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Week 3: Healing Hands — Nursing Careers

2nd Six Weeks | Health Science Cluster | 5 class periods (50 min each)

Lesson Objective

Students explore the Health Science career cluster through Hats & Ladders, investigate the nursing career ladder from CNA to Nurse Practitioner, build a micro:bit vital signs monitor prototype, and compare education pathways and salaries across nursing levels using BLS and H&L data.

Demonstration of Learning

"I can describe the nursing career ladder, explain the education required at each level, compare salaries from CNA to Nurse Practitioner, and build a micro:bit vital signs monitor that simulates how nurses use technology in patient care."

TEKS Alignment

  • d(1)(A): Analyze and discuss assessment results (Day 5 Xello Learning Styles).
  • d(1)(B): Explore and describe the CTE career clusters (Day 1).
  • d(1)(C): Identify various career opportunities within the Health Science cluster (Days 1-5).
  • d(2)(A): Research and describe applicable academic, technical, certification, and training requirements (Day 2).
  • d(2)(B): Use available resources to research and evaluate educational and training options (Day 2).
  • d(5)(E): Use resources to compare salaries of at least three careers in the student's interest area (Day 2).

Materials Needed

Career Connection

Nursing is one of the most in-demand and rewarding career fields in America. The DFW metroplex has a documented nursing shortage, meaning job opportunities are abundant for qualified candidates at every level. What makes nursing unique is the career LADDER: students can enter as a CNA with just 4-12 weeks of training, then climb through LVN, RN, and Nurse Practitioner. Each step up means more education, more responsibility, and more salary. This visible, climbable structure makes nursing especially appealing to students who want a clear pathway with options to grow.

What is Happening at Irving ISD? Nursing Science at Singley Academy, leads to Patient Care Technician and Phlebotomy certifications. Students who complete the pathway in high school can enter the workforce immediately or use the credentials as a stepping stone toward LVN or RN programs.

Vocabulary

  • CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant): An entry-level healthcare worker who assists patients with daily activities. Requires a 4-12 week certification program.
  • LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse): A nurse who provides basic nursing care under the supervision of an RN or doctor. Requires about 1 year of training.
  • RN (Registered Nurse): A nurse who provides and coordinates patient care. Requires an associate degree (ADN, ~2 years) or bachelor's degree (BSN, ~4 years) in nursing.
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP): An advanced practice nurse who can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and manage patient care independently. Requires a master's or doctoral degree (~6-8 years total after high school).
  • Career Ladder: A progression of jobs within a field where each step requires more education and offers higher pay and responsibility.
  • Vital Signs: Measurements of the body's most basic functions, heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure, that nurses monitor to assess patient health.

Bridge to Theory (Hats & Ladders)

The H&L workbook (Ch 9: Health Science, pp. 138-148) opens with descriptions of five Health Science pathways: Exercise Science / Wellness and Restoration, Nursing Science, Health Informatics, Diagnostic & Therapeutic Services, and Biomedical Science. The chapter's "Making Connections" activity asks students to discuss a healthcare tool (thermometer, X-ray, blood pressure monitor): which is the perfect entry to this week's micro:bit vital signs project. The Hat Research template (Ch 9, p. 148) is the structured format for documenting the nursing careers students explore. The H&L app provides localized DFW salary and demand data that powers the salary comparison and the career-ladder analysis.

IISD Instructional Strategies

  • Chunking: The Nursing Career Ladder is built one level per day across Days 1-2: CNA + LVN on Day 1, RN + NP on Day 2, full salary comparison on Day 2.
  • Stop and Jot: During the Health Science cluster tour video, students pause twice to write surprises and questions about healthcare careers.
  • Modeling: Teacher demonstrates the first MakeCode block (variable + button A press) on the projector before students begin building their vital signs monitor.
  • Active Monitoring: During MakeCode programming, the teacher circulates with a 3-checkpoint rubric (Button A works, Button B works, LED animation displays correctly).

Week at a Glance

Day Focus Key Activities Deliverable
1 Health Science Cluster + CNA H&L Ch 9 cluster tour, Making Connections, begin Hat Research, fill CNA + LVN ladder rows Hat Research template (1 nursing career) + 2 of 4 ladder rows
2 Climbing the Nursing Ladder Complete RN + NP rows, salary analysis, BLS verification Nursing Career Ladder worksheet (all 4 rows complete)
3 Vital Signs Monitor. Build micro:bit + MakeCode: program Button A heart rate + Button B temperature with LED display Working MakeCode program (Button A + B both display vital signs)
4 Vital Signs Monitor. Test + Present Add alarm features, optional LEGO housing, team presentations Demo of working monitor + presentation tying to nursing career
5 Reflection + Xello + eDynamic Xello Learning Styles, eDynamic 4.2 Part 2, H&L favorites finalization Updated Climber Profile + Xello Learning Styles result + reflection

Formative Assessment

  • Hat Research + Comparison Matrix exit ticket (CNA vs. LVN). Day 1, d(1)(B), d(1)(C)
  • Nursing Career Ladder worksheet + Ranked Justification exit ticket (4 levels by best balance). Day 2, d(2)(A), d(2)(B), d(5)(E)
  • MakeCode vital signs monitor + Decision Tree exit ticket (PCT role, heart rate 130 scenario, branch on patient response). Day 3, d(1)(C)
  • Monitor refinement + team demos + Mini-Case exit ticket (Ms. Alvarez morning vital check, which nursing role). Day 4, d(1)(C)
  • Xello Learning Styles + eDynamic 4.2 Part 2 + H&L Favorites + Concept Map exit ticket (career + learning style + RIASEC + Singley pathway fit). Day 5, d(1)(A), d(1)(C)

Summative Assessment

Nursing Career Ladder Analysis + Vital Signs Monitor Demo (Days 4-5): Students submit (1) the completed Nursing Career Ladder worksheet showing education time, cost estimate, and DFW salary for all 4 levels, AND (2) demo their micro:bit vital signs monitor + a 1-minute oral explanation tying the project to a specific nursing career. Scored on: salary comparison accuracy (d(5)(E)), education pathway knowledge (d(2)(A), d(2)(B)), and career-to-tech connection (d(1)(C)).

Differentiation

Scaffolded Learning

  • Pre-filled career ladder worksheet with the CNA level completed as a model
  • MakeCode starter file with one variable and one button block already built
  • Pair work option for MakeCode, one student codes, the other reads the workbook instructions aloud
  • BLS data finder cheat sheet showing exactly which page and section to read for each nursing career

Extensions

  • Research specialized nursing careers (flight nurse, nurse anesthetist, forensic nurse, oncology nurse) and add them to the career ladder as a 5th and 6th level
  • Add a third vital sign to the micro:bit monitor (respiration rate using the accelerometer)
  • Calculate the total cost of education for each nursing level (tuition × years) and find the "break-even point" where extra education starts paying off
  • Build a 4-year plan for the Singley Academy Nursing Science pathway

ELL Language Support

  • Pre-teach: Nurse = Enfermera/o, Heart Rate = Frecuencia Cardíaca, Temperature = Temperatura, Patient = Paciente, Career Ladder = Escalera de Carrera, Certification = Certificación
  • Bilingual career ladder worksheet with Spanish column headers
  • Visual MakeCode guide with screenshots alongside text instructions
  • Pair ESL students with bilingual peers during MakeCode building