Merit Badge Workbook Merit Badge History

Health Care Professions - In-Person Class Notes

Please be courteous and arrive early for registration and instructions PRIOR to your scheduled class start time. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.

It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event. You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky Health Care Professions Merit Badge Workbook to help organize your preparation work. Please note that the use of any workbook is merely for note taking and reference. Completion of any merit badge workbook does not warrant, guarantee, or confirm a Scout's completion of any merit badge requirements. Merit badge counselors may refuse to accept workbooks, but they are NEVER allowed to require their use.

The merit badge pamphlet has a wealth of information that provides valuable insight and clarification and can make earning any merit badge a lot easier. Doing preparation work and reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending will ensure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities.

If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners (Scoutmaster Bucky) via email at scoutmasterbucky@yahoo.com or via cell phone at 612-483-0665.

Things to remember to bring for this merit badge class:

  • Your BSA ID # (not your Scoutbook ID #)
  • If you do not have your BSA ID # (or did not provide it with your online registration) you will need a Merit badge blue card properly filled out and signed off by your Scout Leader
  • Health Care Professions Merit Badge Pamphlet
  • Scout uniform
  • Supporting documentation or project work pertinent to the Health Care Professions merit badge, which may also include a merit badge workbook for reference with notes
  • A positive Scouting focus and attitude

If you are unfamiliar with the Blue Card Process, please read and understand the Scoutmaster Bucky Blue Card Process.

Health Care Professions - Online Class Notes

Scoutmaster Bucky Online Class links will be sent out 12 to 24 hours prior to the class start time. Notification will be sent to the email address provided in the registration, so please make sure your email is correctly entered.

Please be courteous and arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled class start time. Ensure that your internet connection, camera, microphone, and broadcasting environment are working and optimal for class participation. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.

It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event. You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky Health Care Professions Merit Badge Workbook to help organize your preparation work. Please note that the use of any workbook is merely for note taking and reference. Completion of any merit badge workbook does not warrant, guarantee, or confirm a Scout's completion of any merit badge requirements. Merit badge counselors may refuse to accept workbooks, but they are NEVER allowed to require their use.

The merit badge pamphlet has a wealth of information that provides valuable insight and clarification and can make earning any merit badge a lot easier. Doing preparation work and reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending will ensure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities.

If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners (Scoutmaster Bucky) via email at scoutmasterbucky@yahoo.com or via cell phone at 612-483-0665.

Health Care Professions Merit Badge
Current Scouts BSA Requirements
as of February 17, 2023

Please make sure you read the top portion of this page for general participation expectations in a Scoutmaster Bucky merit badge class.

Pay careful attention to the action verbs within the requirements. An example to note:

"Tell", "explain", "describe", and "discuss" are commonly used and will require the Scout to perform these actions during the class. When these action verbs are a part of any requirement, Scouts are expected to be prepared to share. Reading responses is not acceptable since it does not fulfill the requirement of showing the Scout's knowledge and understanding.

1.
Select three of the professions from Group 1 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:
a.
Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
b.
Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.

Group 1:
(1) Allopathic physician (MD) — all specialties
(2) Osteopathic physician (DO) — all specialties
(3) Podiatrist (DPM)
(4) Chiropractor (DC)
(5) Nurse Practitioner (NP)
(6) Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)
(7) Optometrist (OD)
(8) Audiologist (AudD)

Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to discuss. This should be done prior to the class. Scouts should have this written out to show the counselor that thought and research has gone into this requirement and Scouts should be prepared to explain their findings. Scouts will not automatically be signed off on this requirement just for attending as the requirement states that they must explain a number of items and will be required to partake in group and/or individual explanation to obtain credit.
2.
Select three of the professions from Group 2 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:
a.
Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
b.
Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.

Group 2:
(1) Physician Assistant (PA)
(2) Registered Nurse (RN)
(3) Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
(4) Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
(5) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)
(6) Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
(7) Pharmacist (PharmD)
(8) Pharmacy Technician
(9) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic

Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to discuss. This should be done prior to the class. Scouts should have this written out to show the counselor that thought and research has gone into this requirement and Scouts should be prepared to explain their findings. Scouts will not automatically be signed off on this requirement just for attending as the requirement states that they must explain a number of items and will be required to partake in group and/or individual explanation to obtain credit.
3.
Select three of the professions from Group 3 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:
a.
Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
b.
Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.

Group 3:
(1) Physical Therapist (DPT)
(2) Occupational Therapist (OT)
(3) Orthotist/Prosthetist
(4) Medical Appliance Technician
(5) Respiratory Therapist (RT)
(6) Medical Assistant
(7) Dietitian (RD)
(8) Speech-Language Pathologist (Speech Therapist) (SLP)

Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to discuss. This should be done prior to the class. Scouts should have this written out to show the counselor that thought and research has gone into this requirement and Scouts should be prepared to explain their findings. Scouts will not automatically be signed off on this requirement just for attending as the requirement states that they must explain a number of items and will be required to partake in group and/or individual explanation to obtain credit.
4.
Select three of the professions from Group 4 listed below which interest you, then complete the following:
a.
Briefly describe to your counselor the roles these professionals play in the delivery of health care.
b.
Describe to your counselor the educational and licensing requirements for the professionals you selected.

Group 4:
(1) Biomedical Engineer (BME)
(2) Medical Technologist
(3) Phlebotomist
(4) Radiology Technologist
(5) Sonographer
(6) Medical Records Specialist
(7) Cytopathologist
(8) Histotechnologist

Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to discuss. This should be done prior to the class. Scouts should have this written out to show the counselor that thought and research has gone into this requirement and Scouts should be prepared to explain their findings. Scouts will not automatically be signed off on this requirement just for attending as the requirement states that they must explain a number of items and will be required to partake in group and/or individual explanation to obtain credit.
5.
Select one career from any of the lists in Requirements 1, 2, 3, or 4 and arrange to visit that professional at their workplace. Discuss with your counselor the following:
a.
Why did they choose their particular career?
b.
What do they most like about their job?
c.
What are their biggest challenges in doing their job?
d.
Identify the tools/instruments that may be used in their jobs.
e.
What has been the most surprising aspect of their career?
f.
What continuing education requirements are required to maintain certification?
Requirement 5 will NOT be completed as a part of the class, however, Scouts will have an opportunity to complete this requirement an its components during the class if they have completed their visit with their selected health care professional. It is not enough to have just visited with a health care professional, the other parts of this requirement require questions to be asked and answers to be shared during the class and counselor review. Only Scouts who actively share their findings to the satisfaction of the counselor / instructor will have the opportunity for completion of this requirement.
6.
Discuss with your counselor your understanding of the meaning of the Physician’s Oath.
Scouts will find reviewing the Health Care Professions Merit Badge pamphlet will yield a better understanding of this requirement and aid them in preparation for their explanation during the class.
7.
Describe the role of confidentiality between a patient and the health care provider. What is HIPAA?
While the counselor / instructor will help facilitate the class discussion on this requirement, Scouts will need to prepare by referencing the Health Care Professions Merit Badge pamphlet section covering these topics. Additional resource may be utilized to prepare for class discussion.
8.
Identify a medical advancement or discovery that has been in the news recently. Discuss with your counselor how this can affect patient care.
Scouts will need to do preparation work for this requirement prior to the class. The counselor / instrucotr will allot time for discussion to those Scouts who come to the class with this requirement prepared for discussion. Scouts should not expect to gain credit for this requirement if they have not done proper preparation work. Be Prepared!
9.
With approval of your counselor and parents/guardian, serve as a volunteer at a health-related event or facility in your community (e.g. blood drive, health fair, blood pressure screening event). Report to your counselor what you did and learned from the experience.
This requirement will NOT be covered within the class, however Scouts wishing to be considered for completion of this requirement should bring adequate documentation to show that they have completed the volunteer activity at a health-related event or facility. Adequate documentation is not a letter from your parent, but rather a letter or note on organizational letterhead from a representative of the organization where you performed your volunteer time. Please remember that the merit badge counselor reserves the right to accept or reject your chosen activity if they do not feel it meets their interpretation of the requirement.