Gearing up for future healthcare careers

Juniors in Heights High's CHC program learn to use personal protective equipment (from left): Amber Rainey, Niya Mack, Janae Laird, Jon'nae Jackson, Vanessa Stewart and Nancy Ballou, instructor.

Juniors in the Heights High Clinical Health Careers (CHC) class wear personal protective equipment in preparation for their clinical experience at HealthSpan on Severance Circle. “Learning the proper way to apply, use and take off the protective equipment is just one of the skills that students learn before the clinical rotations,” said Nancy Ballou, R.N., CHC teacher.

The CHC program is housed at the Delisle Center and features a lab for practicing the procedures and skills needed for real-world clinical settings.

The clinical experience is an opportunity for students to put the skills they have learned in the lab to use in the field, as they work with clients and medical professionals for 2.5 hours a day for four weeks. Rotations include oncology, gastroenterology lab, emergency, outpatient surgery and podiatry. 

In their senior year, CHC students complete 16 hours of direct patient care at McGregor Nursing Home as part of their Nurse Aide Training.