This study examined the task of health educators working in a clinical setting to better understand their roles. The study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample of health educators who worked in clinical settings in Indiana and who had a college degree in health education. Forty health educators were contacted and 62.5% of the subjects participated in the survey. Results indicated most jobs were similar in nature and the health education curriculum studied helped them in the roles they were serving. However, many educators felt there were other content areas of study that would have been helpful to prepare them for working in the clinical setting. A majority of the respondents reported that having Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification was helpful and necessary in their positions.
Viagra Canada no prescription
Introduction
The process to define the role of a health educator began in 1978. By 1981, the generic role was defined. Shortly thereafter came the writing of the Competency-Based Framework for the Professional Development of Certified Health Education Specialist (National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. [NCHEC], 1996). Recent challenges in public health since September 11, 2001, have highlighted the role of health educators and research has described its supply, geographic distribution, educational preparation and desired competencies (Finacchio, Love, & Sanchez, 2003).

Even though there appears to be a need for health educators, and we profess to prepare generic health educators, some have questioned whether it is possible to do so because of the peculiarities of each setting (McKenzie, 2004). Examples of such peculiarities include the culture in the business world (work site setting), and the language used in health care (clinical setting). Because of some of these peculiarities, it has been very difficult for health educators to secure health education positions in the clinical setting. Employers have been more inclined to hire individuals with clinical training than health educators for health education positions in the clinical setting. While the work of health educators in community health settings is well understood, very little information has been written on this subject of health educators working in the clinical setting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to find out more about the work of health educators in the clinical setting. This information would not only be helpful to new health educators seeking employment in a clinical setting, but also to healthcare organizations that could benefit from employing health educators.