Trinity College of Nursing and Health Services Chancellor Tracy Poelvoorde says 20 junior and senior high school students are following health professionals at UnityPoint Health Rock Island all week.
"This is really an opportunity for students to explore healthcare," Poelvoorde said in a phone interview with WVIK Monday afternoon. "I would say probably at least half of the students that come to our camp know what they want. Others are getting an idea about what healthcare is about."
The camp is open to high school juniors and seniors, offering patient simulation scenarios on top of shadowing professionals, which Poelvoorde says is unavailable to the public.
"You know you can't just go into a hospital and say you want to shadow somebody and see what they're doing. But that is actually what these students will get the opportunity to do," Poelvoorde said.
She says they discussed patient rights on Monday. This week, they're assigned to specific areas of the hospital and spend time with nurses, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, and people in the ER.
Poelvoorde says the industry has a shortage of nurses, lab technicians, and others, which the camp could combat with early medical education, assisting potential medical students in choosing the right path.
"It's a hot field healthcare, there is a big need. We [Trinity College of Nursing] actually have probably 85% of our graduates stay within our communities and start their healthcare career here," Poelvoorde said.
The summer camp ends on Friday.
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