Kettering College - Pacemaker Yearbook (Kettering, OH)

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Medical assisting is a program which qualifies its students to per- form all routine clinical and business functions in a doctors office. In the first year a broad basis from which the M.A. must function is presented. This includes most of the general education requirements, basic sciences and an introduction in- to patient care. Considerable skill is obtained in typing and medical transcription during the year. Building on the first year the second year courses provide practical application with the use of many laboratory courses. Office ad- ministration is taught in courses such as accounting, office practice and medical office management. An understanding of the diseases, com- monly seen in the doctors office and the treatment of these diseases comes through courses such as survey of medicine, pharmacology, physical ex- aminiation and introduction to med. laboratory. Upon satisfactory completion the student may sit for the certification exam. This year the M.A. program will graduate their last class. The reason for this is that too many doctors are willing to hi re M.A.’s with only technical skills who have three to six months training rather than the broader education of a two-year col- lege degree.

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In the first year the student is enrolled in basic skills classes. The first semester consists of four units: nursing techniques, patient therapeutics, interpersonal rela- tionships and patient assessment. During these classes the student does actual clinical work in the hospital. Along with the four units, the student nurse also learns about first aid, nutrition and safety. Classes in the second semester consist of five rotations: surgical nursing, geriatrics, orthopedics and psychiatric nursing. These five rotations challenge the freshmen to put all their basic knowledge to work. During the week the student spends at least eight hours in the hospital environment and four hours in the classroom. At the end of the first year three National League of Nursing exams are taken and if passed the freshman progresses to the senior level. The second year of nursing is divided into three sections: Mental-physical, Maternal and pediatrics. Mental-physical nurs- ing focuses on patient dise- quilibrium. Here the student nurse has a growing responsibility to make patient evaluations a part of their care and patient assessment becomes a main focus. Maternal nursing is another division in the second year. This course focuses on the “family- oriented’? maternity nursing. Throughout this class students at- tend childbirth classes and learn about care of the expectant mother through her delivery. The third field of studies is pediatrics. Pediatrics focuses on children who are ill and deals with separation from their parents. During this course the student nurse has the opportunity to do clinical work at Childrens’ Medical Center. Two other classes taken during the senior year are phar- macology and community health. The last semester of the senior year is spent on advanced nursing. This course prepares the student for meeting their responsibilities in the working world.