Welcome!
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Health Careers Connection! The purpose of this electronic newsletter is to inform the students of Northeastern Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (NEWAHEC) about items of interest in our region related to healthcare careers. Our goal is to provide information that is both useful and interesting to you. We encourage you to provide content suggestions for future editions of this newsletter.  Email Jill Niemczyk
Each newsletter features a different health career.

Interview with a Registered Nurse

Katrina Schuh recently graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) from UW-Oshkosh’s Accelerated Registered Nursing program. Katrina originally received a degree in Biological Science and worked as a nursing assistant before making the decision to go back to college to get her nursing degree. After graduation Katrina will be moving to Arizona to work as a Registered Nurse.

UW-Oshkosh’s Accelerated Nursing program allows qualified students who already have a Bachelor's degree in another field, to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) within a 12 month time period. Students must meet admission qualifications and have completed all academic prerequisites before the beginning of the program.

Why did you choose this career?
I chose this career because I have a passion for patient care. I am a people person and enjoy interacting with the patients I come in contact with. There is never a day the same in this health profession! The profession of nursing also offers flexibility in the shifts worked and the areas of care. For example, with a variety of areas such as oncology, medical-surgical, emergency, and cardiac, the opportunities and learning experiences are endless!!

Describe a typical workday.
The typical work day always begins by receiving a report from the previous shift’s nurse about the patient(s). This allows you to prioritize and determine what needs to be accomplished on your shift. The rest of the shift involves medication administration, patient cares, and documenting/charting how the patient is responding to the care provided. In addition, throughout the shift, nurses perform head-to-toe assessments on each patient by listening to the heart, lung sounds, examining the skin, etc. These assessments are important because these findings help the other people I work with determine the proper medications/care for the patient. These people include, but are not limited to the physicians, nursing assistants, and therapists.
What do you like best about your work?
The best thing about this type of work is the variety! I never know what kind of day I am going to have or the patients I will encounter. I enjoy hearing the many stories and life experiences of the patients. The best thing to see is when a patient is able to return home and function with minimal assistance.
What do you like least about your work?
Even though seeing a patient through many of life’s stages is a great learning experience, it is never easy seeing someone in the last stage of life. It is not frequently that I have seen someone die, but it does happen. However, you are never alone in this situation as you have supervisors and the other staff around you to assist the patient, family, and you if this situation were to occur.

What is your education background and training experience?
I have returned to school from receiving a previous science degree to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The minimum degree for nursing is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). After receiving a degree, one must complete the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses), which is the licensing exam for professional nursing. This exam ensures that you have the knowledge and skills that you learned in school to practice as a nurse.
What advice would you give to students interested in Clinical Laboratory Science?
If you are interested in the profession of nursing or any other healthcare career, I would encourage you to seek out patient care experiences/opportunities either through volunteering or obtaining your Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. This will give you a great idea about what patient care entails. In addition, it is always helpful to ask questions of people in the profession and to take a health careers class if you are able to.

SUMMER FUN

Summer vacation is fast approaching, what kind of summer plans do you have to enhance your future? Many students use the summer time to earn money to put toward their future. Summer is also great time to do something fun, exciting and new. When you look ahead toward your future goals, you need to recognize that the activities and experiences you have now will assist you in getting into your school or profession of choice. Find something fun and interesting to add to your summer experience this year. Here is a list of cool summer activities that will not only enhance your summer but also your future. Click on the links for more information.

Health Careers Summer Camp: This camp is like health care careers 101. This camp introduces students to many different health care professions. Students will tour health care facilities, hear from health care professionals and try-out many health care skills. This is a week long overnight camp for high school students. Check out this website for more information.
www.newahec.org

Marian College Summer Nurse Camp: The week-long camp is offered exclusively to high school juniors and seniors within a 40-mile radius of Marian’s campus. Campers Shadow a nurse in a variety of hospital settings: Maternity/Nursery, Medical and Surgical Units. They receive training in Confidentiality, IV therapy, sterile techniques, vital signs and infection control. Students tour various units, such as Cardiac Rehab, Dialysis, Emergency Department, ICU and Medical Imaging. Check out the website for more information.
www.mariancollege.edu

Bellin College Summer Nurse Camp: Bellin College of Nursing offers a free, four-day overnight Nursing Summer Camp for high school juniors. At the camp, students have the opportunity to shadow nurses in a variety of different settings, become CPR certified and learn basic care-giving skills in a learning resource center. Students are housed on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus while attending the summer camp at Bellin College of Nursing. Go to bcon.edu/summer camp for more information.

Wisconsin Youth In Nursing Camp: The WYN program provides academic and professional development courses and activities to help students prepare for college nursing programs. Students will study general education course as well as introduction to nursing, nursing skills assessment and pathophysiology. This camp is an overnight camp held at UW- Oshkosh. For more information go to www.uwosh.edu/WYN

NWTC Tech Camps: The purpose of NWTC's summer Tech Camp program is to enhance the middle school student's knowledge of the many career choices available in the job market. Each camp focuses on the importance of education and the skills employers are looking for in the workforce of today and the future! These camps are day camps over a three day period. Go to www.nwtc.edu/Middle School Tech Camp for more information.

Spanish Immersion Language and Culture Camp:
 Students will participate in daily language sessions. A great of array of cultural programs and activities will provide a "hands-on" cultural experience to participants. Through experiencing authentic food, sports, crafts and games the students will discover the colorful diversity of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries. Check out www.uwgb.edu/camps for more information.

WI Center for Academically Talented Youth (WCATY)
 Students attend a three week summer program held at St. Norbert College in De Pere. Each student takes one intensive course during the three weeks, completing the equivalent of a full year high school honors class. In 2007, ALP will run from June 24 - July 14. Check out www.wcaty.org for more information.

College Credits: For any high school student wanting to get ahead. There are many Universities and Technical schools that offer classes for college credit to high school students. Check your local university or Technical school for course listings. Start your future on the right foot.

This list is just a few of the great summer programs that are available for you. Use your superior web surfing skills to find something that will kick start your future. Have a super summer!