Rockhurst Hosts Immersive Hands On Healthcare Camp

As one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), healthcare attracts a lot of interest from young people who are exploring different college majors.

But figuring out where to start in a field with so many degree programs, pathways and specialties can be overwhelming.

Last week, Rockhurst University invited area students to campus to help explore healthcare professions as part of its first-ever two-day camp, Hands On Healthcare at Rockhurst University.

Kristina Henry, Ph.D., dean of the Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said the camp was geared toward high school students who are interested in careers in medicine or healthcare, allowing them to get a sense for the different programs available, the skills needed to succeed, and what to expect from careers in nursing, occupational and physical therapy, medicine and speech-language pathology. All paired with some skill-building in the state-of-the-art health sciences building on campus, Sedgwick Hall.

Those skills included taking vital signs, therapy methods, how to use typical hospital equipment, and American Heart Association CPR certification. Participants also spent time in the state-of-the-art Seelos Simulation Center in Sedgwick.

Just as important was the time the participants got to spend with current students and faculty in the health sciences, which gave them a chance to ask questions and learn more about the demands of specific careers, or to learn more about pathways in the health sciences they hadn't previously considered.

"Our goal for Hands On Healthcare is to expose high school students to the diverse career options in healthcare because those careers are always in demand," Henry said. "These experiences spark interest in students, and this is an opportunity for them to learn new skills."