HPRS 1204 - Basic Health Profession Skills HPRS1204L Course Syllabus

HPRS 1204:

Description

A study of the concepts that serve as the foundation for health profession courses, including client care and safety issues, basic client monitoring, and health documentation methods.

Semester Offered
Fall and Spring semesters
Credits 2 Lecture Hours 2 Lab Hours 1
Extended Hours
0
Contact Hours
48
State Approval Code
51.0000
Instructor Name
Mary Miller
Semester/Year
Spring 2026
Meeting Time and Location
M-Th 3rd or 6th period. CTE Room 816
Alternate Operations During Campus Closure

In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.

Student Basic Needs

Unexpected circumstances may arise, but Panola College offers various resources to support students. If you need mental health services or are facing challenges with transportation, affording class materials and supplies, or accessing food regularly—issues that may impact your class performance—please visit panola.edu/resources.

Class Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.

Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date. 

When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences: 

Fall or spring semesters: 

3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences

2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences

1 class meeting per week -  2 absences

The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.

Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.  

Pregnant/Parenting Policy

Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Course Policy

Students may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools as a research resource to gather information, generate ideas, or explore topics. AI tools must not be used to complete assignments, write papers, or submit work on behalf of the student. All submitted work must reflect the student’s own understanding and effort, and any information obtained through AI must be appropriately cited.

Instructional Goals and Purposes

The purpose of this course is to apply concepts that serve as a foundation for health profession courses, comply with national, state, and local regulatory agencies in healthcare professions, learn appropriate response to basic medical emergencies, perform basic client monitoring skills, and select appropriate documentation in the healthcare field.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Comply with national, state, and local regulatory agencies for healthcare professions in various healthcare facilities and environments.
  2. Recognize and respond appropriately to basic medical emergencies.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to perform basic client monitoring skills accurately and safely.
  4. Report appropriate documentation in various healthcare environments.
Specific Course Objectives (includes SCANS)

After studying all materials and resources presented in the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Comply with national, state, and local regulatory agencies in various healthcare facilities and environments for various healthcare professions. (SCANS 1; a; i, ii, iv, v, b; ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, v, 2; a; i, ii, iii, b; i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, d; i, ii, iii, e; i, ii)
  2. Demonstrate national, state, and local regulatory agencies guideline compliance for protection of the patient and healthcare provider. (SCANS 1; a; i, ii, iii, iv, v, b; ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, v, 2; a; i, ii, iii, b; i, iii, iv,vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, d; i, ii, iii, e; i, ii, iii)
  3. Demonstrate appropriate response to basic medical emergencies. (SCANS 1; a; i, ii, iii, iv, v, b; i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, iii, iv, v, 2; a; i, ii, iii, b; i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, d; i, ii, iii, e; i, ii, iii)
  4. Accurately perform basic care and monitoring of clients. (SCANS 1; a; i, ii, iii, iv, v, b; i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, v, 2; a; i, iii, b; i, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, d; i, ii, iii, e; i, ii, iii)
  5. Identify appropriate documentation and use of documentation in health care using various formats including electronic health records. (SCANS 1; a; i, ii, iii, iv, v, b; i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iv, v, 2; a; i, ii, iii, b; i, iii, iv, v, vi, c; i, ii, iii, iv, d; i, ii, iii, e; i, ii, iii)
Course Content

A general description of lecture/discussion topics included in this course is listed in the Learning Outcomes / Specific Course Objectives sections of this syllabus.

Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:

  1. Identify and describe the structure of the health care system, major health care professions, and the roles and responsibilities of health care team members within various care settings.
  2. Apply infection control principles and universal precautions to prevent the transmission of disease and ensure a safe health care environment.
  3. Demonstrate proper body mechanics to safely perform health care tasks and reduce the risk of injury to self and others.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to assess emergency situations and implement appropriate first aid interventions in a safe and timely manner.
  5. Describe the principles of meeting clients’ basic nutrition and elimination needs and explain strategies to promote safety, comfort, and overall health.
  6. Accurately collect, record, and report clients’ vital signs in accordance with established clinical procedures.
  7. Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to interact respectfully and professionally with clients, families, and health care team members.
  8. Apply legal and ethical principles to guide professional behavior and decision-making in health care settings.

Students in all sections of this course will be required to:

  1. Complete required reading and posted assignments on Canvas prior to the start of the scheduled class or skills lab setting.
  2. Attend and participate in all classroom, simulation, and/or skills lab activities.
  3. Bring all required textbooks and resources to the lab to complete learning activities.
  4. The student is required to complete all assigned readings, assigned audiovisuals, and assigned computer instruction prior to the assigned lab class.
  5. Follow class attendance policy and student policies as outlined in the Panola College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery

This course is delivered in a hybrid format that combines regularly scheduled face-to-face instruction with online learning activities. Weekly in-person sessions focus on skills development, competency-based practice, and application of course concepts. Online components support and extend learning through Canvas-based instruction, assessments, and academic engagement. Instructional strategies include lecture, guided discussion, case-based learning, computer-assisted instruction, independent study, instructional media, group activities, role-playing exercises, and the use of approved digital resources to ensure measurable student learning outcomes and substantive interaction.

Course Grade

The grading scale for this course is as follows:

90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
< 60 = F

Major Assignments/Assessments

The following items are assigned and assessed during the semester and used to calculate the student's final grade.
Assignments

All assignments will be posted on Canvas and are expected to be completed and submitted by the specified due dates. Skills Lab check-offs will be conducted on campus during the scheduled lab sessions. Check-off criteria and skill requirements will be provided on the Canvas course site.

Assessments
  • 4 Module Exams 65%
  • Comprehensive final exam 10%
  • Skills check offs 20%
  • Canvas and classroom assignments 5%
Texts Materials, and Supplies
  • Diversified Health Occupations, 7th edition*, ISBN 978-1418030216 Simmers, Louise: Author
Required Readings
  • All required readings and recommended readings will be posted on the Canvas course
Other
  • Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
  • For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
  • For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
  • The Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office at Panola College provides and facilitates support services and accommodations for students with disabilities. The A&DS office works under the federal guidelines included in Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act.  Please contact the Accommodations & Disability Support (A&DS) Office located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/disabilitysupport for more information.
  • Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
  • Student Handbook: https://www.panola.edu/ (located on at the bottom under student)
SCANS Criteria
  1. Foundation skills are defined in three areas: basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities.
    1. Basic Skills: A worker must read, write, perform arithmetic and mathematical operations, listen, and speak effectively. These skills include:
      1. Reading: locate, understand, and interpret written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, graphs, and schedules.
      2. Writing: communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing, and create documents such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts.
      3. Arithmetic and Mathematical Operations: perform basic computations and approach practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.
      4. Listening: receive, attend to, interpret, and respond to verbal messages and other cues.
      5. Speaking: Organize ideas and communicate orally.
    2. Thinking Skills: A worker must think creatively, make decisions, solve problems, visualize, know how to learn, and reason effectively. These skills include:
      1. Creative Thinking: generate new ideas.
      2. Decision Making: specify goals and constraints, generate alternatives, consider risks, and evaluate and choose the best alternative.
      3. Problem Solving: recognize problems and devise and implement plan of action.
      4. Visualize ("Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye"): organize and process symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information.
      5. Knowing How to Learn: use efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
      6. Reasoning: discover a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects and apply it when solving a problem.
    3. Personal Qualities: A worker must display responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self management, integrity, and honesty.
      1. Responsibility: exert a high level of effort and persevere toward goal attainment.
      2. Self-Esteem: believe in one's own self-worth and maintain a positive view of oneself.
      3. Sociability: demonstrate understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in group settings.
      4. Self-Management: assess oneself accurately, set personal goals, monitor progress, and exhibit self-control.
      5. Integrity and Honesty: choose ethical courses of action.
  2. Workplace competencies are defined in five areas: resources, interpersonal skills, information, systems, and technology.
    1. Resources: A worker must identify, organize, plan, and allocate resources effectively.
      1. Time: select goal-relevant activities, rank them, allocate time, and prepare and follow schedules.
      2. Money: Use or prepare budgets, make forecasts, keep records, and make adjustments to meet objectives.
      3. Material and Facilities: Acquire, store, allocate, and use materials or space efficiently. Examples: construct a decision timeline chart; use computer software to plan a project; prepare a budget; conduct a cost/benefits analysis; design an RFP process; write a job description; develop a staffing plan.
    2. Interpersonal Skills: A worker must work with others effectively.
      1. Participate as a Member of a Team: contribute to group effort.
      2. Teach Others New Skills.
      3. Serve Clients/Customers: work to satisfy customer's expectations.
      4. Exercise Leadership: communicate ideas to justify position, persuade and convince others, responsibly challenge existing procedures and policies.
      5. Negotiate: work toward agreements involving exchange of resources, resolve divergent interests.
      6. Work with Diversity: work well with men and women from diverse backgrounds. Examples: collaborate with a group member to solve a problem; work through a group conflict situation, train a colleague; deal with a dissatisfied customer in person; select and use appropriate leadership styles; use effective delegation techniques; conduct an individual or team negotiation; demonstrate an understanding of how people from different cultural backgrounds might behave in various situations.
    3. Information: A worker must be able to acquire and use information.
      1. Acquire and Evaluate Information.
      2. Organize and Maintain Information.
      3. Interpret and Communicate Information.
      4. Use Computers to Process Information. Examples: research and collect data from various sources; develop a form to collect data; develop an inventory record-keeping system; produce a report using graphics; make an oral presentation using various media; use on-line computer databases to research a report; use a computer spreadsheet to develop a budget.
    4. Systems: A worker must understand complex interrelationships.
      1. Understand Systems: know how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operate effectively with them.
      2. Monitor and Correct Performance: distinguish trends, predict impacts on system operations, diagnose deviations in systems' performance and correct malfunctions.
      3. Improve or Design Systems: suggest modifications to existing systems and develop new or alternative systems to improve performance. Examples: draw and interpret an organizational chart; develop a monitoring process; choose a situation needing improvement, break it down, examine it, propose an improvement, and implement it.
    5. Technology: A worker must be able to work with a variety of technologies.
      1. Select Technology: choose procedures, tools or equipment including computers and related technologies.
      2. Apply Technologies to Task: understand overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment.
      3. Maintain and Troubleshoot Equipment: Prevent, identify, or solve problems with equipment, including computers and other technologies. Examples: read equipment descriptions and technical specifications to select equipment to meet needs; set up and assemble appropriate equipment from instructions; read and follow directions for troubleshooting and repairing equipment.