Career development plan
I started building up my career four years ago with a BA in Health and Social Care and later proceeded to further pursue an MA in public health. I gained a great interest to study public health after completing my coursework in people, places and inequalities and Health Promotion. The coursework is concerned with the general well-being of the community and public health. During my career development, I have worked with different types and groups of people from different departments and agencies. I have also worked as a clinic support worker set up in an NHS setting. I intend to pursue advanced career development in healthcare governance by gathering experience and acquiring skills such as leadership, management, diplomacy and planning of tasks.
For my career development plan, there are some skills that I need to improve on. Some of these skills include leadership skills and time management. My intention is to work with management in the health promotion sector. The skills I currently possess are not adequate for me to sufficiently carry out this role. Therefore, I intend to volunteer my services to agencies which are willing to offer me a managerial role. During my stay, I will work with others in managerial positions to improve my leadership skills. I also intend to attend seminars in management and health promotion because I am an individual who is committed to career development. I intend to continue pursuing further education in other fields which are related to governance in health care. Communication skills, both written and spoken, are essential for my career development because, in healthcare governance, report writing and presentation of proposals are essential for career growth.
Educational programs on a continuous basis will offer me the required managerial skills which are essential in the public healthcare sector, and those which will come in handy for specific organizations. As part of my career development plan, I intend to interact with a lot of information and professionals in healthcare governance. This includes reading as many articles as possible on health care. The articles are widely available on magazines, trade publications, local newspapers, national magazines and university libraries. People skills will enable me to manage, motivate and negotiate with other stakeholders in the healthcare sector. I also require acquiring quantitative skills such as financial strategies which also enable a manager to interpret data. Keeping track of changes in the healthcare sector will also ensure that I keep track of new opportunities in healthcare governance (Public Health Degrees, 2016). Learning more about health care providers will, in turn, keep me informed on developments and changes in the healthcare sector. This information can be acquired through timely publications which are made by various healthcare providers.
In the future, I plan to specialize in community health. Community health is a more holistic approach to the healthcare sector. The field is concerned with factors which are likely to influence the health of populations across the world, and it is more concerned with fields such as sociology, biology and political science (Public Health Degrees, 2016). Common roles in this profession include public health administration and community health among others. Since I cannot embark on a managerial position right away, I intend to involve myself in activities which will improve my resume.
Among these activities include further education on which I will concentrate on skills which I am yet to acquire fully, and which are paramount to the execution of my career development plan. Time management and multitasking require training on planning and management of tasks. Planning and management of tasks are, therefore, a course that I intend to pursue after the completion of my degree while I am building experience to my resume. Another course I wish to pursue is leadership and team management. Leadership will arm me with the necessary leadership skills as well as managerial skills to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness in the health care organization. Diplomacy is another skill that is relevant to a successful career in public health. In the public healthcare sector, dealing with difficult situations is a daily routine and so a good practitioner needs to adopt unquestionable diplomatic approach in the discharge of his duties.
Learning, understanding and personal development
The MA in public health has enabled me to acquire a number of essential skills for my whole career development. During the past four years, I have served in different healthcare settings and interacted with diverse personalities, an experience which has assisted me to build skills crucial to governance in the healthcare sector. One of these skills is organizational skills. During my practice, I have had to plan my day effectively to ensure that I accomplish my roles and offer counsel to those in need of it. Working in a hospital demands a lot of organization to ensure that an individual is able to take care of others in the hospital. Apart from giving a personalized care to the clients at the hospital, paperwork is another duty that I have to accomplish especially if I’m working in a hospital ward.
Paying high attention to detail is another important skill that I have acquired in my education and professional experience. The importance of the skills was evidenced in class, and in the field due to the sensitivity of the information handled and the nature of work undertaken in the health sector; a slight loss of focus could lead to lethal consequences. School contributes to the establishment of the skill through multiple assignments on coursework which require extensive and qualitative research. Taking notes and reading are other activities that have greatly enabled me to master the skill of paying attention to detail.
Technology use is another crucial skill that I have acquired. In the field, we are required to record vital information on computers and other technological devices. Both the hospital and the school are formal workplaces which have assisted in building my skills in the application of technology. Due to these work environments, I am now familiar with computer programs such as excel, word processor and statistical applications which are essential to my career development.
Working in the hospital environment has increased my ability to remain calm even under tense moments. The healthcare sector is associated with pressure which arises from stakeholders such as patients, colleagues, relatives, daily routines and the organizational structure. In the healthcare sector, it is important to remain calm under all circumstances because it might mean the difference in the outcome of a stressful situation in the healthcare sector. Some individuals in the healthcare sector are rather vulnerable, and it is important that they are handled in a calm and patient manner.
Confidence is another useful personal skill that I have acquired during the course work. The confidence arises from the extensive healthcare knowledge that I have acquired during the course work. Another source of confidence is the deep familiarity with scenarios that are common in the healthcare sector. In healthcare governance, confidence is essential as it enables one to relate effectively with stakeholders and other agencies in the sector. In the NHS setting, I had to interact with nurses, doctors, janitors, physiotherapists and social workers. This skill has taught me the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with other departments and agencies in the healthcare sector.
There are number of skills that I have learnt of their importance in my career development, even though I’m yet to fully acquire them. The skills include dealing with diplomatic situations with confidence and leadership skills. In the healthcare sector, some scenarios turn into dilemmas which need expertise to handle effectively. Diplomatic skills are therefore important when dealing with such situations. The situations require assertiveness to ensure that they are effectively dealt with, and with the confidence that is required. Leadership skills are also vital in a career in healthcare governance. This skill is not part of the MA public health, and therefore, I wish to pursue a course in management and leadership after the completion of my MA public health. Another skill that I am yet to fully acquire is time management and multitasking. Managing multiple tasks in an efficient and timely manner has proven to be a major challenge. The healthcare sector is very demanding and requires the devotion of long periods working at the healthcare facility. To achieve this, I will need training on effective managing and planning of tasks.
The most important knowledge acquired from the course is the importance of public health. Public health is essential for the survival and better life for human beings. Public health initiatives such as vaccination, public healthcare initiatives, and family planning and motor vehicle safety laws among others are responsible for the health of human beings (University of Pittsburgh, 2016). The field of public health is constantly evolving to satisfy the needs of the population and the healthcare sector. The public healthcare sector addresses issues which affect the health of human beings across the world and this understanding inspires me to transform the healthcare sector, both locally and internationally. The course broadens one’s thinking to go beyond the personalized healthcare, and to make considerations into the future of the sector through governance and development of policies in the sector.
The program is broad and studies multiple disciplines in the healthcare sector which include health communications, behavioral health and community health. A master’s degree in public health is the highest level of education that can be achieved by a public health student. Completion of this course places one in an advantageous position to pursue management in public health. After the addition of experience to the resume, it becomes easier for an individual with a master’s degree to rise to a managerial position in the healthcare sector. This can be achieved by offering voluntary services to organizations in need of such services.
Minimizing the cost of healthcare is one of the leading concerns by management in the health sector. A manager should be able to ensure the delivery of high quality services which increases the cost-effectiveness of the facility (Public Health Degrees, 2016). The course concerns itself with a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare services which offers individuals the knowledge and skills needed by other professionals in the healthcare sector. These skills are transferrable and increase the effectiveness of managers in the healthcare sector. The course also concerns itself with governance and the policy making process. These skills are important for individuals with a vision to improve the healthcare sector through interventions and healthcare policies. Theories are taught in class and further integrated into practice when students interact in multidisciplinary groups.
Important concepts for Interdisciplinary public health
There are a number of important concepts in interdisciplinary public health. The program enables individuals to pursue courses in interdisciplinary degrees which deepen their knowledge in their desired career paths. The course deals with three interconnected sections; public health and health improvement policy and governance, development of skills crucial to practice in a multidisciplinary field, and reflective practice and integrative theories. The program enables individuals to explore current issues in the healthcare sector.
Public health and health improvement, and policy and governance within organizational settings is a concept concerned with both domestic and international health issues. The program addresses theoretical perspectives which are relevant to both international and domestic healthcare sectors. The program addresses health related policies in developed, developing and transitional companies. The program also addresses the influence of social, economic and political factors on domestic and international governance and policy in the healthcare sector. It also analyses opposing theoretical and political perspectives on health policy thus enabling the learner to understand the various players and agencies involved in the development of healthcare policy. The program also addresses how public health is influenced by power. The influence of the informal and formal environment in the healthcare sector is also addressed.
Public health care is clearly defined, and the role of the sector in solving health issues outlined. The significance of public healthcare sector is addressed from various levels. The history of this sector and its current state is studied, and the role of power-holders in the state of the public health sector. Theories which are relevant to the future of the sector are also studied, as well as strategies that can be used to implement these theories. General theories in the healthcare sector are studied, as well as strategies through which the sector can be protected.
Development of skills and knowledge pertinent to professional practice in a multidisciplinary approach is another concept in the interdisciplinary approach. The learner acquires the knowledge and skills which are used by other professionals in public health. Their roles and how to remain effective is also part of the knowledge and skills acquired by the learner. The learner is able to identify and master concepts which are crucial to interdisciplinary practice in the public healthcare sector. Transferrable skills are also crucial when addressing issues in the healthcare sector.
The learner is also able to understand the importance of attitudes; both professional and lay opinions, ethics, health development and health improvement. The learner also understands the general prejudices and attitudes directed to the sector, and how they are relevant to multidisciplinary practice in the healthcare sector. The program also addresses how health improvement and development concerns itself with fulfilling the objectives of the public healthcare sector. Theories of public health techniques have played a vital role when developing health interventions in the past. Such techniques are used to evaluate interventions in the healthcare sector such as health needs assessment, tackling health inequalities, and health impact assessment among others. The program also offers individuals with experience by interacting with a wide range of individuals in multidisciplinary practice in groups.
Practice theories and how to integrate these theories into practice is another concept taught in this program. After students have acquired skills in class, they are exposed to the practical world where they learn how to integrate these theories into real practice. The learner is also offered the opportunity to review the role of health professionals in various organizations. Individuals are also able to acquire skills that enhance their professional skills in the multidisciplinary field. The individuals are able to open themselves up to professional development in the future and gain knowledge on competent practice by studying the roles and skills required by other professional in the healthcare sector. The individual is also able to understand how health policy is developed.
Teamwork is an important concept in the interdisciplinary public health care sector. The need for these skills has been caused by the changing dynamics in the healthcare sector. The population is characterized by a larger aging section and a larger portion is suffering from chronic diseases which require specialized healthcare services. The complex skills acquired in class are required to deal with the complex needs of patients (Nancarrow, et al., 2013). Specialization of healthcare professionals and fragmentation of interdisciplinary skills ensures that the healthcare sector is not restricted to one healthcare professional to accomplish all the roles. Many countries are emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary teamwork, as well as the development of shared learning. Continuity in healthcare development is another concept that is aligned with the future of the healthcare sector. To achieve these goals, objectives and the organizational culture in the public sector have to evolve to accommodate these changes.
In conclusion, a career development in public health requires both educational qualifications, skills, and experience. Public health concerns itself with the health and wellbeing of the population. The coursework in MA public health deals with a broader perspective in the healthcare sector which goes beyond a personalized healthcare sector, and addresses governance and policy making in both domestic and international healthcare sectors. Governance in the healthcare sector requires skills such as management, leadership, diplomacy and multitasking. The healthcare sector involves a routine that is highly stressful engagements which require one to be calm at all times. Organization skills, people skills, and management skills are skills crucial to effective governance in the healthcare sector. The interdisciplinary approach enables professionals to understand the role of other professionals in the healthcare sector and increase effectivity in the healthcare sector.
References
Nancarrow, S. A. et al., 2013. Ten principles of good interdisciplinary teamwork. National Center for Biotechnology Information, Volume 11.
Public Health Degrees, 2016. Public Health Career Guide. [Online] Available at: http://www.publichealthdegrees.org/careers-for-students [Accessed one September 2016].
