By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Students in the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Club at Union City High School have been getting some real-life experience this school year.
They got a little more with a field trip recently to the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The Jr. Nursing Department at UTM hosted eight students from Union City High School who are a part of HOSA with several of them involved in a first-year Nursing Education CNA program at UCHS.
A number of different stations were set up to introduce the Union City contingent to different aspects of nursing.
UC students practiced giving injections on mannequins, worked with catheter care and wheelchair patients and even did some animal therapy.
The experience was the latest for part of a group of 19 seniors in the program, which is essentially an introduction to the health care profession.
The group has gained valuable on-the-job experience performing clinicals this year at The Waters, visiting the health care/retirement facility on a twice-weekly basis where they’ve done everything from feeding patients to transporting them to changing diapers.
“They’ve gotten some real-world experience there, and the trip to UTM was a really good eye-opener for some of them, too,” said Jessica Tuck, the teacher of the class and herself a UT Martin alumnus. “I think the whole year has opened their eyes some to everything nursing entails.
“The students got bits and pieces by touring the department at UTM, just like they’ve gotten bits and pieces from their time at The Waters this year. It’s been some real-world stuff.”
The field trip was open to all West Tennessee seniors at high schools with such nursing classes.
“They’ve really gotten to see what this profession is all about. Some of them, I think it further entrenched the idea that this is what they want to study and to pursue as a profession,” Tuck added.
“Some of the others, though, I think it’s showed them that they might want to explore another field.”
Students in the class will sit for state boards May 22.
They will receive certification from having completed the class.
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