When thinking of Nursing or Medical School, the thought of the education needed to earn a degree can seem overwhelming. However, at Warren Woods Tower High School (WWT), the Nursing and other medical programs not only allow students to get ahead in their learning, but in their careers as well.
The Nursing Assistant program, a Career and Technical Education (CTE) class, is offered to students from WWT, Centerline, Lincoln, and Fitzgerald high schools. This entry level position in the medical field allows students to get hands-on knowledge and experience of the profession to see if they’d enjoy moving further in this field.
“Students learn preliminary skills needed for patient care for places such as the hospital. Students also become certified in CPR and First Aid,” Domenica Rutkowski, WWT Health Science Instructor, said.
These skills can lead students to take the state test and become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), with which they are able to begin working in the medical field right away.
“Students have to file an application, meet the criteria, be selected by administration, have 24 hours of clinical time, and be passing the course in order to sit for the state test which will certify them. If they pass, they become a CNA, which makes them very marketable,” Rutkowski stated.
Becoming a CNA while in high school may not be easy, but it’s definitely important if students want to begin working in places such as hospitals and long-term care facilities (nursing homes).
“They have to be certified in most facilities to get jobs, especially if they’re looking at long term care facilities and hospitals. Physician’s Assistant programs and Nursing programs want students to have some hands on patient care, and to have hands on patient care they have to get the job in the facilities, and for that they must be certified,” Rutkowski said.
Once a student becomes certified, they’re able to help with a lot of things in care facilities.
“They can do all of the activities of daily living for patients and residents, which means they assist them with meals, feeding, vital signs, walking, and everything they do to get ready for the day,” Rutkowski said.
In order for the students to meet the criteria to take the state test, WWT hired another instructor to meet the growing population of students in the CTE medical programs.
“To have the students be eligible to meet the criteria to take the state test and be certified, we needed another delegated instructor in the program. That’s what Mr. Jeff Pokriefka is. He helps students with check-off procedures and reinforces different skills,” Rutkowski stated.
Pokriefka, a registered nurse, started working at the school in November and is happy to be back at WWT.
“It’s an honor to be working here as an alumni,” Pokriefka said.
Even without earning certification, the Nursing program can still be beneficial to the students taking it.
“Even if they don’t get certified, this program gives them most of the nursing skills they will learn in Nursing 101 in nursing school. It gives them an idea if they want to pursue a nursing career before they actually make an educational investment,” Rutkowski said.
Another great aspect of being in the CTE medical programs at WWT is getting involved in HOSA, which is the Health Occupations Students of America organization.
“HOSA is a student professional organization that the students can join and it gives them the opportunity to participate in an organization like they would once they get into the profession, like the American Nurses Association for example. This helps them with leadership skills and organizational skills. They get to compete in their given area, such as the Nursing Assistant Competition. It makes the program more fun and adds another element to the class,” Rutkowski said.
After 20 years of working as a health science instructor at WWT, Rutkowski is still happy with her job.
“It’s rewarding to try to get students interested in the health care field.”
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