“Did everyone get 100? Or am I asking too much?” Nurse Angela Hicks asks students as they trickle into the classroom on a Monday morning, groggy from their time away for Fall Break.  There is some grumbling as the class finds their seats.

“In our Week at a Glance, I told you all that we were going to be reviewing our skills. First row, let’s go.” A group of five students line up by the sink, proudly wearing blue scrubs with Purcell Marian’s logo. Their task is to demonstrate proper hand washing for medical professionals. As they begin their demonstration of skills, the rest of the classroom quietly observes.

After the first student completed the task, Nurse Angela turned to the class and asked, "Alright, let’s critique. What might she have done wrong?" Immediately, hands flew into the air, ready to review this seemingly easy task.

“She used a wet paper towel to turn off her sink.”

“She recontaminated her hands.”

Nurse Angela nodded in agreement to the student’s observations.

“Yes, germs travel in a wet paper towel.”

It was a small error, but one with important consequences in a healthcare setting.

This class is part of Purcell Marian’s Career Initiatives Program, which aims to introduce students to a variety of fields, including healthcare. With a rise in student interest in medical careers, the school expanded its course offerings. These hands-on lessons provide an invaluable head start for students interested in pursuing healthcare as a profession.

As the class continued, Nurse Angela emphasized the importance of owning one’s mistakes.

"There were a few things that some left off. I want to make sure that we hit those highlights. I love that some people said ‘oops, I screwed up, let me start over.’ That is the correct thing to do! If you know you messed up, it is 100% okay to start over.”

Throughout the lesson, students practiced not only hand washing protocols but also taking each other’s pulse and temperature. The steady beeps of thermometers echoed through the classroom as students eagerly took temperatures, and exchanged wrists to check vitals.

“Next week, we will don PPE,” Nurse Angela announced.

"What is PPE?" she asked, prompting one student to respond, "Personal protective equipment."

"Exactly! What’s included?" she asked. The students responded in unison: "Gloves, gown, mask."

These are tools that will become second nature to them should they decide to continue their education in healthcare post-graduation.

Nurse Angela observes handwashing to her right, while students practice initial intake to her left.

This introduction to the practical aspects of medical work is just one example of how Purcell Marian’s Career Initiatives Program helps students explore their potential in various industries. "We are redefining the educational experience for Purcell Marian students," says Chris Wilke, Director of the Career Initiatives Program. "The Career Initiatives Program is designed for students to explore areas of potential future employment in a variety of different fields."

For these students, aspiring to be healthcare professionals, the lessons learned in class are instilling a sense of professionalism early on. With enthusiasm and curiosity, they are preparing to meet the demands of the healthcare industry at Purcell Marian High School—one clean pair of hands at a time.