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 of enthusiastic kids in awe of the Respiratory Department’s demonstration of pig lungs being inflated with a respirator. Yes, those who wanted to touch using gloves were allowed to do so. In the middle photo is Medical Technologist Vicki Weingart getting a kick out of the young man’s reaction to seeing “bugs.” At bottom is Lab Technician Annie Peterson demonstrating that there is “nothing to it” as far as drawing blood is concerned. Helping is Lab Intern Jasmine Clarke. Five University of Nebraska College of Nursing interns at Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) were the organizers of a Summer Health Career Camp for Kids held Thursday, July 15. According to intern Megan O’dell, “The Camp for Kids had special events and presentations from various departments at the hospital about careers. There were two classes, one for younger children and one for older children.” A 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. camp for students entering grades six through nine was held in the Sandhills Room of the Medical Arts Plaza. A 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. camp for students entering grades two through five was held in the Alliance Room located in the hospital. Students also went to various departments for a better idea on their operations, such as surgery and rehab. Ms. O’dell said she is finishing up her last semester with the UNMC College of Nursing, and plans a hospital nursing career. Intern Amy Bond said the Camp provided a number of educational opportunities for the kids attending. “We hoped to give the kids an idea about nursing, as well as what goes on within a hospital,” she said. “We incorporated things about surgery, X-rays, nutrition, exercise and information about general health care.” One of the biggest hits of the camp was a demonstration of what lungs look like while breathing. Respiratory Therapist Gaye Cherkus had obtained a set of pig lungs for the presentation, and used a respirator to inflate and deflate the lungs mechanically. Students in both camps were also able to put on gloves and feel the lungs during the demonstration, along with a harvested pig heart. Ms. Cherkus made sure to let the students know they didn’t have to view the demonstration if they didn’t want to. Ms. Bond has always wanted to be a nurse, using her past experience with X-ray and CT medical imaging at BBGH as pieces to help her nursing education. Ms. Bond will graduate from the College of Nursing in May of next year. She said she hopes to stay in Alliance for her career. Intern Sara Conlin is from Colorado and will be graduating in December of this year. She said, “We also had presentations from Physical and Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Lab, X-Ray, Dietary, Diabetes Education that helpled expose the kids to some of the health care careers and options out there.” Intern Bette Fisher hopes to start her nursing career in either an emergency room setting or in labor and delivery. She also stressed, “This camp ws designed to give the kids exposure to the various units as well as what happens in a hospital setting.” Intern Priscilla Leavitt stressed the various levels of study involved to become a nurse. “We have five levels of study,” she said. “Level I is mostly basic skills that you’ll need from the ground up. Level II covers medical systems and how they work together. Level III is more specific, such as pediatrics, labor and delivery, or chronic diseases, for example. Level IV is more specific yet, and then Level V more or less puts it all together from the two years you had before.” She said graduating as a nurse isn’t the last step. ‘You also have to become board certificated.” Ms. Leavitt said she hopes to work in labor and delivery or continue school for further advancement. The five interns concluded by thanking all of the departments taking part in the Camp, as well as the students attending. The Camp was sponsored by BBGH, the Nebraska Panhandle Area Health Education Center, and the UNMC College of Nursing.  of KCOW Radio News Director Kevin Horn (at left) Tuesday, July 6, for an interview promoting the summer Health Careers Camp for Kids held July 15 at the BBGH. They are, from left to right – Megan O’dell, Amy Bond, Priscilla Leavitt, Bette Fisher and Sarah Conlin. |
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| 2101 Box Butte Ave., Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, (308) 762-6660 | |||||||||
