It is almost time to start thinking about registering for classes for next school year. One of the courses we offer that is outside of our school building for seniors is Health Occupations. Please read the article by Faith, Jamayca and Lexi to learn more about this course to see if it is of interest to you.
Health Occ is a course that is an introduction to healthcare. You learn many different skills and many helpful concepts. Health occupations include activities medical personnel undertake to promote, restore, or maintain health. Classes are on Monday, Thursday and Friday. In these classes, you learn valuable caretaking skills. Clinicals( Which are designed to provide practical, hands-on experience caring for patients in different healthcare settings, like hospitals, clinics, and even nursing homes) take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Around March you get to choose some places you are interested in and follow them for a certain amount of hours. At the end of the year, you take everything you learned and go take the CNA test to be a Certified Nursing Assistant.
In health occupations, you learn a lot of valuable skills and a wide variety of skill sets. We need 34 clinical hours to take the CNA test. The clinicals are all provided during class time. The students rotate throughout the nursing home and the St. Anthony hospital. We also have the opportunity to go to the places that you pick to learn and gather information specifically in your line of interest. Students can pick places for rotations of what their plans are, and what they are interested in, which is great to see exactly what you don't want to do in life and explore the things you are into and can see yourself doing in the future. When you complete all 21 of your check-offs for the class you have the opportunity to take a CNA exam, if you pass you are rewarded your CNA license. That means we can work as CNA in a nursing home, right after high school! This class also allows you to be one step ahead when it comes to nursing school if that’s what you plan on doing. A nursing assistant is a lot like a CNA but you aren't certified. That's what you would be considered before you get your CNA. They typically help patients or residents with direct needs under the close supervision of a nurse. We can get our foot in the door and experience real-life workforce in the healthcare field. This class is a great opportunity for all upcoming seniors.
Health occupations have many benefits for you and your future. Such as new and exciting tasks, hands-on clinicals, surgery observation, and rotations of your choice. You run into challenges that shape you as a healthcare professional. It in return makes it easier for you to handle certain situations in the future and builds your experience. Health occupations is a way to get a little bit of experience in the fields you are interested in or just curious about. If you are thinking about being in the medical field at all, this class will make you understand the demand and responsibilities of being in the medical field. (It's not for everyone), So dipping your toes in the water and trying for your CNA license will help you make a career choice for the future. Health occupations provide essential knowledge and skills in areas such as anatomy, physiology, and patient care. Equipping you with the expertise needed to excel in the healthcare industry. This class over-prepares you for the state certification exam, ensuring that you are well prepared to pass and obtain your CNA license. Finally, it opens doors to various career opportunities by exposing you to good instructors and references. It helps you narrow down what you want in your health career journey. Health occupations get you ready for the real world and help you understand how college life will be. It's a great introduction into healthcare and really suggests you try.
In conclusion, health occupations provides valuable exposure to the healthcare field, equip students with essential caregiving skills, and lays a strong foundation for future career advancement in nursing and healthcare. You learn a lot of valuable information and are able to dip your toes in the water and know if the healthcare field is really for you or not.