McCook, Nebraska - From preparing an IV solution in pharmacy to starting an IV in nursing, to draping a patient for surgery, nearly 100 area students explored the possibility of health careers at the second annual Career Discovery Days on Wednesday and Thursday at Community Hospital.

Students had the opportunity to learn first hand by meeting and learning from practicing health care providers and using actual medical equipment.  Eleven medical career fields were featured at the Discovery Days, including surgery, occupational therapy, dietitian, laboratory, nursing, information systems, pharmacy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, radiology and physician assistant.

Student evaluations said one of the popular rotations was the physician assistant station. Students learned from orthopedic physician assistant, Jim Allen and Trenton Medical Clinic physician assistant, Teresa Hodgson how to suture lacerations in chicken breasts.

In the surgery station, under the instruction of Bobby Jones, students practiced gowning up, draped a patient for surgery, and examined surgery instruments.

Sharon Conroy and Darlene Schaeffer, both registered nurses, taught the students in the nursing rotation how to start an intraosseous IV line by inserting it into a chicken leg bone.

One student expressed, "The hands-on stuff like suturing a chicken and putting an IV in another chicken was awesome. I thought it was a really good program and I benefited a lot from it."

Pharmacists Anthony Rodewald and Chase Crawford presented students with a patient scenario testing their math skills as they calculated the dosing of an IV drip. Once calculations were made, students actually drew up food coloring "medicine" into a syringe and injected it into IV solution.

Students learned from Respiratory Therapy director, Kyle Lines, how to intubate a mannequin. Other respiratory care staff discussed and demonstrated diagnostic tests.

The new dietitian rotation with Pat Rice was popular with the students. One student said, "The dietitian course was the best. The presenter helped explain food portions and made alternative drinks for pop."

Another new presenter was Valerie Loop, occupational therapist. Students taking her rotation met in the new Rehabilitation Center in the apartment-like training and assessment unit designed for occupational therapy patients. There, students learned hands-on dressing methods for patients who have had a stroke.

Several students voluntarily donated blood samples to allow the group shadowing the laboratory to test their blood using the laboratory equipment. Their blood was tested for a complete blood count, a comprehensive metabolic profile and a blood type. Afterwards, the students observed blood cells under a microscope and viewed microbiology specimens.

Sessions also provided students with information on each of the professions including job requirements and opportunities, salary, schools and professional websites.

During breaks, attendees visited booths from local colleges and were given information from the hospital scholarship committee.

Through written comments from the students, they extremely enjoyed the hands-on activities as they learned about the careers. One student said, "I loved experiencing every aspect of the day."

Last year's evaluations were so positive that the program was expanded, adding an additional day, adding more sessions to the day, and adding more career options to the sessions. Eighth graders were also invited this year to better prepare them for choosing classes they will need to take to pursue a healthcare career.

High school and junior high students participated from Cambridge, Chase County, Wauneta/Palisade, Maywood, McCook and Rawlins County.  Invitations were also sent to school counselors at Arapahoe High School, Dundy County High School, Hayes Center High School, Southwest High School, Hitchcock County High School, Medicine Valley High School, and Decatur Community Junior/Senior High.