By Priscilla Pringle

The first two weeks of the academy were orientation. We toured

Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis St. and on East Harry. This

was very informative as we would spending a lot of time here and

it was important that we knew where departments were located.

We were told the procedures of the hospital and where to park.

Speakers came in during this time and spoke to us about the

importance of safety and HIPAA. Mrs. Clarke-Hang explained our

weekly work for the class such as making thank you cards,

writing blogs, and filling out mentor forms. She told us how

important this class and what was expected of everyone.

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September 21, 2011

Attn: Rehab Services Via Christi Hospital – St. Joseph3600 East Harry StreetWichita, KS 67218-3713

Dear Rehab Services,

Thank you so much for letting me observe your

department. It was really interesting. I learned the

difference between an occupational therapist and

physical therapist.

The senior behavioral unit was fascinating. I

know have a better understanding of what the

setting for a physical therapist is like. Thank you

for being so kind and answering all my questions.

Your unit was one of my favorites, after this

experience I am looking into physical therapy as an

option!Sincerely,

Priscilla Pringle

September 28, 2011

Attn: 5 SoutheastVia Christi Hospital – St. Francis929 N. St. Francis Wichita, KS 67214

Dear 5 Southeast,

Thanks for letting me observe your department

and allow me to follow your nurses around. I really

enjoyed this department, because everyone was so

kind and friendly. Thank you for explaining the

different roles to me and all the things that nurses

have to do.

I enjoyed this floor because there was always

something going on. It was interesting to learn the

things that the nurse has to do for the patient before

and after surgery. Everyone loved their job which

really reflected how you treated your work and the

patients.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Pringle

September 28, 2011

Attn: MICUVia Christi Hospital – St. Francis929 N. St. Francis Wichita, KS 67214

Dear MICU,

Thanks for letting me observe your department

and allowing me to shadow your nurses. I liked this

department, because it was busy and the patient’s

conditions were varied so I was able to see a lot of

different things. It was interesting to see how close

the nurses become with patients because some are

there quite a while.

Thank you for explaining all the different things

that one has to do and telling me all the situations

one could encounter. Everyone was so kind and

helpful which I appreciate.

Sincerely,

Priscilla Pringle

October 28, 2011

Attn: Pediatric UnitVia Christi Hospital – St. Francis929 N. St. Francis Wichita, KS 67214

Dear Pediatric Unit,

Thanks for letting me observe your department and

allowing me to shadow your nurses. This was by far my

favorite rotation, because of how interesting and busy it was.

It is amazing how each nurse had five or six patients and

maintained great patient care to each one. I was able to see so

many different things.

Thank you so much for showing the epileptic center; I

thought that was fascinating to see the brain waves. I enjoyed

learning about this area and hearing the different things

people will do. After my rotation this is a department I would

love to learn more about!

Sincerely,

Priscilla Pringle

November 4, 2011

Attn: Lab or and DeliveryVia Christi Hospital – St. Joseph3600 East Harry StreetWichita, KS 67218-3713

Dear Labor and Delivery,

Thank you for allowing me to shadow your department. It

is definitely my favorite rotation so far. I saw a baby being

delivered which is one of the most amazing experiences I have

ever witnessed. It was great to see the family’s excitement,

because it was their first child. Thank you to the nurses who

explained everything that was going on during that time and

who made sure I saw what was happening. I learned a lot of

the things about childbirth and the different steps that have to

be taken. I also saw the extreme cause where police officers

and social workers needed to be brought in which made this

rotation even more interesting. Thanks for being so kind and

helpful!

Sincerely,

Priscilla Pringle

ROTATION 2:I observed the radiology department at SJC. It was really interesting to see all the x-rays. I saw a lot of chest x-rays,  because that is most common. A lot of people had barium tests also known as swallow tests done. It is a test that makes sure someone is swallowing correctly, because some people have it enter their lungs. The patient immobilizer is used on little kids quite often to make sure that a good x-ray can be taken. I observed a discography and myelography also. It is a very interesting department!

ROTATION 3:I observed the MICU at SFC for my third rotation. I followed a nurse around and watched her daily routine which included things like checking on IVs, blood pressure, and ordering lunch.  The nurses have to be patient, because they deal with a lot of older patients. Each nurse is assigned two patients and on a busy day three. I saw a woman who had an ulcer which was caused  because she had taken a lot of painkillers. I also saw a woman who had breast cancer that had turned into bone cancer. The nurses become pretty close with the patients, because a lot of the patients had been there about three weeks.

ROTATION 5:I was in the transplant department for my fifth rotation. While I was there, there was only one transplant and like fifteen dialysis patients. I saw a lot of patients with hyper-tension and diabetes. I learned a lot about what dialysis is, and how patients have to come in every other day for dialysis. One man had a lot of fluid in his ankles and feet that had to be pushed into the rest of his body. I saw the nurse administer a lot of medicine and things like that. In this department I was able to meet the nursing director which was nice. I learned that most transplants take place on Tuesdays. It was fun and I would like to go back and see more transplants.

ROTATION 10:

Pediatrics was really interesting. It was super busy, each nurse had five or six patients. I really liked it; the kids were so cute and they didn’t complain as much as the adults. There were two one week old babies who had the flu. They have a new room for teenagers which was super nice. My favorite part was the epileptic center, because you could see the brain waves which were really interesting. I was told that a lot of patients come in faking seizures so they can be put on disabilities. Pediatrics also has to go into lockdown quite a bit because of different situations. I really liked this area and would love to go back!

ROTATION 9:The operation room was by far my best rotation yet. It was so interesting and fun. The nurses were great about explaining what was going on. They told me all the different things they have seen. During the surgeries, it was really calm; music was playing and the doctor was telling jokes. I saw a hysterectomy, a tumor removed from a kidney, and prostate cancer. All these surgeries were performed using the robot. The last surgery I saw was bladder cancer which was done without the robot. This is an area that I would really like to see more of.

Registered Nurse Physical Therapy Assistant Pediatrician Physician’s Assistant Nursing or Psychiatric Aide

I am interested in becoming a RN because one treats and educate patients and the public about medical conditions, and provides advice and support to patients' family members. RNs record patients' histories and symptoms, perform tests, and administer treatment and medications.

Education

Bachelor's degree, or Associate’s degree. Then complete a national licensing exam in order to obtain a nursing license.

Experience

All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. A number of programs include clinical experience. Most RNs begin as staff nurses in hospitals and, with experience and good performance, often move to other settings or are promoted to positions with more responsibility. Their nursing expertise and experience on a healthcare team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care businesses.

I am interested in becoming a physical therapy assistant because one provides treatment that improves patient mobility, relieves pain, and lessens disabilities of patients. EducationAssociate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. Most States require licensing for physical therapists. Clinical work includes certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other first aid, and field experience in treatment centers. ExperiencePrograms are divided into academic coursework and hands-on clinical experience. Both educators and prospective employers view clinical experience as essential to ensuring that students understand the responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant. Some physical therapist aides advance to become therapist assistants after gaining experience and completing an accredited education program.

I would love to treat children, babies, adolescents, and young adults. As a pediatrician you help reduce mortality, control disease, and help those with chronic conditions. Pediatricians are in charge of how people look at doctors from the very beginning which I think is very important.

Education

Following graduation from medical school, primary care pediatricians complete three years of education in an accredited pediatric residency program. Following the pediatric residency, the pediatrician is eligible for board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics with successful completion of a comprehensive written examination. Recertification is required every seven years.

 Experience

At least three years of residency (on-the-job training) in addition to a bachelor's degree. Volunteer at a health clinic, hospital, women’s clinic, or elder care facility.

I would be interested in pursuing this because a physician assistant is able to perform a variety of tasks and are able to help and see a lot of people. They still do a lot of the things doctors do without having to do residency. Physician assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Physician assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and other types of health facilities. Education/ExperiencePhysician assistant education is based on the medical model although unlike medical school which lasts four years plus a specialty-specific residency, PA training is usually 2 to 3 years in duration, completed during undergraduate education or post-graduate studies, for a total of 4–7 years of postsecondary education. However, most PA students start their medical education with a background of health care experience. Many PA schools do not differentiate between the first year PA students and first year medical students, and their classes are taken together. 

I would like to be an aide to help care for the ill, injured, or disabled at hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings. Aides are responsible for taking a patient's temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, or blood pressure. They help them get out of bed and walk, or escorting them to rooms. Education Nursing and psychiatric aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges. Federal Government requirements exist for nursing aides who work in nursing care facilities. These aides must complete a minimum of 75 hours of State-approved training and pass a competency evaluation. ExperienceHospitals may require previous experience as a nursing aide or home health aide. Most psychiatric aides learn their skills on the job from experienced workers. Aides also may attend lectures, workshops, and in-service training.

He sets his own hours and rules, is his own boss, and works only four days a week from 7 to 3. Dr. Toilo believes that dentists are getting better. He explained how in 2007 more dentists retired than graduated which means that dental students have more opportunities. The big push right now is cosmetics.

He explained how admission to dental school is competitive, and is generally determined based on factors such as GPA, DAT scores, recommendation letters, and extracurricular activities. He said the two most profitable procedures are surgery and endodontics. There were four things he told the class to remember which were make sure to have a great staff, money is not everything, it is about helping others, and make sure God is first, family second, and business third.

She explained how respiratory therapy is a relatively new job. They deal with heart, lungs, and kidneys. One can work in physician offices, specialized care hospitals, medical equipment companies, and skilled nursing facilities. It is a job that is supposed to increase 23% through 2016. The median salary is $50,100.

One has to have 12 hours of continuing education. If one graduates from the Respiratory Care Program one receives an associate of science in health science degree. A respiratory therapist works under a physician and One can specialize in asthma, cystic fibrosis, intensive care, neonatal and pediatric intensive, sleep disorder, or case management.

She sees forensic autopsies from children to public interest deaths. Pathology has medical investigators, pathology assistants, and forensic pathologists who are the eyes and ears of the body and identification.

Forensic is the lab, toxicology, and drug id, firearms, and trace evidence side of autopsies. The goal is to identify what type of material is present and then, through the use of DNA analysis, link that material to a specific person. An analyst is assigned to a specific case and will bring the evidence to the evidence examination room where it is documented and analyzed.

  Nursing has many opportunities; it involves a wide range of skills and

activities. They look at individuals and groups and make plans to make the person better. A nurse must like sciences, people, learning, working on a team, and thinking on your feet. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the United States will be short 500,000 to 1,000,000 nurses in the next 20 years.

For nursing an associate degree or BSN degree is necessary and a BSN gives one more opportunities, job flexibility, and pay differential in some job settings.

Ms. Vetter explained that when looking for a nursing school look at curriculum, mission, size, faculty, outcome measures, and look into a class. Look at criteria does the school admit once or twice a year, how many applicants a year, and what pre-testing is required.

He owns West Wichita Pet Clinic which he designed and built in 1996. He received his doctorate from Kansas State in veterinary medicine in 1992.

Veterinarians diagnose and treat diseases and dysfunctions of animals. Most veterinarians diagnose problems, vaccinate against diseases, medicate animals, treat and dress wounds, set fractures, and perform surgery.

Many believe that there are too many people becoming veterinarians. This is a tough time for veterinarians, because during this tough economy people do not want to spend money on their pets. As a veterinarian one has to know human and animal biology.

University of Kansas Major in Business Administration Master’s in Healthcare Administration Become a Hospital Administrator at Wesley

My favorite part about this class was the rotations. It was

interesting to see the different areas of healthcare. I was able to

interact with patients and the healthcare providers. This class

confirmed my interest of being involved in this field. From

this class I saw a lot of job opportunities that I did not know

were available. Health Academy taught me to stay on top of

my work; it is a challenging class that takes a lot of effort. The

St. Gianna Health Academy class has taught me a lot of

lessons and made me more interested in my future career.