Health Careers Boot Camps – Expanding the Health Professions Pipeline in California’s Central Valley

Posted by Zoe Pettway Unno on March 23rd, 2021 Posted in: Funding, NLM Products, Outreach, Public Health

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by Joanne M. Muellenbach, MLS, AHIP
Health Sciences Library Director and Associate Professor
California Health Sciences University

For many high school students in the Central Valley, the Health Careers Boot Camps at California Health Sciences University (CHSU) are their first chance to practice intravenous (IV) injections, monitor blood pressure, or perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Thanks to NNLM PSR funding and with a focus on expanding the health professions pipeline, CHSU is partnering with four local high schools and providing students with the opportunity to participate in hands-on health care simulations and learn about health careers from professionals in the field.

In March, the CHSU Award team, led by Joanne Muellenbach, director, Health Sciences Library, and in collaboration with the Simulation Center, Marketing, and Admissions, provided a virtual experience for students at Madera South High School, including a Code Blue situation from a bird’s eye view of the CHSU Simulation Center’s Emergency Room.

The Simulation Center team performed in such roles as EMT, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, and respiratory therapist to illustrate how health care providers work together during an emergency.

The Award team also provided an in-person experience for Sanger High School students. Students rotated through five simulation stations and practiced how to insert an IV catheter, give an intramuscular injection, perform CPR, take vitals, administer a nebulizer treatment, and respond to a Code Blue scenario – all on CHSU’s high-fidelity manikins.

All students, whether participating in the virtual or in-person bootcamps, had the opportunity to hear from various health care professionals, explore the medical and health sciences admissions processes, and learn how to research NLM databases and locate information on health careers through the CHSU Health Sciences Library.

Additional boot camps are scheduled in April for students from Central High School and Sunnyside High School. CHSU’s goal is to spark high school students’ interest not only in CHSU’s own programs in osteopathic medicine and pharmacy, but also in collaborating educational institutions offering programs in EMT-paramedics, nursing, and respiratory therapy. The boot camps include demonstrations of inpatient hospital scenario simulations, as well as outpatient medical office simulation settings.

The Award funding allowed CHSU to purchase multi-venous IV training arms, CPR manikins, and other simulation equipment and supplies so that students can practice techniques in a safe environment on manikins and task trainers. Students are also provided with sample PPE kits including isolation gowns, gloves, masks, and face shields.

For more information about the CHSU Health Careers Bootcamp Series please contact Joanne at jmuellenbach@chsu.edu.