MONROE, LA – ULM TRiO ETS (Educational Talent Search) participants from the Monroe City School District celebrated National Job Shadowing Day at Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center (formerly E.A. Conway Hospital).
On February 5, sophomores from Neville High School and Wossman High School spent the day job shadowing in several departments at the hospital. Carroll High sophomores did the same on February 6.
The students practiced taking vital signs such as pulse and blood pressure, did ultrasound of a person’s heart, conducted respiratory tests using sophisticated machinery, applied tourniquets to stop a bleed, and palpated tissue for tumors.
The student groups were divided into small teams, with each team having a “lead doctor” and a “physician’s assistant.” They wore gowns, gloves, and stethoscopes, and learned how to properly don and doff their personal protective equipment (PPE) so that they didn’t contaminate themselves. After their department tours, the “doctors” reported to the main group on their activities, what they learned, and who asked the most questions.
Job shadowing events such as these can help expand the horizons of high school students, allowing them to learn more about career opportunities in health sciences, including nursing, radiologic technology, and medical laboratory science, which are a few of the many programs available in the ULM College of Health Sciences.
Feedback from the students about the day was very positive, as evidenced by the following remarks:
"The lab was my favorite. I didn’t know that so much chemistry and math were incorporated. I thank ULM TRiO ETS for allowing me to have this experience,” said Kennedi Hall of Neville High School.
“I learned about different jobs within healthcare. All instructors did very well in making sure to keep the students engaged by involving physical activities,” said Rihanna Ratliff of Wossman High School.
“I liked the trauma section where the tourniquet was used, as I found it very entertaining and unique,” said Terrance James, Jr. of Carroll High School
The Job Shadowing STEM day is conducted annually by ULM TRIO Educational Talent Search, in partnership with Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center. ULM TRIO extends special thanks to Beverly Lewis, MPA, BSN, RN, and Director of Economic Development & Community Initiatives at Ochsner, who coordinated the day’s activities, and thanks to all hospital staff who helped make the day a success.
Talent Search is a federally funded college-access program whose mission is to increase the number of individuals who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education. ULM TRiO ETS has been assisting area students for more than 35 years. For more information about Talent Search, contact Mrs. Debbie Upshaw at (318) 342-1094, or visit https://www.ulm.edu/research/trio/talent_search.html