MUSCATINE, Iowa–Throughout high school, students not only study academic subjects but spend time exploring potential careers to pursue after graduation. This year, school to work counselor Brandon Welsh approached UnityPoint Health–Trinity Community Education Coordinator Tyler Barrs about making information about healthcare careers more easily accessible. “We were talking about how we can integrate the students, especially the ones that are interested in healthcare,” Barrs recalled. From this desire grew the first ever healthcare expo. Held Feb. 10, 75 students interested in careers as nurses, physicians assistants, doctors, radiologists, and pharmacists visited UnityPoint Health–Trinity Muscatine Hospital to see first hand what these careers look like in action.
Because students often have questions about life in healthcare that they cannot easily find the answers for, every student who participated got to listen to a panel discussion. Since students had already identified their specific interests, they got to interact with a group of presenters with positions most similar to the ones they want to pursue. Students also got guided tours of the hospital, getting a peek behind the scenes and a glimpse into the everyday life of healthcare providers.
Most importantly, students got to have several hands on experiences as well. Between a morning and an afternoon session, three doctors, five physicians assistants and nurse practitioners, and three registered nurses led students through a number of demonstrations that they got to help with, including performing CPR on training mannequins, trying out special devices used to help move and position patients to prevent pressure sores or inflame wounds, insert lines to deliver intravenous medications, and intubate specially designed dummies.
At the end of the day, students got to take home materials and even a few goodies provided by UnityPoint Health–Trinity. Muscatine Community College also had information available for students who would like to know more about the healthcare related programs of study they offer.
Though all these different activities, Barrs hoped students got a taste for working in healthcare and continued to develop an interest in these careers as they near graduation and consider their higher education. He shared he thought, “especially with healthcare and having this experience and seeing what it’s really like,” would prove especially beneficial to students, as would, “just giving them that resource,” of putting them in touch with current practitioners.
The first event of the year, Barrs shared that UnityPoint Health–Trinity and Muscatine High School plan to hold a second event later this year, but focused on mental and public health careers instead, giving students a chance to meet with and learn from healthcare workers from the Robert Young Center, New Horizons, and Trinity Muscatine Public Health. In the future, Barrs hopes to make these expos annual event, connecting more students with healthcare careers that could spark lifelong passions for them.
