For Immediate Release
High School Students Explore Health Careers at Mercy
Oklahoma City — More than 700 high school students
will explore health care careers next Friday, February 5, at Mercy. The
popular Mercy Health Career Exploration Day, now in its eighth year,
gives
 area students a chance to learn about a wide variety of job
opportunities.
“Students often think a career in health care is
limited to being a doctor or a nurse, but there are so many
opportunities in health care today,” said Kerri Beasley, RN, Mercy
recruitment coordinator. “This event isn’t a lecture or some boring
intro into health care; this is an exciting hands-on experience for
students to see what they would get to do. We don’t just tell them about
it, they get to see it up close.”
Students couldn’t agree more.
“We had the opportunity to feel a pig’s lung,
practice giving a shot and even take part in a mock Code Blue,” said
Mustang’s Caitlin Prinzo, a senior this year at Bishop McGuinness
Catholic High School who attended last year’s career day. “It was a real
eye-opener to learn all the things you can do.”
Whether it’s actual hands-on experience or getting a
chance to talk to real-life health care professionals, Mercy’s career
day provides students with lots of information.
 Studies have shown that the level of health care
awareness among youth today is low. In order to educate students, Mercy
has extended invitations to local high schools. Participating high
schools and groups include: Bishop McGuinness, Canadian Valley
Technology Center, Chandler, Chisholm Trail Technology Center, Crescent,
Deer Creek, Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center, El Reno, Francis
Tuttle Technology Center, Mount Saint Mary, Northeast Academy for Health
Sciences and Engineering, Putnam City, Putnam City North and Yukon.
Students will not only receive lots of information
but also talk one-on-one with a radiology tech, pharmacist, nurse,
respiratory therapist, nutritionist, lab technician and many more
professionals. Students will be able to view actual radiology and
hospital equipment, educational videos, organ models and have the
opportunity to win various door prizes.
“We want students to learn they have lots of
choices,” said Bill Peterson, director of Mercy’s human resources.
“Every year many students find the experience invaluable because they
are able to see firsthand how numerous the opportunities are in health
care. The possibilities really are endless.”
Press release dated: January 28, 2010
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