Career Cornerstones: Establishing a Foundation for a Career in Healthcare

Reviewed by Jennifer Riggs, Professional Specialist, Saint Mary's College on 10/19/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

I teach a healthcare advising course to college freshmen and have been looking for a comprehensive resource for course development. This book is perfect! I primarily teach in the nursing program, but have students with a variety of healthcare interests in this class. I want to keep the topics broad and relevant. I appreciate the inclusion of topics such as professionalism, ethics and life management that are often referenced in healthcare courses, but not specifically taught. I also found the healthcare careers tables (listed within the chapter as well as in Appendix A) very helpful!

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I feel confident in the accuracy of the content. I have read through the book and I have not encountered any errors.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is up-to-date. Evidence-based and reliable sources are cited at the bottom of each individual content page and are hyperlinked for easy access. They are organized by subject topic. The content includes relevant, modern issues such as the use of social media in communicating with colleagues and clients. The content is extremely practical and can be applied to all healthcare specialties.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is clear and concise. The headings are helpful for organizing information and key terms are bolded, underlined and hyperlinked. The presentation is visually appealing, and the pages are easy to navigate. I appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the pages, as well as the casual tone of some sections, for the sake of teaching and relating to young, novice students.

Consistency rating: 5

Each book section and page are formatted in the same way. Students will know what to expect as they access each new chapter. Quality and quantity of information is also consistent across the book.

Modularity rating: 5

Each section is visually appealing and easy to follow. I believe that most students will greatly appreciate and benefit from the concise reading sections. Each topic could be a book in itself, yet the authors did a great job narrowing down the information and introducing the most important concepts. As a result, it is not overwhelming for students or for faculty who are using the book for curriculum development. For example, in the section about therapeutic communication, the authors chose to discuss empathy, sympathy and electronic and nonverbal communication from a long list of possible communication types and strategies. I find this helpful for the novice student.

I also appreciate how I can easily link relevant sections and assignments directly in the syllabus, course calendar and online learning platform. I can have the confidence that students are getting reliable information and students can directly access information in a way that better agrees with their preferred learning style. There are still a small number of students who prefer a hard copy of the book. I do not see where you can purchase a hard copy of this book, however you can print a 163-page pdf version of the book. Students can still access the online videos and activities via the website.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Each section begins with learning objectives and an introduction. Related topics are then presented in a logical order. Short, engaging videos and interactive activities (reflections, quizzes and crossword puzzles) are included throughout. These break up the content nicely, are entertaining and provide students with a way to relate the information to real life. My students will love them! Each section also has a ‘Chapter Resources’ box with links to ‘key takeaways’, ‘vocabulary’ and ‘self-tests’.

Interface rating: 5

I have not experienced any interface issues with this book. The book is available as an online book and an e-book and can be downloaded in pdf format.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Grammar is correct. Language is appropriate for the novice healthcare student.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book addresses cultural themes where appropriate. The section on Intercultural Communication encourages students to become familiar with how culture affects one's healthcare experience. One activity asks students to answer questions about their own cultures and then consider another’s culture. In the section about how to handle conflict, diversity within the healthcare workforce is discussed. Additionally, in the areas of professionalism and ethics, job skills such as teamwork, interprofessional collaboration, mutual respect and self-awareness are emphasized.

Comments

The book seems friendly (and the cover is cute, too!) I believe that students will be drawn to this book, and that it will assist them in making a decision about a future healthcare career.

Reviewed by Karen Steinhoff, Associate Professor, Massachusetts Bay Community College on 6/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The authors provide a solid foundations for entry level healthcare professionals. This will help students entering their clinical internships, prepare them for future employment and set them up with the basic skills and understanding to find success.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This book contains accurate content which any student will find helpful in navigating their clinical experiences.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The authors provide basic historical background on the foundational concepts appropriate for the healthcare students and entry level professional. This approach allows the reader to appreciate the value of the skills that should be developed and demonstrated in the clinical setting.

Clarity rating: 5

The informational charts, vocabulary charts, and self tests help bring the readers attention to key take aways. The content is well organized.

Consistency rating: 5

The writing remained in a style and level through out the text.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter can stand alone and inserted into a course or several course where most relevant to the students' progression in a college program.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is well organized and flows in a logical manner from one chapter to the next. It contained topics which fit well with one another. The use of videos, self test, and hyperlinks engages the reader.

Interface rating: 5

The hyperlinks, videos, and references were up to date and functional. The self tests and crossword puzzles are a great addition to cap off the unit.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is well written with no grammatical errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content is accessible and appropriate for a wide variety of readers.

Comments

As a Clinical Coordinator for a Radiologic Technology program, I felt this book can be utilized to facilitate the smooth entry into the clinical courses. I plan to incorporate the different units into the students' studies through out the program. From the first clinical course to the final clinical course there is something applicable to the students' development as a professional healthcare worker.

Reviewed by Amy Dore, Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 3/14/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text provides an overview of a wide range of topics that are essential for those who are starting their career in health care administration. The table of contents itself indicates that the book covers topics that are often challenging to teach, such as professionalism and life management, but are necessary for anyone working in the field of health care.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The authors use reliable scholarly sources and provide accurate references and attributions. There are no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors of notice in the text.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This content, published in 2023, offers easy adaptability and editing options to suit individual preferences. The book's presentation format is well-suited to the subject matter but can also be enhanced to incorporate emerging trends and up-to-date information in the healthcare industry. The authors extend an invitation to educators to personalize the textbook according to their requirements.

Clarity rating: 5

This book has a consistent and user-friendly format that makes it easy to navigate.

Consistency rating: 5

The book maintains a consistent approach throughout, ensuring reliability. The authors have structured each chapter uniformly, facilitating easy review. At the outset of each chapter, you can access learning objectives and resources. The graphs, tables, and charts are sound and easily identifiable. The conclusion of each chapter includes essential insights, a glossary, and an opportunity to assess understanding.

Modularity rating: 5

Whether utilizing the book in its original form or tailoring specific sections to suit the needs of a particular course, its intuitive design permits effortless adaptability. It is worth noting that the interactive content incorporated into each chapter necessitates online access to the book, as is comprehensively outlined at the outset. Students pursuing Healthcare Administration, Health Sciences, and Pre-Professional studies will undoubtedly discover the framework of this book to be a valuable asset in their academic pursuits.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is organized in a user-friendly and easy-to-follow manner, with appealing visual aids and important concepts and theories emphasized in bold font.

Interface rating: 4

This OER format was easy to navigate, keeping in mind the need for an internet connection to access hyperlinks when using the PDF or EPUB versions.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were noticed.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The content and topics covered in this textbook are suitable for a wide range of students with varying needs and levels of understanding. The authors have made a conscious effort to incorporate cultural aspects in the text, including the significance of behavior, communication, and self-awareness in different healthcare settings.

Comments

I am thrilled to have found this OER text. With 22 years of experience in teaching at the college level, I have learned that it can be difficult to find textbooks that focus specifically on healthcare administration or healthcare professionals. I believe that this textbook can be easily adopted as an introductory textbook for healthcare students who are just starting their academic journey, or as a supplement for students in their senior experience to emphasize the importance of ethics, communication, professionalism, and life management.

Reviewed by Melinda Oxenford, Assistant Professor, Clarke University on 1/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text gives an introduction that is broad enough to cover multiple careers in healthcare while also touching on the importance of crucial characteristics such as professionalism, ethics, and communication.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

No concerns were noted here.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book’s outlook on various health professions should be easy to update and links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most up-to-date information. As this book talks about foundational components, it should be relevant for years to come.

Clarity rating: 5

This book easy to understand as an introductory resource. The only section that seemed a bit confusing was the beginning of the ethics chapter.

Consistency rating: 5

This text was consistent in the terminology used and also pointed out the caution needed when utilizing profession specific terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

Most of the chapters stand easily on their own. They could also be looked at in many combinations depending on course or project needs.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Overall, organization was good. The ethics chapter, while important, did not seem to flow or fit in as smoothly as the other chapters.

Interface rating: 4

While the links to self-tests and online reviews did seem to be working, there were several references to articles and resources that did not appear to link directly to what was referenced.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical concerns were observed.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text did make several mentions of the need for cultural awareness. The information itself, as presented, was universal.

Comments

Due to the nature of the information presented and the ease of reading the material, this text could easily be used in an introductory course or to reinforce concepts in profession-specific programs.

Reviewed by Bob Goldenberg, Adjunct Faculty, Rogue Community College on 12/12/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

For perspective or active healthcare workers and providers, this is a meticulously written study of finding and maintaining a career in all aspects of allied healthcare.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The text is thoroughly researched and cited, attesting to the accuracy of the material. The reviewer found only one minor error where a link provided to an article brought up a page of articles, so some time was spent finding the article itself.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Content is current, having been licensed in 2023. The text appears to be set up well to edit for the constant changes in medical research and healthcare delivery. The authors invite educators to adapt the textbook to their needs.

Clarity rating: 5

Extremely well written, the content is set up linearly and follows logically. The writing is clear and professional.

Consistency rating: 5

The authors approach is consistent and cogent. The tone is steady throughout, making the presentation quite accessible.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter covers an area unto itself, which provides adaptability to educators. The textbook targets pre-professionals, healthcare administrators, and health scientists. However, the academic approach would have broad appeal to anyone involved in providing healthcare. As mentioned, the text can be customized to fit a particular audience.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is very well written and organized. The writing flows and clearly communicates the material.

Interface rating: 5

In the same manner as other OER textbooks I have experience with, the content is extensively linked internally and externally providing straightforward navigation.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The writing is extremely professional with no grammatical errors at all in the entire textbook. The reviewer has a strong background in proofreading and editing; consequently, I very much appreciate the accuracy, thoroughness, and ability of the authors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This textbook will have broad appeal to any human interested in learning about careers in healthcare and is written inclusively.

Comments

As a reviewer, I feel this textbook addresses a need in educating future healthcare workers. Exhaustively researched and cited, the textbook is packed with information for both undergraduate and graduate students in an academic manner. The content specifically targets those who are seeking work in healthcare as providers, scientists, and related medical and support services occupations. However, all persons seeking occupations in allied healthcare will benefit from this well-written and organized textbook. The text also works as a reference to guide students in obtaining and advancing future careers in any medical arena.