DCSD health science students prepare for a career in health care
Students in the Health Science Technology classes at the Darlington County Institute of Technology (DCIT) always learn more than just what’s in the textbook. Each year, these students serve their community by hosting special needs Christmas parties at area elementary schools, collecting food and participating in Old People’s Christmas with Darlington High School, and conducting health screenings at Manheim Auto Auction. They lead by serving as ambassadors during presentations at elementary, middle, and high schools, hosting numerous Red Cross blood drives where they have collected over 100 units of blood, and attending the Fall Leadership Conference at Newberry. Several members of HOSA also compete at the state HOSA Conference in Charleston.
Most important these students prepare for a career in health care, a field where you need individuals who compassionately serve, willingly lead, and are determined to compete for the opportunity to go further in their career field. Career interests among the health science students at DCIT are diverse. Students have expressed an interest in becoming dentists, emergency medicine technicians, gynecologists, licensed practical nurses, pediatricians, physical therapists, pharmacists, registered nurses, and veterinarians. Courses available in the Health Science department at DCIT include Medical Terminology, Health Science I, Health Science II, and Health Science Clinical Studies.
Instructors for these courses are Mrs. Connie Altman, Mrs. Kellie Flowers, and Mrs. Nancy Huntley. In addition to teaching, these teachers serve as the advisors for HOSA, an organization that not only gives students an opportunity to compete, but allows them to network with other students who are interested in health care as a career, attend workshops regarding health care professions, travel to conferences in a variety of locations, set goals and timelines for reaching them, sharpen leadership skills, and focus on specific areas of health that may not be covered in class. DCIT has 58 HOSA members.
This diversity of interests makes participation in HOSA extremely beneficial to students. Courses provide exposure to a wide range of topics while the HOSA experience allows students to focus on a particular area of interest. Areas of competition at the HOSA conference included Forensic Medicine, Veterinary Assisting, Home Health Aide, Medical Photography, Dental Assisting, Clinical Nursing, CPR/First Aid, Sports Medicine, Public Service Announcement, Physical Therapy, Pharmacology, and Emergency Medicine.
Students who placed at the state HOSA conference were:
Alexis Lewis and Alyssa Ray (HHS) – 4th place team – CPR/First Aid
Alexis Lewis (HHS) – Outstanding HOSA Member
In addition to the success of the HOSA organization, all Health Science students earned their CPR certification. Twenty-four Health Science level II students took and passed the National Health Science End of Course test in January. Twenty-three Health Science Clinical Studies students are completing several weeks of clinical rotations at various medical facilities to help them better determine their area of interest. These students will take the Certified Nursing Assistant exam on May 12th.