rapport and professional boundaries in relation to home care aidesList examples of how to develop and maintain professional boundariesGive examples of what constitutes crossing professional boundariesExplain why professional boundaries are sometimes crossedRecognize and report inappropriate behaviors and/or relationships

A sample activity would be:Appropriate or Inappropriate?

Module 11Communication

Discuss general guidelines of effective communicationExplain why communication is important in the day-to-day interactions with patients, families, and co-workersDescribe rules of reporting and recordingExplain the importance of ensuring confidential patient communicationA sample activity would be:Say What??

Module 12Emergency Preparedness

Describe the role of the home care aide in planning for a disasterDescribe the role of the home care aide in planning for inclement weatherDescribe the role of the home care aide in responding to an emergency in the homeDiscuss the role of the home care aide in fire safety in the home environment

A sample activity would be:Emergency Responders

Module 13Patient Safety

Identify common causes of home accidents and safety measures that could prevent home accidentsDescribe the role of the home care aide in fall prevention and responding to fallsDescribe equipment related accidents and the role of the home care aide in preventing those accidentsIdentify signs and symptoms of caregiver burnoutDescribe various forms of possible abuse and understand what to do in the case of suspected abuse of a patient

A sample activity would be:Home Safety Assessment

Module 14Nutrition

Understand the MyPyramid guide to healthy eatingIdentify positive and negative food safety practicesShop and prepare healthy meals for their patientsUnderstand the importance of hydrationUnderstand how to avoid dehydration in patients

A sample activity would be:Whats Cooking??

Module 15The Home Care Aides Role for Patients with Certain Common DiseasesIdentify sources of payment for home careUnderstand the cost savings of home care versus institutional careRecognize the most common diagnoses related to home careGain an understanding of the diseases and/or conditions most commonly seen in home careUnderstand the home care aides role in caring for patients with certain diseases or conditions

A sample activity would be: Round Robin PPt Poster Sessions

Module 16Restorative Care

Identify the role and members of the rehabilitation teamDiscuss the home care aides role in restorative careIdentify various adaptive equipment that may be used in the homeIdentify home modifications that may improve the quality of life or a disabled patient

A sample activity would be: Adaptive Equipment Scavenger Hunt

Module 17Alzheimers Disease and Other Types of Dementia

Discriminate among the terms: dementia, Alzheimers disease, forgetfulness, delirium and depressionDescribe symptoms that commonly occur with Alzheimers disease/dementia based on brain damage.Recognize behaviors that are indicative of dementia.Differentiate between 5 levels of ability and loss in people with dementia based on observable behaviors, language and actions.Demonstrate key components of a positive physical approach when working with a patient with dementia. Demonstrate a combination of cues: visual, verbal and tactile to assist a patient with dementia.

A sample activity would be: Physical Approach SkillsTeepa Snow

Module 18Pain Management

Understand the different types of pain a person can experienceIdentify symptoms or side effects of complex illnessDiscuss the various pain management techniques and optionsIdentify side effects of pain medicationsBetter understand the home care aides role in pain management

A sample activity would be: Pain Words

Module 19Mental Health

Identify the signs and symptoms of mental illnessUnderstand possible treatment options for mental illnessKnow the home care aides role in helping patients manage symptoms and illness

A sample activity would be: Common Phobias-Matching

Module 20Understanding Challenging Behaviors

Identify key concepts in agingUnderstand triggers to challenging behaviorsDiscuss good communication and problem solvingDefine the home care aides role in working with angry, combative, or agitated patients

A sample activity would be: What Makes YOU Angry?

Module 21Palliative Care

Understand the premise of palliative careDifferentiate between Hospice and palliative careDescribe who could benefit from palliative careUnderstand the home care aides role in palliative care

A sample activity would be: Imagine if

Module 22End of Life Care

State the concept of and criteria for hospice careDescribe the home care aides role in providing care to the dying patientDiscuss the home care aides role in working with the patients familyUnderstand how cultural diversity relates to end of life care

A sample activity would be: Celebration of Life and Death Activity

Module 23Stress Management for Home Health Aides

Understand why home care aides might experience stressIdentify possible symptoms of burnout or compassion fatigueList several stress reduction techniques

A sample activity would be: Professional Quality of Life Scale

Module 24The Role of the Home Care Aide in Medication Administration

Identify unique medication requirements of home care patientsExplain some physiological issues associated with home care patients and medicationsRecognize possible major side effects of medicationsUnderstand the home care aides role in medication administration

A sample activity would be: Can/Cannot Activity

Module 25Health Care Personnel Registry

Identify the process for initial nurse aide listings and required renewalsIdentify the additional nurse aide listings available within the DHSR RegistriesUnderstand the role of the Health Care Personnel RegistryIdentify types of allegations listed on the Heatlh Care Personnel RegistryIdentify additional credentials for which nurse aides may be eligible

A sample activity would be: Look Up Activity

Module 26(2 Modules)Entrepreneurship for Aspiring Healthcare Professionals

The first module is an introduction to entrepreneurship and the second module is a brief introduction to the business planning process and shows how you can see if a business is fit for you and the your community.

A sample activity would be: Smarties