NORFOLK, Neb. – Bryan Hernandez carefully guided his physical therapist partner, Christian Fiscus, who was nursing a mock leg injury, up and down a curb and through grass on the Northeast Community College campus on Tuesday morning.
Fiscus, who is from Coleridge, wore a boot cast and strap around his waist. Hernandez, who is from Wayne, kept a tight grip around the waste strap to guide Fiscus or support him in case he should fall.
“Always keep in mid patient safety,” said Andrea Suhr, a Northeast physical therapist assistant program instructor. Suhr noted that the physical therapist assistant should always be mindful of the patient, keeping one eye on the patient and another looking for obstacles.
Grass, for example, can be especially tricky because it isn’t always clear if there is hole or something that could cause the patient to trip, she said.
They were among 18 high school students from across the region who gained exposure to various careers in the health care industry.
After going on a short outdoor trip Tuesday morning, Hernandez, Fiscus and the other high school students traded places. They were taking part in the annual summer expo that Northeast sponsors.
They were among 18 high school students from across the region who gained exposure to various careers in the health care industry.
Jeff Hoffman, Northeast dean of Health and Public Services, said in the past, the expos had been held over two days on the campuses in Norfolk and South Sioux City. This year, free transportation was offered from South Sioux City to Norfolk and back for anyone interested from South Sioux City. The expo also has been shortened to one day.
The summer expo was offered for students in grades nine to 12, exploring various career fields through hand-on activities led by instructors and health care professionals.
Program areas featured were – Physical Therapist Assistant, Nursing, Paramedic, and Health Information Management Systems (HIMS). On Wednesday, students were offered an opportunity to get certified in CPR.
One-Hand Catch cutline
Laura Schwanebeck, PTA program director, watches as Kyla Donaldson (left) tosses a ball for Sadie Thiessen to catch. Both high school students are from Elgin. (Northeast Community College)
-###--