| Course | HCR 220 Introduction to Health Professions and the U.S. Health Care System |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 2 |
| Paper type | Career exploration paper |
| Length | About 497 words, 4 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | BS in Health Care Coordination |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for HCR 220 Module 2
Two Paths From Care Coordination: Community Health Worker or Health Services Manager?
Student Name
BS in Health Care Coordination, Arizona State University
HCR 220: Introduction to Health Professions and the U.S. Health Care System
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
Two Paths From Care Coordination: Community Health Worker or Health Services Manager?
Why These Two Careers
I came to health care coordination because I like helping people solve practical problems, and I want a career with room to grow. Two paths open to graduates of my program fit that description from different directions: working directly with people in the community, or managing the organizations that serve them.
Community Health Worker
Duties. Community health workers help people adopt healthy behaviors and connect them with health and social services. They conduct outreach, share health information, help with case management and act as a bridge between clients and providers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2026a).
Qualifications. The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma, although many employers prefer postsecondary training, and some states offer certification.
Pay and outlook. The median annual pay was $51,850 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 13 percent between 2025 and 2035, well above the rate for all occupations (BLS, 2026a).
Skills. Communication, cultural awareness, patience and knowledge of community resources. Research suggests these workers can improve care for some patients; a review of U.S. programs found that some reduced emergency visits and hospital stays, though effects varied (Jack et al., 2017).
Medical and Health Services Manager
Duties. These managers plan, direct and coordinate the business activities of health care providers, including budgets, staffing, schedules, records and regulatory compliance, working with physicians, nurses and other staff (BLS, 2026b).
Qualifications. The typical entry-level education is a bachelor's degree, usually with prior experience working in health care; many managers later earn a master's degree.
Pay and outlook. The median annual pay was $123,860 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035 (BLS, 2026b).
Skills. Leadership, analysis, communication, technical knowledge of health information systems and comfort with regulation.
Comparison
| Feature | Community health worker | Health services manager |
|---|---|---|
| Entry education | High school diploma | Bachelor's degree |
| Median pay, May 2025 | $51,850 | $123,860 |
| Projected growth, 2025-2035 | 13 percent | 24 percent |
| Daily work | In the community with clients | In offices with staff and leaders |
Assessing My Interests and Strengths
My strengths are organization, bilingual communication in English and Spanish and staying calm with upset people. I enjoy one-on-one problem solving but also like planning and improving systems. Community health work would use my language skills directly and start sooner. Management would use my organizational strengths and offer higher pay and broader influence, but it requires experience I do not yet have.
My Plan
I plan to pursue health services management while building the frontline experience that managers need. In the next two years, I will look for a part-time role as a community health worker or patient navigator, which will give me experience with patients and communities. I will add electives in health care finance and quality improvement, join a student professional association and consider a master's degree after working for several years. This path lets me test both careers before committing.
References
Jack, H. E., Arabadjis, S. D., Sun, L., Sullivan, E. E., & Phillips, R. S. (2017). Impact of community health workers on use of healthcare services in the United States: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(3), 325-344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3922-9
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026a). Community health workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/community-health-workers.htm
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026b). Medical and health services managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm
HCR 220 Module 2 instructions, in plain terms
Career Exploration carries 30 points in HCR 220, one of the larger single assignments in a 280-point course. The syllabus describes it as designed to help students gain insights into various health care professions, understand the skills and qualifications required and assess their own interests and strengths. That gives the paper three jobs: describe careers accurately, explain what they demand and judge your own fit honestly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is the standard source for duties, education, pay and outlook, and the course textbook describes many health professions. Follow APA style, including references for any data you report, and update figures to the latest edition.
How the HCR 220 Module 2 example is put together
After a short paragraph on why the two careers were chosen, the sample gives each career the same four headings: duties, qualifications, pay and outlook and skills, drawing facts from the federal handbook and one study of community health workers. A comparison table puts the key figures side by side. The writer then assesses her own strengths against both careers and closes with a concrete plan that combines frontline experience with a longer path into management. Comparing two careers, rather than describing one, makes the self-assessment more meaningful. Every figure carries a year and a source, so the paper stays accurate as data change. The plan section turns the comparison into action.
Reading the HCR 220 Module 2 grading rubric
The career paper is graded on its Canvas rubric for 30 points. Career exploration papers are typically credited for accurate, current and cited information on duties, education, pay and outlook, a clear account of required skills and qualifications, an honest self-assessment that names specific strengths and gaps, a realistic plan with concrete steps and clean APA style. Marks fall when facts are uncited or out of date, when the self-assessment is vague, when only one career is described superficially and when the plan has no steps. Graders also reward a clear choice at the end, since exploration should lead somewhere. So does honest reflection.
HCR 220 Module 2 help: mistakes that cost marks
Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook rather than salary websites, and note the year of each figure. Compare at least two careers so your choice is reasoned. Name real strengths with examples from school, work or volunteering. Make your plan specific: courses, jobs, credentials and dates. If you are unsure which careers your degree opens, the desk can suggest options to explore. Talking with someone who works in the field, even briefly, can add a useful detail to your self-assessment, provided you describe the conversation accurately. Explain what surprised you, since that shows real exploration. Keep salary and growth figures in a table so they do not crowd your paragraphs, and cite the edition you used.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
This paper is an original model document written by our desk, not a submitted student paper and not an official Arizona State University document. Read it for the moves, then write your own to the instructions in your classroom. If you want one built to your exact prompt and rubric, the first custom sample is free and arrives in 24 to 48 hours.
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HCR 220 Module 2 questions, answered
Where can I find a free HCR 220 Module 2 sample paper?
A full HCR 220 Module 2 sample is on this page: a career exploration paper comparing community health worker and health services manager.
How much do medical and health services managers earn?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $123,860 a year in May 2025, with 24 percent projected growth from 2025 to 2035.
What education does a community health worker need?
Typically a high school diploma, though many employers prefer postsecondary training and some states offer certification.
Where should I find career data for HCR 220?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook gives duties, education, pay and outlook for health professions.
How much is the HCR 220 career exploration worth?
It is worth 30 of the course's 280 points.