Be A Nurse And Call The Shots!
Five area high schools participated in a Northeast Tennessee TechPrep sponsored activity at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton. The event was designed to promote the Practical Nursing program at the school.
Each high school was given copies of the NET Study Guide to prepare for the event. The NET Study Guide is available for the nursing program applicants to prepare for the Nurses Entrance Test. Applicants must pass the test in order to be admitted to the program.
The competition was a question/answer event designed around Jeopardy. The team completing the two sessions with the highest score was declared the winner. Medals were given for first, second and third places.
Teams competing in the event were Daniel Boone High School, David Crockett High School, Happy Valley High School, and two teams from Elizabethton High School. First place was awarded to Daniel Boone High School. Second place was awarded to the Elizabethton High School "Lady Cyclones" team and third place to David Crockett High School.
"This was the first year for our competition and we feel it was successful in promoting the nursing program and TechPrep," stated Roberta Bowers, Assistant Director of the school. "We want to call attention to the fact that we have one of the largest and most successful LPN programs in the state," she continued. The school has plans to make this an annual event.
Techprep Grant Provides Seniors With Hands-On Nursing Experience
Some 45 high school seniors from Carter, Johnson, Sullivan and Washington counties received hands-on experiences at a "first of its kind" event held at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton funded by a $1000 TechPrep grant.
Emma Hopson of Unicoi and Sandy Barker of Elizabethton, members of the nursing faculty at TTC-Elizabethton, submitted the grant proposal "to help high school seniors have a better understanding of a health care career." Grant monies were used to purchase medical supplies used in the demonstrations.
Nursing students and faculty at TTC-E provided demonstrations using blood pressure cuffs, wound care, administration of intravenous fluids and hospital patient care to the high school seniors. A video produces by the Tennessee Center for Nursing was shown. Students also received information on the Nursing Entrance Test and how to apply for the $1250 Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant under the Tennessee Lottery Education Scholarship.
Health science counselors Gayle Keebler of Science Hill, Gina Johnson of Elizabethton, Dee Olterman of Dobyns-Bennett and Diane Kinsler of Daniel Boone High Schools also participated in the event.
TTC-E accepts an average of 370 students to the 12-month Practical Nursing program each year. The program prepares graduates to take the State Board of Nursing exam to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Technology Teens In Career Explorations
Approximately 851 8th graders attended the Technology Teens in Career Explorations event at TTC-Elizabethton. "This was the third year of the event and it keeps growing every year," stated Roberta Bowers, Assistant Director.
"Eighth grade students have to make career decisions before entering high school. This event provides the students an opportunity to tour the school and view demonstrations in the labs," she continued. The students tour both campuses in Elizabethton taking time to visit each of the nine full-time programs. Information regarding application, financial aid and the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant is also disseminated.
Two programs seem to stand-out as favorites - Practical Nursing and Diesel Powered Equipment. In the diesel area, the students can actually climb-up in the big trucks and blow the horn.
This event has been successful according to the teacher evaluations and letters written to the school by the students.
